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Individuals who enlist in the United States Army in designated short-age MOS's (jobs) can receive a monetary enlistment bonus.

Below are the enlistment bonuses offered by the Army for enlistment in designated shortage jobs. This list is current as of September 6, 2005.

Enlistment bonuses are subject to change. For the very latest in enlistment bonuses, check the Army MILPER Messages.

To qualify for one of the below bonuses, an applicant must be a considered a Tier I Educational Applicant. That means the applicant must have a high school diploma, or a GED with at least 15 college credits. Additionally, the applicant must score a minimum of 50 on their overall Armed Forces Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) score. This is commonly referred to as the "AFQT Score."

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A "Seasonal Bonus" (SB) is available for applicants with a 50 or greater ASVAB score, who are high school diploma graduates (or GED with at least 15 college credits) for a term of service of at least three years, who enlist in an MOS (job) which the Army Job computer system at MEPS (called the REQUEST system), currently has listed as a "Priority Training Seat." This bonus is also authorized for Educational Tier II (GED holders), who score 50 or greater on the ASVAB. The computer system lists the amount of SB which may be authorized. SB amounts are $14,000, $6,000, $3,000 or $1,000. This bonus may be combined with any other enlistment incentive.

A $5,000 bonus may be available for high school diploma graduates and GED applicants, who score 50 or greater on the ASVAB, for any MOS which the REQUEST computer system has listed as a critical shortage, even if the MOS is not listed on the enlistment bonus chart above. This bonus may be combined with any other enlistment incentive. To receive this bonus, recruits must ship out for active duty prior to October 1, 2005.

A $3000 HIGRAD BONUS IS AUTHORIZED FOR ALL MOS’S FOR NON-PRIOR SERVICE AND DOS APPLICANTS WITH 30-59 SEMESTER HOURS OF COLLEGE AND TSC I-IIIB. A $6000 HIGRAD BONUS IS AUTHORIZED FOR APPLICANTS WITH 60 SEMESTER HOURS OR MORE. APPLICANTS WITH A 2 YEAR ASSOCIATE DEGREE OR EQUIVALENT ARE AUTHORIZED $7000 AND APPLICANTS WITH A 4 YEAR COLLEGE DEGREE ARE AUTHORIZED $8000. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS MAY RECEIVE ONLY ONE HIGRAD BONUS. THIS BONUS MAY BE COMBINED WITH ALL OTHER INCENTIVES.

A "Hi Grad" Bonus is authorized for non-prior service and those who have been separated from the military for less than 90 days who have college credits and score higher than 50 on the ASVAB. $3,000 is authorized for those who have between 30-59 semester hours. A $6,000 bonus is authorized for those with 60 or more semester hours. Those with a 2-year associate degree (or equivalent) are authorized a bonus in the amount of $7,000, and applicants with a 4-year college degree are authorized $8,000. Applicants may receive only one Hi Grad Bonus. The bonus may be combined with all other incentives.

A $3,000 Airborne Bonus is authorized to non-prior service applicants who are high school diploma graudates (or GED with at least 15 college credits), who score 50 or greater on the ASVAB, and volunteer for Airborne Training with a guaranteed Airborne assignment. The bonus is authorized for the following MOS's: 11X (with Ranger Contract), 13B, 13D,13R, 15P, 21E, 21J, 25B, 25C, 25D, 25M, 25S, 35A, 37F, 42A, 45B, 52D, 63B, 88M, 92A, 92G, 92Y, 96B, and 97E.

The Airborne Bonus is also authorized for those who renegociate their enlistment contracts in Basic Training, AIT, or OSUT for Airborne Training with a guaranteed airborne assignment in the following MOSs: 11X (with Ranger Contract), 15P, 25B, 25S, 42A, 52D, 88M, 92G, 92Y, 96B, and 97E.

A $5000 BONUS IS AVAILABLE TO QUALIFIED APPLICANTS WHO ENLIST IN THE NATIONAL CALL TO SERVICE PROGRAM AND SELECT THE BONUS OPTION. THIS BONUS MAY NOT BE COMBINED WITH ANY OTHER ENLISTMENT INCENTIVE AND WILL BE PAID UPON COMPLETION OF THE 15 MONTH TERM OF SERVICE. THE FOLLOWING MOS ARE AUTHORIZED THE $5000 BONUS FOR NATIONAL CALL TO SERVICE:

A $5,000 Bonus is available to qualified applicants who enlist in the National Call to Service Program (who select the Bonus Option). The bonus may not be combined with any other enlistment incentive. The following MOS's are eligible for the NCSP: 11X, 13B, 13D, 13F, 13M, 13P, 13S, 13W, 15Q, 15R, 15T, 15U, 19D, 19K, 21B, 21C, 21E, 21F, 21J, 21K, 21L, 21M, 21R, 21S, 21T, 21U, 21V, 21W, 31B, 42A, 42L, 45B, 52C, 52D, 55B, 56M, 63B, 63S, 63W, 73C, 74D, 88H, 88M, 88N, 91E, 91G, 91Q, 91R, 91S, 91T, 91W, 92A, 92F, 92G, 92M, 92S, 92W, 92Y, 96R. The bonus is payable upon completion of the 15 months of active duty service, following basic training and job training.

A Blue to Green (B2G) Bonus is available to B2G applicants who transfer to the Army for an enlistment term of three or more years with an Priority Training Seat. The REQEST Computer system will determine the bonus amount (either $10,000 or $5,000, depending on MOS). Applicants may reserve a training seat prior to separation from active service. This bonus may not be combined with any other incentive.

A $3,000 Army Civilian Acquired Skill Program (ACASP) Bonus is authorized for all MOS's listed in the enlistment bonus chart above for ACASP applicants who enlist for a term of service for 3 or more years. The bonus may be combined with other enlistment incentives.

The total bonus amount may not exceed $6,000 for a two year active duty enlistment, $10,000 for a three year enlistment (except for$20,000 for MOS's listed as "critical" in the REQUEST Computer System), and $20,000 for a 4 or more year enlistment. Bonuses are payable after completion of training and arrival at the first permanent duty station. No more than $10,000 may be paid in a "lump sum." The remainder of the bonus (if any) are paid in annual installments during the term of enlistment. Applicants who do not complete their initial term of service, as contracted, will be required to refund any unearned portion of their enlistment bonuses, including seasonable, hi grad, airborne, ACASP, or any other enlistment bonus incentive, in accordance with Army Regulation 601-280.

Applicants selecting the 18X (Special Forces) enlistment option, who do not complete any portion of their MOS qualification training will revert to MOS 11X (Infantry). They will receive the bonus for MOS 11X that was in effect at the time of their enlistment contract.

The above changes do not affect persons currently in the Delayed Enlistment Program (DEP) or persons who enlisted prior to September 6, 2005.

Bonus amounts are reduced when combined with the Army College Fund option.