A critical skills retention bonus of $25,000 or more is available to more than 16,000 regular-Army captains who agree to remain on active duty beyond their initial active-duty service obligations. The plan follows an earlier version unveiled in May. It increases the number of officers eligible for the bonus from 7,000, and includes a higher basic bonus (up from $20,000) and targeted higher amounts for officers in critical branches. The bonus is available to captains with dates of rank of April 1, 2002, or later, based on the following original accession branches: officers who were originally commissioned in air defense, engineer, finance, signal, quartermaster, nurse corps and certain medical service medical functional areas — $25,000; officers commissioned in adjutant general, armor, chemical, military police and ordnance — $30,000; officers commissioned in aviation, transportation, infantry, field artillery, and military intelligence — $35,000.