U.S. Army Suspends Re-Enlistment Bonuses
The U.S. Army is hitting the pause button on re-enlistment bonuses until the end of the fiscal year. This decision comes after they successfully retained enough soldiers to meet their goals.
Army spokeswoman Madison Bonzo explained that while not every soldier receives a bonus, retaining more soldiers led to higher expenses. In the past, the Army could shift funds from other programs to cover bonuses, but this time, they chose to suspend them rather than risk other essential programs.
An internal Army message revealed that the Selective Retention Bonus Program would end, with this suspension expected to last until September 30, marking the end of the fiscal year.
Strong Retention Efforts Lead to Bonus Suspension
The Army’s decision followed a successful effort to keep soldiers in its ranks. In April, they achieved their goal of retaining 55,000 members scheduled to leave the military. This marks the fourth consecutive year they’ve met their retention targets. They also retained 3,700 more soldiers in 2023 compared to the previous fiscal year, which prompted the suspension of re-enlistment bonuses.
Recruitment Challenges Persist
This news comes at a time when military branches are facing recruitment challenges, particularly the Army, which fell 15,000 recruits short of its goals last year. While it’s likely they’ll miss their 2023 recruitment targets again, they believe they’re making progress and plan to do better than in 2022.
“We’ve been making positive strides in recent months and are on track to recruit more young Americans this year,” said Bonzo. “We’re actively recruiting with just two weeks left in the fiscal year.”
Selective Retention Bonus Program’s Role
The Army’s successful retention numbers can be partially attributed to the Selective Retention Bonus Program. This program offers qualified soldiers bonuses for re-enlisting in specific military specialties based on the Army’s needs. According to Bonzo, the program will be reinstated “very soon.”
The Army aims to maintain its momentum in the final weeks of recruitment. Army Secretary Christine Wormuth stated earlier this year that they expect to bring in more young Americans, despite the challenges they faced in 2022. However, she cautioned that they still have work to do to meet their goals.