§ 331 — General Bonus Authority For Enlisted Members

(a) The Secretary concerned may pay a bonus under this section to a person, including a member of the armed forces, who— (1) enlists in an armed force; (2) enlists in or affiliates with a reserve component of an armed force; (3) reenlists, voluntarily extends an enlistment, or otherwise agrees to serve— (A) for a specified period in a designated career field, skill, or unit of an armed force; or (B) under other conditions of service in an armed force; (4) transfers from a regular component of an armed force to a reserve component of that same armed force or from a reserve component of an armed force to the regular component of that same armed force; or (5) transfers from a regular component or reserve component of an armed force to a regular component or reserve component of another armed force, subject to the approval of the Secretary with jurisdiction over the armed force to which the member is transferring. (b) A bonus authorized by subsection (a) may be paid to a person or member only if the person or member agrees under subsection (d)— (1) to serve for a specified period in a designated career field, skill, unit, or grade; or (2) to meet some other condition or conditions of service imposed by the Secretary concerned. (1) The Secretary concerned shall determine the amount of a bonus to be paid under this section, except that— (A) a bonus paid under paragraph (1) or (2) of subsection (a) may not exceed $75,000 for a minimum two-year period of obligated service agreed to under subsection (d); (B) a bonus paid under paragraph (3) of subsection (a) may not exceed $50,000 for each year of obligated service in a regular component agreed to under subsection (d); (C) a bonus paid under paragraph (3) of subsection (a) may not exceed $15,000 for each year of obligated service in a reserve component agreed to under subsection (d); and (D) a bonus paid under paragraph (4) or (5) of subsection (a) may not exceed $10,000. (2) A bonus under this section may be paid in a lump sum or in periodic installments, as determined by the Secretary concerned. (3) Upon acceptance by the Secretary concerned of the written agreement required by subsection (d), the total amount of the bonus to be paid under the agreement shall be fixed. (d) To receive a bonus under this section, a person or member determined to be eligible for the bonus shall enter into a written agreement with the Secretary concerned that specifies— (1) the amount of the bonus; (2) the method of payment of the bonus under subsection (c)(2); (3) the period of obligated service; and (4) the type or conditions of the service. (e) A bonus paid to a person or member under this section is in addition to any other pay and allowance to which the person or member is entitled. (f) A bonus authorized under this section is not a bounty for purposes of section 514(a) of title 10. (g) A person or member who receives a bonus under this section and who fails to complete the period of service, or meet the conditions of service, for which the bonus is paid, as specified in the written agreement under subsection (d), shall be subject to the repayment provisions of section 373 of this title. (h) No agreement may be entered into under this section after December 31, 2025.