§333 Special Bonus and Incentive Pay Authorities for Nuclear Officers

Summary

The Secretary of the Navy can pay special money to Navy officers who work with ship nuclear power. One kind is a bonus for people chosen for naval nuclear power training who agree to serve afterward, or for officers who already have the technical qualification and agree to stay on active duty in nuclear propulsion jobs. The other kind is incentive pay for officers who get basic pay, keep their technical qualifications as approved by the Secretary, and stay on active duty for a set time. The Secretary can add other rules for who qualifies. Bonus and incentive pay have limits and rules. A bonus cannot be more than $75,000 for each 12-month period. Incentive pay cannot be more than $25,000 for each 12-month period. Payments can be a lump sum or in pieces. To get a bonus, the person must sign a written agreement that states the amount, how it will be paid, the required time of service, and the service conditions. An officer can replace an existing agreement with a new one only if the new pay is higher and the new term is at least as long as the time left. These payments are extra pay but cannot duplicate other specific payments for the same skill and time. If someone does not finish the training, keep qualifications, complete the service, or meet the agreed conditions, they must repay under the rules in section 373. The Secretary will make the regulations. No new agreements can be made after December 31, 2026.