New $6,000 Army bonuses designed to lure more officers into Guard, Reserve

[lebkuchen]

Working to correct a shortfall of captains in the reserve components that predates the war on terror, the Army is offering incentive bonuses to the general warrant and officer corps for the first time in modern history.

Two new, lump-sum $6,000 bonuses are now in effect: an “affiliation” bonus for active-duty officers and warrant officers to prompt them to sign up for service with National Guard or Army Reserve, and an “accessions” bonus for some newly commissioned officers if they are in a critical specialty or agree to re-train into one after joining the reserve components.

Congress authorized the bonuses in the 2005 defense budget, according to Col. Mark Patterson, Officer Division chief in the Army’s Directorate of Military Personnel Management.

http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=27273

[leftchick]

1. yeah that'll do it!

Hooray! I would sign up for two possibly 4 fucked up wars for 6,000 Bucks! oooh Yeah! :eyes:

[teryang]

2. $6,000?

Do people really think that is a lot of money these days?

Hey want to get sent to a war for an extra $6,000?

[punpirate]

3. Yup, desperation is setting in...

... all over. Hopefully, intelligence trumps cheap bribes....

[lebkuchen]

5. I'm told the most Vietnam vets got for reupping was $30,000

What would that be in today's dollars?

[saigon68]

6. Only Certain specialties

Like foreign language specialists etc. Nuclear weapons and Crypto repair etc.

Most only got a couple thousand that would be like 10 to 12 thousand in today's $$$$

[flamingpie2500]

4. My brother is a 1st Lt. in the Reserves. In Iraq as of Christmas Day this

year. They offered him a bonus right away and he was already looking at 18 months. His wife didn't tell me how much was offered, but believe me she didn't care. Her answer was don't you DARE sign that bonus offer!

[Misunderestimator]

7. Me ex's brother-in-law was just called to China...

for six months. He's active duty (technology job) with the Air Force, and when I asked him last year how he would feel if they called somewhere for duty, he said that they wouldn't possibly... he was too needed where he is... I suggested that they would probably be filling any jobs that could be filled with civilians ... with civilians. Looks like I may have been right. Where are these active duty jobs going that are being tempted away with bonuses for active duty in the NG or Reserve?

Blood from a stone...

[Neverarepublican]

8. Do you have to pay taxes on the $6000?

[merwin]

9. 6k to sign up to die? Hell no.

Now, the way to get people to still sign up is to offer them double pay for any service after the original agreement (after they stop-loss you).

[lonestarnot]

10. Woohoo now there's a WALMART SHOPPING TRIP!

:puke: