§331 General Bonus Authority for Enlisted Members

Summary

The Secretary in charge may pay a bonus to someone who enlists, joins a reserve, reenlists or agrees to serve for a specific job or under certain conditions, or who transfers between regular and reserve components or between services (including transfers to or from the Space Force) with the needed approval. To get the bonus, the person must sign a written agreement to serve for a set period in a named job, unit, or grade, or to meet other conditions the Secretary sets. The Secretary decides how much to pay but must follow these maximums: up to $75,000 for enlistment or joining a reserve for a minimum two-year obligated service; up to $50,000 per year for service in a regular component or the Space Force on sustained duty under section 20105 of title 10; up to $15,000 per year for service in a reserve component or Space Force active status not on sustained duty under section 20105 of title 10; and up to $10,000 for transfers. Payment can be a lump sum or in installments, and the total is fixed when the written agreement is accepted. The bonus is extra pay, is not a bounty under section 514(a) of title 10, and must be repaid under section 373 of this title if the agreed service or conditions are not completed. No new agreements can be made after December 31, 2026.