Title 37 — Pay and Allowances of the Uniformed ServicesRelease 119-73
§331 General bonus authority for enlisted members
Title 37 › Chapter CHAPTER 5— - SPECIAL AND INCENTIVE PAYS › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER II— - CONSOLIDATION OF SPECIAL PAY, INCENTIVE PAY, AND BONUS AUTHORITIES › § 331
Summary
The Secretary can pay cash bonuses to people, including service members, who join the military, join a reserve unit, re-enlist or extend their service for certain jobs, or move between regular and reserve forces or between services (including transfers to or from the Space Force). To get a bonus, the person must sign a written agreement to serve for a set time or meet other service conditions. The Secretary decides the amount but there are caps: up to $75,000 for at least two years when joining or joining a reserve; up to $50,000 per year for regular service or Space Force on sustained duty under 10 U.S.C. 20105; up to $15,000 per year for reserve service or Space Force active status not on sustained duty under 10 U.S.C. 20105; and up to $10,000 for transfers. Payment can be a lump sum or in installments. The written agreement must list the amount, how it will be paid, the service period, and the conditions. The bonus is extra pay. If someone does not complete the agreed service, they must repay under section 373. No new agreements may be made after December 31, 2026.
Full Legal Text
Title 37, §331
Pay and Allowances of the Uniformed Services — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)The Secretary concerned may pay a bonus under this section to a person, including a member of the armed forces, who—
(1)enlists in an armed force;
(2)enlists in or affiliates with a reserve component of an armed force;
(3)reenlists, voluntarily extends an enlistment, or otherwise agrees to serve—
(A)for a specified period in a designated career field, skill, or unit of an armed force; or
(B)under other conditions of service in an armed force;
(4)transfers from a regular component of an armed force to a reserve component of that same armed force or from a reserve component of an armed force to the regular component of that same armed force;
(5)transfers from a regular component or reserve component of an armed force to a regular component or reserve component of another armed force, subject to the approval of the Secretary with jurisdiction over the armed force to which the member is transferring; or
(6)transfers from a regular component or reserve component of an armed force to the Space Force or from the Space Force to a regular component or reserve component of another armed force, subject to the approval of the Secretary with jurisdiction over the armed force to which the member is transferring.
(b)A bonus authorized by subsection (a) may be paid to a person or member only if the person or member agrees under subsection (d)—
(1)to serve for a specified period in a designated career field, skill, unit, or grade; or
(2)to meet some other condition or conditions of service imposed by the Secretary concerned.
(c)(1)The Secretary concerned shall determine the amount of a bonus to be paid under this section, except that—
(A)a bonus paid under paragraph (1) or (2) of subsection (a) may not exceed $75,000 for a minimum two-year period of obligated service agreed to under subsection (d);
(B)a bonus paid under paragraph (3) of subsection (a) may not exceed $50,000 for each year of obligated service in a regular component, or in the Space Force on sustained duty under section 20105 of title 10, agreed to under subsection (d);
(C)a bonus paid under paragraph (3) of subsection (a) may not exceed $15,000 for each year of obligated service in a reserve component, or in the Space Force in space force active status not on sustained duty under section 20105 of title 10, agreed to under subsection (d); and
(D)a bonus paid under paragraph (4), (5), or (6) of subsection (a) may not exceed $10,000.
(2)A bonus under this section may be paid in a lump sum or in periodic installments, as determined by the Secretary concerned.
(3)Upon acceptance by the Secretary concerned of the written agreement required by subsection (d), the total amount of the bonus to be paid under the agreement shall be fixed.
(d)To receive a bonus under this section, a person or member determined to be eligible for the bonus shall enter into a written agreement with the Secretary concerned that specifies—
(1)the amount of the bonus;
(2)the method of payment of the bonus under subsection (c)(2);
(3)the period of obligated service; and
(4)the type or conditions of the service.
(e)A bonus paid to a person or member under this section is in addition to any other pay and allowance to which the person or member is entitled.
(f)A bonus authorized under this section is not a bounty for purposes of section 514(a) of title 10.
(g)A person or member who receives a bonus under this section and who fails to complete the period of service, or meet the conditions of service, for which the bonus is paid, as specified in the written agreement under subsection (d), shall be subject to the repayment provisions of section 373 of this title.
(h)No agreement may be entered into under this section after December 31, 2026.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2025—Subsec. (a)(6). Pub. L. 119–60, § 601(c)(1)(A), added par. (6). Subsec. (c)(1)(B). Pub. L. 119–60, § 601(c)(1)(B)(i), inserted “, or in the Space Force on sustained duty under section 20105 of title 10,” after “in a regular component”. Subsec. (c)(1)(C). Pub. L. 119–60, § 601(c)(1)(B)(ii), inserted “, or in the Space Force in space force active status not on sustained duty under section 20105 of title 10,” after “in a reserve component”. Subsec. (c)(1)(D). Pub. L. 119–60, § 601(c)(1)(B)(iii), substituted “paragraph (4), (5), or (6)” for “paragraph (4) or (5)”. Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 119–60, § 611(d)(1), substituted “
December 31, 2026” for “
December 31, 2025”. 2024—Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 118–159 substituted “
December 31, 2025” for “
December 31, 2024”. 2023—Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 118–31 substituted “
December 31, 2024” for “
December 31, 2023”. 2022—Subsec. (c)(1)(A). Pub. L. 117–263, § 602(a)(1), substituted “$75,000” for “$50,000”. Subsec. (c)(1)(B). Pub. L. 117–263, § 602(a)(2), substituted “$50,000” for “$30,000”. Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 117–263, § 601(d)(1), substituted “
December 31, 2023” for “
December 31, 2022”. 2021—Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 117–81 substituted “
December 31, 2022” for “
December 31, 2021”. Pub. L. 116–283 substituted “
December 31, 2021” for “
December 31, 2020”. 2019—Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 116–92 substituted “
December 31, 2020” for “
December 31, 2019”. 2018—Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 115–232 substituted “
December 31, 2019” for “
December 31, 2018”. 2017—Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 115–91 substituted “
December 31, 2018” for “
December 31, 2017”. 2016—Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 114–328 substituted “
December 31, 2017” for “
December 31, 2016”. 2015—Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 114–92 substituted “
December 31, 2016” for “
December 31, 2015”. 2014—Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 113–291 substituted “
December 31, 2015” for “
December 31, 2014”. 2013—Subsec. (h). 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. (h). 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. (h). Pub. L. 111–84 substituted “
December 31, 2010” for “
December 31, 2009”.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
37 U.S.C. § 331
Title 37 — Pay and Allowances of the Uniformed Services
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73