If Congress doesn’t pass the fiscal 2006 National Defense Authorization Act (previous item) before the end of the year, a slew of bonuses and incentive pays are set expire on Dec. 31. At risk are enlistment and re-enlistment bonuses for active duty and reserve component forces, as well as assignment incentive pay and critical-skills retention bonuses. Also in limbo are special pays for nurses, dentists, pharmacists and nuclear-qualified officers. Installment payments on bonuses already approved, however, would continue. Nevertheless, thousands of service members who would be affected by the expirations are individuals who are in critically short fields. If the NDAA remains stagnant, two alternatives remain open for the troops: emergency legislation by Congress, or eventual retroactive payments.