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JBSA News
NEWS | Feb. 1, 2019

Air Force gets bigger bang for EOD bucks

By Kat Bailey Air Force’s Personnel Center Public Affairs

The Air Force has been granted an exception to policy enabling it to offer Selective Retention Bonuses to a wider population of Explosive Ordnance Disposal senior noncommissioned officers, if they agree to continue serving in EOD for a minimum of three years.

 

As an exception to policy, the Air Force is offering this SRB instead of a Critical Skills Retention Bonus to SNCOs who have completed more than 20 but less than 25 years of active duty and who serve as EOD specialists in Air Force Specialty Code 3E8X1. The bonus amount for a three-year service agreement is $30,000. The amount for four years is $50,000 and a five-year service agreement is $75,000.

 

“The SRB program is a monetary incentive paid to Airmen serving in certain selected critical military skills who reenlist for additional obligated service,” said Edgar Holt, Air Force Personnel Center reenlistments program manager. “The bonus is intended to encourage qualified enlisted personnel to reenlist in areas where we have retention shortfalls or high training costs.”

 

Under this new authority, master sergeants who accept an SRB at 20 years of Total Active Federal Military Service or more may have their high year of tenure adjusted up to 25 years. Senior master sergeants who accept an SRB at 20 years TAFMS or more may have their HYT adjusted up to 28 years.

 

“In order to extend and receive this SRB, Airmen must have a service-directed retainability requirement such as Post 9/11 GI Bill® transfer, DEROS extension or Permanent Change of Station, for example,” Holt said.

 

This bonus is effective Jan. 29, although retroactive payments are not authorized. For more information regarding the SRB program, visit myPers or contact the local Military Personnel Flight Career Development section.