§334 Special aviation incentive pay and bonus authorities for officers

Summary

The Secretary concerned can pay aviation incentive pay and aviation bonuses to officers who meet certain rules. To get incentive pay, an officer must be entitled to basic pay (see section 204) or compensation under section 206, have or be training for an aeronautical rating, do or train for frequent operational or proficiency flying, serve in aviation for a set time, and meet any other rules the Secretary sets. The Secretary can also pay someone not currently flying if doing so is in the service’s best interest under the rules in section 374. Incentive pay can be up to $1,500 per month. A bonus is available only to officers who qualify for incentive pay, have finished (or are within one year of finishing) any active-duty obligation from undergraduate aviator training, sign a written agreement to stay on active duty or active reserve status (Space Force officers must stay in space force active status in aviation service) for at least one year, and meet other Secretary rules. A bonus may not exceed $50,000 for each 12-month period of obligated service. Bonuses can be paid all at once or in installments. The Secretary fixes the total bonus when accepting the written agreement, which must spell out the amount, how it will be paid, the obligated service period, and the service conditions. The Secretary must set bonus amounts each year by a business case analysis tied to expected shortfalls by aircraft type. The President’s budget must show, for each service and aircraft type, the amount requested, the business case, whether that amount lets the service pay the maximum bonus, and any nonmoney plans to fix shortfalls. These pay amounts are in addition to other pay and allowances, but an officer cannot get duplicate pay for the same skill and time. If an officer fails to keep the eligibility rules or complete the agreed service, they must repay money under section 373. Definitions: aviation service (service while holding or training for an aeronautical rating), operational flying duty (flying that maintains basic flying skills or training that leads to a rating), proficiency flying duty (flying where such skills are not normally maintained), and officer (includes an enlisted person designated an aviation cadet). No new agreements may be made after December 31, 2026.