Army Enlistment Bonuses by MOS for 2013
The Army offers enlistment bonuses for military occupational specialties currently suffering a shortage or otherwise deemed a critical fill. These MOSs are separated into enlistment tier levels 1 through 5 with an MOS identified as level 1 receiving the greatest enlistment bonus and level 5 the least. Level 1 and Level 2 classified MOSs are eligible for the Army College Fund (ACF) and all levels are eligible for the College Loan Repayment Program (CLRP). However, selecting the ACF or or CLRP may reduce or eliminate the possible enlistment bonus received. Visit our pages on the Army College Fund and College Loan Repayment Program for more information on those enlistment incentives.
NOTE: I have not been able to get the latest enlistment bonus MILPER message since I have left the service and on my way back to school. If someone would like to send me the current MILPER message on enlistment bonuses, please let me know by sending me a message via the Contact page. I can then make more accurate updates to this page.
Current Enlistment Bonuses by MOS:
Payout Amount for Each Bonus Level
(these amounts are current as of 10 May 2011):
LEVEL 1 MOS Payout |
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| 3 YR | 4 YR | 5 YR | 6 YR | |
| Enlistment Bonus (EB) Only | 40,000 | 40,000 | 40,000 | 40,000 |
NOTE: Level 1 Enlistment bonuses are no longer listed as providing ACF or CLRP. This is due to MOS 09L (Interpreter / Translator) being the only level 1 MOS which receives a very generous $40,000 enlistment bonus for 3 or more years of service! Due to this specific MOS having such a large enlistment bonus, it is ineligible for all other enlistment incentives.
LEVEL 2 MOS Payout |
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| 3 YR | 4 YR | 5 YR | 6 YR | |
| Enlistment Bonus (EB) Only | 2,000 | 6,000 | 8,000 | 15,000 |
| ACF & Bonus | 1,000EB + 250ACF | 3,000EB + 350ACF | 4,000EB + 650ACF | 7,000EB + 950ACF |
| CLRP & Bonus | 1,000 | 3,000 | 4,000 | 7,000 |
*3000EB + 350ACF means you receive a $3,000 enlistment bonus(EB) and $350 a month for the Army College Fund (up to a maximum of 36 months).
The Army College Fund is not offered for levels 4-5. Selecting
the College Loan Repayment Program for a level 4-5 MOS eliminates any
enlistment bonus.
| LEVEL 3 MOS PAYOUT | |||
| 4 YR | 5 YR | 6 YR | |
| Enlistment Bonus (EB) Only | 2,000 | 6,000 | 8,000 |
| ACF & Bonus | 1,000 | 3,000 | 4,000 |
| CLRP & Bonus | 1,000EB + 350ACF | 3,000EB + 650ACF | 4,000EB + 950ACF |
| LEVEL 4 MOS PAYOUT | ||||
| 2 YR | 3 YR | 4 YR | 5 YR | 6 YR |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 2,000 | 6,000 |
| OR College Loan Repayment | ||||
*Level 5 MOSs are only eligible for the College Loan Repayment Program.
Seasonal Enlistment Bonuses
An even greater enlistment bonus can be had for those willing to ship to basic training rather quickly (within 30 or 60 days). Known as a seasonal bonus, the Army will offer such bonuses (in addition to the normal enlistment bonus) for MOSs in tier levels 1 through 4 that still have vacant training slots available. Seasonal bonuses will fluctuate based on whether an MOS is filling its allotted training slots. The payout amount is as follows:
For individuals agreeing to ship to basic training within 30
days:
TIER LEVEL 1: $10,000
TIER LEVEL 2: $7,000
TIER LEVEL 3: $3,000
TIER LEVEL 4: $3,000
For individuals agreeing to ship to basic training within 60
days:
TIER LEVEL 1: $3,000
TIER LEVEL 2: $2,000
Hi-Grad Enlistment Bonus
An additional Hi-Grad bonus is offered for MOSs in tier levels 1 through 5. Those enlisting in the Army with 30-59 college semester hours will receive an additional $1,000 bonus while those holding 60 or more semester hours receive an additional $2,000 bonus. The enlistment period must be three years or longer.
Other Enlistment Incentives
Other opportunities for enlistment bonuses include the Army Civilian Acquired Skills Program (ACASP), Airborne enlistment option, and the Ranger enlistment option ($5,000 paid at the first duty station). Furthermore, MOS 09L: Interpreter / Translator offers a unique enlistment bonus that is even greater than what is regularly offered for a tier level 1 identified MOS but is based on language.
Enlistment Bonus Ceilings and Payment Process
The total cash bonus that can be received is limited to $20,000 for a 3 year enlistment, $25,000 for a 4 year enlistment, $30,000 for a 5 year enlistment, and $40,000 for enlistments of 6 or more years. These ceilings do not apply for those qualified for the unique MOS 09L (Interpreter / Translator) bonus.
The initial payment amount may vary but will not exceed $10,000 (usually received after arriving at your first duty station) with the remainder being paid in annual increments over the initial enlistment contract.
NOTE: Visit our Army Jobs / MOS List section to easily browse through the enlisted MOSs. At a quick glance you can determine which MOSs offer an enlistment bonus, what the ASVAB score requirement is, etc.
Return to: Army Benefits
Article Last Modified: July 7th, 2013