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Title 37 — Pay and Allowances of the Uniformed ServicesRelease 119-73

§330 Special pay: accession bonus for officer candidates

Title 37 › Chapter CHAPTER 5— - SPECIAL AND INCENTIVE PAYS › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER I— - EXISTING SPECIAL PAY, INCENTIVE PAY, AND BONUS AUTHORITIES › § 330

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary in charge can pay someone up to $8,000 as a bonus when that person signs a written agreement and the Secretary accepts it. The agreement is a promise to (1) finish officer candidate school, (2) take a commission or appointment as an officer, and (3) serve on active duty as an officer for a set time. The Secretary must follow the service’s rules for these bonuses. Once the Secretary accepts the agreement, the bonus amount is fixed and the agreement must say if it will be paid all at once or in installments. If the person does not complete the agreed service, they must repay the bonus under the rules in section 303a(e). No new agreements under this rule can be made after December 31, 2018.

Full Legal Text

Title 37, §330

Pay and Allowances of the Uniformed Services — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary concerned, a person who executes a written agreement described in subsection (c) may be paid an accession bonus under this section upon acceptance of the agreement by the Secretary concerned.
(b)The amount of an accession bonus under subsection (a) may not exceed $8,000.
(c)A written agreement referred to in subsection (a) is a written agreement by a person—
(1)to complete officer candidate school;
(2)to accept a commission or appointment as an officer of the armed forces; and
(3)to serve on active duty as a commissioned officer for a period specified in the agreement.
(d)Upon acceptance of a written agreement under subsection (a) by the Secretary concerned, the total amount of the accession bonus payable under the agreement becomes fixed. The agreement shall specify whether the accession bonus will be paid in a lump sum or installments.
(e)A person who, having received all or part of the bonus under a written agreement under subsection (a), does not complete the total period of active duty as a commissioned officer as specified in such agreement shall be subject to the repayment provisions of section 303a(e) of this title.
(f)No agreement under this section may be entered into after December 31, 2018.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2017—Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 115–91 substituted “
December 31, 2018” for “
December 31, 2017”. 2016—Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 114–328 substituted “
December 31, 2017” for “
December 31, 2016”. 2015—Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 114–92 substituted “
December 31, 2016” for “
December 31, 2015”. 2014—Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 113–291 substituted “
December 31, 2015” for “
December 31, 2014”. 2013—Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 113–66 substituted “
December 31, 2014” for “
December 31, 2013”. Pub. L. 112–239 substituted “
December 31, 2013” for “
December 31, 2012”. 2011—Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 112–81 substituted “
December 31, 2012” for “
December 31, 2011”. Pub. L. 111–383 substituted “
December 31, 2011” for “
December 31, 2010”. 2009—Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 111–84 substituted “
December 31, 2010” for “
December 31, 2009”. 2008—Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 110–417 substituted “
December 31, 2009” for “
December 31, 2008”. Pub. L. 110–181 substituted “
December 31, 2008” for “
December 31, 2007”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 2008 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 110–181 effective as of Dec. 31, 2007, and subject to various special provisions, see section 610 of Pub. L. 110–181, set out as a Correction of Lapsed Authorities for Payment of Bonuses, Special Pays, and Similar Benefits for Members of the Uniformed Services note under section 2130a of Title 10, Armed Forces.

Effective Date

Pub. L. 109–364, div. A, title VI, § 622(a)(3), Oct. 17, 2006, 120 Stat. 2256, provided that: “The

Amendments

made by this subsection [enacting this section] shall take effect on October 1, 2006.”

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

37 U.S.C. § 330

Title 37 — Pay and Allowances of the Uniformed Services

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73