By Sgt. Kyle Cosner
U.S. Army Special Operations Command
FORT BRAGG, N.C. (USASOC News Service, Feb. 4, 2005) — A new, one-time cash bonus aimed at retaining senior noncommissioned officers is now available for 10 military occupational specialties, including psychological operations specialists, the Army announced Feb. 2.
The latest Critical Skills Retention Bonus, which became effective Jan. 31, is a one-time payment of up to $50,000 for sergeants first class with more than 19 years of active federal service but less than 25, according to a message released by the Army’s Human Resources Command.
Qualified sergeants first class in the following 10 MOS are eligible for the program: PSYOP specialist (37F), diver (21D), prime power production specialist (21P), satellite communication system operator (25S), imagery analyst (96D), motor transport operator (88M), unmanned aerial vehicle operator (96U), human intelligence collector (97E), explosive ordnance disposal specialist (89D) and voice interceptor (98G) for Arabic linguists only.
The U.S. Army Special Operations Command has Soldiers in five of the 10 specialties, said Master Sgt. Robert Howells, USASOC’s top career counselor.
He encouraged eligible USASOC Soldiers to begin the CSRB process as soon as possible.
“Soldiers should take advantage of this program quickly,” Howells said. “As the posture of these MOS changes, so may the incentives.”
The bonus total is calculated in increments of $10,000 per year of additional service committed to. For example, a three-year commitment would pay $30,000 and a four-year commitment would pay $40,000.
The CSRB allows for a maximum of a five-year commitment, capping a Soldiers service at 25 years. Soldiers with more than 25 years of service are not eligible for the CSRB.
Master sergeants in the explosive ordnance disposal specialty are also eligible for the CSRB, but with a reduced payment of up to $40,000 for a five-year commitment.
Howells encouraged Soldiers eligible to apply for the CSRB to do so as soon as they have reached 19 years and 6 months of service — the earliest point applications can be accepted.
The Army announced a previous CSRB Dec. 30 exclusively for Special Forces NCOs. That bonus pays up to $150,000 for a maximum of a six-year service commitment. Staff sergeants, sergeants first class and master sergeants serving in any enlisted Special Forces position with between 19 and 25 years of service are eligible for that bonus.
For more information on the CSRB program, interested senior NCOs should contact their servicing career counselors.
http://www.soc.mil/News/releases/05FEB/050204-01.htm