New fiscal year restores retention bonuses and options — could expire soon

TIKRIT, IRAQ

11.12.2009

Courtesy Story

Multi-National Division North East

Story by Sgt. 1st Class Curtis Halford, 3rd ID Retention Operations

CONTINGENCY OPERATION BASE SPEICHER, Iraq — The advent of the new fiscal year brings the expected surge of Soldiers wanting to take advantage of the bonuses and options that are available again. Recent changes to the Army policy allows all Soldiers with an with an expiration term of service date on or before March 31, 2012 to re-enlist for any options for which they qualify.

Back are the bonuses, the enlistment terms of up to six years, and options such as guaranteed training, and choice of overseas or stateside assignment for those Soldiers that qualify, according the Task Force Marne Retention sergeant major.

"Soldiers desiring to re-enlist, and who are in the window established by Army G-1, are able to re-enlist for any available option for which they qualify," said Sgt. Maj. Luis Rivera, the Task Force Marne career counselor. "For some Soldiers this will allow them to take advantage of the tax-free bonus earlier than last year's 24-month window allowed."

As of Nov. 4, the active component of the Army had already accomplished 24.5 percent of its mission of 60,000 re-enlistments for FY10. If re-enlistments continue at the current rate the Army could again face the prospect of severely limiting terms and options in order to slow the re-enlistment rate. A freeze on re-enlistments is likely to occur at some point prior to the end of the fiscal year.

Rivera offers this advice, "It is imperative that Soldiers who want to take advantage of the tax-free bonus and options available to them on this deployment see their career counselor as soon as possible. It is the only way to ensure they won't miss out on either a military occupational specialty or deployed bonus if one is available."

He gave last year's halt in re-enlistment bonuses as an example. There was a drastic reduction is bonuses and options toward the end of FY09, he said. The Army as a whole was particularly successful at achieving its retention goals, and exceptional performance by both recruiting and retention professionals combined with a dismal economy swelled the Army to its authorized end strength of 547,000 Soldiers, said Rivera.

In keeping with federal law, the Army was forced to take measures to slow the accession and retention of Soldiers, and in June of 2009 re-enlistment terms were severely limited, resulting in decreased bonus eligibility and the restriction of re-enlistment options to "the needs of the Army" for most Soldiers.

TF Marne Soldiers whose ETS is between now and March 31, 2012, should see their career counselor to discuss the options available to them Rivera emphasized. Assistance is also available from Master Sgt. Pamela Smith and Sgt. 1st Class Curtis Halford at the Task Force Marne Retention office. The office is located in the TFM headquarters building, on COB Speicher, DSN 849-0275/0058.

• Date Taken: 11.12.2009
• Date Posted: 11.12.2009 10:45
• Story ID: 41465
• Location: TIKRIT, IQ