Career Assistance Advisor (CAA)

Mission
Assist our Airmen in making informed career decisions.

Vision
Provide a current, qualified, mission ready force.

Bonus information

Bonus Briefing

BONUS BRIEFING AND INSTRUCTIONS
The following documents need be completed and returned to the Wing Career Advisor for further processing. Items require wet signatures (exception; individuals assigned to the 730th AMTS can scan and email required documents due to being geographically separated).
• AF IMT 4021: Review for accuracy. Ensure social security number and bonus TOE (Term of Enlistment) is marked correctly. Member will sign and date items 9a and 9b (member’s signature and date).
• Written Agreement: Review, sign and date at the bottom of the page, where it states ‘service member.’ This information is what is also provided in the briefing below.
• Bonus Briefing: Review the briefing information. Initial on the lines provided by each subject and sign at the bottom where it states ‘service member.’

BONUS OVERVIEW AND BRIEFING
PAYMENT COMPUTATION
The easiest way to explain the bonus program is to explain how you are going to get paid. First and foremost you have to be here. Your Date of Enlistment (DOE) will be your bonus effective date, which determines your bonus window. When it is time to process your bonus payment, your Career Assistance Advisor looks at your bonus window to compute your payment. For example, if you enlisted on October 5th, your bonus effective date (anniversary) would be October 5th, and your bonus window would be October 5th - 4th.
How to get paid: Bonus payments are based on UTA participation – basically, the 12 UTA weekends that were scheduled for you during your bonus window. Three things to look for:
• If you performed all the UTAs on the original date you were scheduled.
• If you rescheduled any UTA weekend. If you need to RUTA, you must keep it within your bonus window in order to get credit for that weekend, otherwise your payment will be prorated.
• If you were constructively present. This applies to unit Reservists who are on tours of active duty which overlap a scheduled UTA.
How NOT to get paid: Don’t be here! The difference between excused and unexcused is as follows:
• Excused UTAs will not be computed into the payment but there is no limit to how many excused UTAs you can have. Pretty much as many as you can financially afford.
• Unexcused UTAs are different. Five unexcused periods in a 12-month rolling period and you will be terminated from the incentive program permanently. Other ways you can be terminated are becoming an ART or leaving the AFSC (retraining).
PAYMENT AMOUNTS
Bonus payments are paid annually based on your anniversary date (see above). For example, if your bonus effective date is October 5, 2013, your initial payment would be due October 5, 2014, and subsequent payments in 2015, 2016, 2017, etc. Enlisted bonuses are a total of $15,000 for a 6-year enlistment and $7500 for an enlistment of 3-5 years. The first payment will be $7,500 and subsequent payments will be $1,500 (bonus amounts for a 3-5 year enlistment are $3750 initial/$1875 annual). This is provided you complete all the participation requirements. Please note these amounts are before taxes. This is an incentive and is taxed accordingly – approx. 28%.

****FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO MUST ATTTEND TECHNICAL SCHOOL****
Bonus application cannot be processed until you receive your 3-skill level. You must see your Career Assistance Advisor after you graduate, with your certificate, for processing. The briefing is conducted so you are aware of the participation requirements. Your bonus approval date will still be your DOE, but nothing will be processed until you return from school and see your Career Assistance Advisor.
Enlisted Bonus Briefing FAQ's
*I enlisted with my recruiter, but didn’t in-process for a few months later. Will I still receive my full bonus payment?
Answer: Yes, we do not penalize you for the time you are waiting to in-process with the wing. However, once you in-process, you will be held accountable for your participation.
*When will I receive my payment?
Answer: It usually takes up to three weeks from the members bonus anniversary date (date of enlistment), for the bonus payment to show in members bank account. You will recognize the payment in your Leave and Earnings Statement as an “Incentive Payment.”

*Why wasn’t my bonus payment the amount I was expecting?
Answer: Bonus payments are participation based. On your anniversary date, your participation is calculated for the entire previous bonus year. If you participated for 12 UTA’s during that year, your bonus will be the full amount. For every period of participation you miss, your bonus amount will be deducted.

*Can I make up a UTA to receive the full bonus amount?
Answer: Yes, but it must be made up within your bonus year (from the previous anniversary date, to the current year). If you reschedule a UTA after your anniversary date, you will not receive bonus credit.

*I returned from Tech School, but I never received my bonus payment. Why is that?
Answer: You must inprocess through the Wing Career Assistance Advisor, in order for your file to be pulled for processing. If you do not inform your advisor that you have returned from Tech School, your bonus file will remain untouched.

*Will I lose my bonus if I retrain?
Answer: If you move out of your AFSC, you will lose the bonus for that AFSC. If you retrain into another bonus AFSC, your advisor can request a continuation of your current bonus.

*I’m scheduled to reenlist, but I’ve been in the service for awhile. Am I eligible for the bonus?
Answer: A qualified member can apply for the bonus, as long as they reenlisted before they reach 20 years of service (from paydate). And if approved, they will receive the bonus until their 24th year.

*Will I lose my bonus if I transfer to another base?
Answer: If your AFSC is on the bonus list at the gaining base, the Wing Career Assistance Advisor there can possibly request a bonus continuation. If it is not on the list, you are entitled to a prorated amount.

*I am separating, how do I ensure that I receive my final payment?
Answer: You MUST notify your advisor in advance of separating, to ensure that there is time to process your final payment. The moment you know you are separating, please contact the Wing Career Assistance Advisor.

*I have an approved Line of Duty Determination, and will not be participating for awhile. Can I still receive my bonus?
Answer: Yes. Non-participation for an approved LOD is the only reason you can non-participate and still receive your bonus. However, you must notify your Unit Career Advisor of your approval, who will notify the Wing Career Advisor, accordingly.

*Do unexcused absences affect my bonus?
Answer: Yes, if you accumulate five or more unexcused absences in a 12 month rolling calendar, your bonus will be terminated.

*I’m currently receiving a bonus, but I’m due to reenlist. Can I apply for another bonus?
Answer: Yes, as long as you do not have over 20 years of service from your pay date. Remember, if you are currently receiving a bonus, you cannot reenlist until 30 days from your ETS.
Enlisted Affiliation Bonus Requirements
Is affiliating directly from the Regular Air Force (RegAF) or nonparticipating status.

Is required to have completed less than 6 years of their MSO (based on the member’s original 8-year obligation).
Is assigned in a bonus Duty Air Force Specialty Code (DAFSC) in effect on the member’s effective date of change of strength accountability (EDCSA) assignment and possesses at least a three-level control AFSC (CAFSC) or second AFSC in that duty. EXCEPTION: Individuals assigned duty in an AFSC with a one-level who attend the same three-level technical course are eligible for the affiliation incentive, provided otherwise qualified.
Has completed or was released early under honorable conditions from his or her active duty obligation and has a Reserve obligation under Section 651 of Title 10, U.S.C. or Section 6(d)(1) of the Military Selective Service Act.
Has not previously participated in any active Reserve program.
Is not affiliating under the PALACE CHASE Program.
Is not affiliating to qualify for a civilian position where membership in the Reserve is a condition of employment.
Non-prior Enlistment Bonus Requirements
Is enlisting in a bonus Duty Air Force Specialty Code (DAFSC) in effect on the date of enlistment.

Has not previously served in any component of the Armed Forces of the United States or have previously served, but did not successfully complete Initial Active Duty for Training (IADT).

Is classified as test score category Air Force Qualifying Test (AFQT) I, II, or III.

Is not enlisting to qualify for a civilian position (Air Reserve Technician (ART)) where membership in the Reserve is a condition of employment.

Is not enlisting for voluntary assignment to full-time active duty or active duty for training in excess of 90 days in support of the Reserve program (does not include individuals attending formal schools over 90 days in length).

Is a graduate of a secondary school as outlined in AFI 36-2638 Air Force Reserve Enlisted Incentives.

Is eligible for an enlistment incentive if an individual possesses a General Education Development (GED) general equivalency certificate or a secondary school diploma or certificate awarded by a state, based on certification by a parent or legal guardian that an individual has completed their secondary school at home.
Prior Service Enlistment Bonus Requirements
Is enlisting in the Air Force Reserve for a term of 3 or 6 years.

Is enlisting in a bonus Duty Air Force Specialty Code (DAFSC) in effect on the date of enlistment.

Has not previously been granted an incentive in any Reserve component and the specialty associated with the position the member is enlisting, is a specialty in which member served while on active duty, and is fully qualified.

Is not enlisting under the PALACE CHASE Program.

Received an honorable discharge from previous military service.

Is not enlisting to qualify for a civilian position where membership in the Reserve is a condition of employment.

Has completed any active service commitment and possesses less than 14 years total service (based on Armed Forces enlistment contractual agreement on pay date) at the time of enlistment.

Is not enlisting for voluntary assignment to full-time active duty for training in excess of 90 days in support of the Reserve program (does not include individuals attending formal schools over 90 days in length).

Is not being released from active duty for enlistment in a Reserve component, which does not include transfer to Ready Reserve, according to a member’s Military Service Obligation (MSO).
Reenlistment Bonus Requirements
Reenlist according to AFI 36-2612, United States Air Force Reserve (USAFR) Reenlistment and Retention Program.

Must be within 6 months of previous expiration of term of service (ETS). CAUTION: When reenlisting a member who is potentially eligible to receive a reenlistment bonus, ensure the reenlistment takes place “within” the 6 month timeframe and not one day “after” the ETS. Must have 6 years’ service based on pay date to reenlist for three, four or five years.

Reenlists in a bonus Duty Air Force Specialty Code (DAFSC) in effect on the date of reenlistment.

A person may not be paid more than one 6-year enlistment or two 3-year enlistment/reenlistment bonuses. The second 3-year bonus is authorized only if the member enters into a subsequent reenlistment before the date, which the reenlistment/prior service enlistment for the first 3-year bonus expires, and still satisfies the designated skill or unit requirement for which a bonus is authorized.

Is not reenlisting to qualify for a civilian position where membership in the Reserve is a condition of employment.

Is not reenlisting for retainability under the PALACE CHASE Program.

Has no more than 20 years (exactly) total service based on pay date at the time of reenlistment.

Is required to be a satisfactory participant (cannot have more than four unexcused absences) in the Air Force Reserve and has performed three consecutive authorized four-period unit training assemblies (UTA). This requirement can be met in any combination of UTA attendance immediately before or after the date of reenlistment. Two four-period UTAs performed after the date of reenlistment would meet the participation requirement. Once the participation requirement has been met, the date of entitlement for the incentive is the date of reenlistment. Periods of active duty that occur during a scheduled UTA are authorized substitutions for UTA requirements.

NOTE: If a member has a bonus, reenlistment more than 30 days before their ETS requires a waiver from HQ AFRC/A1KK prior to reenlistment unless they are reenlisting for the Montgomery G.I. Bill. Although reenlistment for the G.I. Bill can take place at any time, it does not automatically make a member eligible for a reenlistment bonus.
Retraining Bonus Requirements
Is assigned to the unit program in a non-bonus AFSC, reenlisting within the same wing or group (locale), which successfully completes the three-level retraining, and is awarded the three-level bonus CAFSC.

Is retraining into a bonus Duty Air Force Specialty Code (DAFSC) in effect on the date retraining is approved, that is, date entered Training Status Code (TSC) M, E.

Has not previously received an Individual Ready Reserve (IRR), reenlistment, or retraining bonus for service in any Reserve component.

Is not retraining to qualify for a civilian position where membership in the Reserve is a condition of employment.

Has less than 14 years total service (based on pay date) at the time of enlistment.

Is a satisfactory participant in the Air Force Reserve and has performed three authorized four-period UTAs at the time of reenlistment.

Is not applying for retraining concurrent with assignment to the Air Force Reserve, that is, coming from nonparticipating reserve status (ARPC), active duty, other units, or IMA program.

Is not requesting reenlistment more than 36 months before current ETS. This does not include any extensions for retainability in retraining. The member cannot request reenlistment more than 30 days before current ETS if currently receiving an enlistment or affiliation bonus.

NOTE: Follow normal retraining approval requirements according to AFMAN 36-8001, Reserve Personnel Participation and Training Procedures. Service retainability, if required, is obtained through extension of current reenlistment. If the member requires more than 23 months of extension, reenlistment for a term of 2 years is authorized and the remaining retainability is by extension.

Career Assistance Advisor

Career Counseling

Reenlistments/ Extensions

Career and Development Opportunities

Points and Participation

Bonus/ Incentives Program

Office Information

Wing Career Advisor
Master Sgt. Michelle Bonilla

Hours of operation
Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
UTA weekends 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Contact
Office: 405-739-7710
Cell: 405-409-7921
Email: michelle.bonilla@us.af.mil

Location
507th ARW Headquarters
Bldg. 1043, Suite 214
Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma