(Photo: MCSA Ryre Arciaga/Navy)
Now that the Navy has a budget, the outlook for re-up bonuses this year is bright — and that's not the only good news.
Officials have heard sailors' complaints about re-enlistment bonuses and are now eyeing radical new options to entice more to stay. As it is, only 9,100 sailors were expected to re-up for bonus bucks in fiscal 2015, which ended in September. Many sailors aren't in career fields or skill sets that qualify for re-up cash.
Now, officials are looking at spreading money to more sailors and also considering new perks, from getting a choice assignment, earning a higher incentive pay or getting a coveted school. The push for corporate-style bonuses will allow the Navy to offer sailors more perks and flexibility in signing up, and an independent think tank recently drafted recommendations for how the scheme should work.
Bonuses are only one part of the plan. They're looking to throw much more into the Selective Reenlistment Bonus offerings.
“In order to continue to recruit and retain the very best, we need modern personnel policies and retention tools that offer flexibility and choice,” said Lt. Cmdr. Nate Christensen, spokesman for the chief of naval personnel. "We are continuing to look at a variety of options that will help us do just that — including the way bonuses are paid to our sailors."
These days, sailors and their families want greater control over their futures. The Navy's personnel boss says future bonus and incentive plans will likely include desired locations, coveted schools and Navy Enlisted Classifications, hard-to-get assignments and bonus dough.
"We regularly hear from our folks that flat rate bonuses by themselves are less and less of a reason for high quality sailors to stay Navy," said Vice Adm. Bill Moran, the chief of naval personnel. "To ensure we keep the right people with the right skills, we need to continue to improve and refine the SRB process.”
Officials are coming up with some radical offerings and expect to sailor-test them in the next few years. The moves could guarantee more sailors the perks they want, while also saving the Navy some money.
“Our personnel initiatives are aimed at empowering commanding officers, having flexible policies, better tools, and more choices for those who might otherwise not join the Navy or consider leaving,” Christensen said. “It’s about opportunity, agility and a wider aperture of what service means. It’s not just about the money.”
Some ideas can be handled by changing Navy rules. Other details might require the OK from the Defense Department and Congress, as they're based on military-wide policies or law.
A source said they’re still evaluating the policy and legal moves necessary to experiment with new bonus offerings.
Outlook
In offering bonuses, officials take into account the need for experienced and top-notch talent in the most critical skills, and weigh that against the ability to train new sailors off the street.
Some skills can't be found on the street. They require experience.
Many officers, for example, are offered big retention bonuses if their initial service obligation is expiring to entice them into critical jobs like department head and command.
Enlisted with up to 14 years are eligible for SRB money. Those with more years are eligible for Enlisted Supervisor Retention Pay.
The Navy pays out bonuses at five levels, depending on the Navy's need for a given skill: $30,000, $45,000, $60,000, $75,000 and $100,000.
By Mark D. Faram, Staff writer Navy Times
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