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.

*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.