MILPER Message 08-039

REGULAR ARMY ENLISTED SOLDIERS WHO ARE QUALIFIED IN A MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SKILL (MOS), SERVING IN THE APPROPRIATE GRADE, AND POSSESSING THE APPLICABLE TOTAL YEARS OF ACTIVE FEDERAL SERVICE (TAFS) LISTED IN THE TABLE BELOW MAY QUALIFY FOR THE CRITICAL SKILLS RETENTION BONUS.

SOLDIERS SERVING PURSUANT TO AN INDEFINITE REENLISTMENT WILL EXECUTE A WRITTEN AGREEMENT TO REMAIN ON ACTIVE DUTY FOR THE YEARS OF OBLIGATED SERVICE AS OUTLINED IN THE TABLE ABOVE. THE MINIMUM LENGTH OF A WRITTEN AGREEMENT IS TWO YEARS.

SO, I read that message and have a question. TAFS is Time Active Federal Service right? Just a guess. So if TAFS is, for example on the 35F 19-21 years in and an E-7-E-8. I thought after 10 it was indefinate? If it is an indef contract, how can someone reup for 72 months ($100,000)?

Yes, TAFS is total active federal service.

As stated above in the original post, if you're already serving under the indefinite reenlistmet program, you're agreeing to serve the next 6 years years or whatever you're agreeing to.

Not too bad, huh?

50,000 dollars makes motor trans seem sexy.

Even $100,000 for EOD!

I have a question about paragraph 4.D. Specifically how it applies to 35P (AD), E6, 10-12 years TAFS. Is a reenlistment contract still limited to the AOS and 16 year limit? Or, can one sign an indef contract past that limit, in order to get the full benefit?
Thanks, SSG Stewart

SOLDIERS SERVING PURSUANT TO AN INDEFINITE REENLISTMENT WILL EXECUTE A WRITTEN AGREEMENT TO REMAIN ON ACTIVE DUTY FOR THE YEARS OF OBLIGATED SERVICE AS OUTLINED IN THE TABLE ABOVE.

What this means is you will sign the CSRB Memo and "promise to serve" for the max AOS (72 in this case) and you'll get the entire $100,000.

Example: Your current ETS is 20100201. If you agree to serve for AOS of 72 months and reenlist today, your new ETS will be 20180209.

Just to make sure, you mean 2016, right? Wouldn't 72 months/6 years AOS make your ETS 20160201, if your current ETS is 20100201? By the way, thanks for being available to help guys like me out.
SSG Stewart

quote:

Originally posted by Marshall Stewart:
Just to make sure, you mean 2016, right?

You're absolutely right. Good catch. That's a typo on my part. Sorry for the confusion.

No problem, if you have any additional questions (or if your Soldiers/leaders have any questions) send them this way!

Has any MOS actually received this bonus yet? They seem to be holding them for some reason. At least for those in 89D. Paperwork has been checked on several times and people are being told that everything is in order and their paperwork has been approved. It is going on 60 days now for several individuals. Is this normal? No one is expecting anyone to drop what they are doing and focus solely on this. I am just asking out of pure curiosity because it seems to be taking an extraordinary amount of time.

I can tell you professionally (I've had over 25 89Ds paid in the last month) and personally (my brother-in-law (EOD) received his $100,000 CSRB) within 30 days) that Soldiers are being paid.

Did you have to reenlist for this or were you already indefinite? Who are you talking to to get a status?

You can also PM me your SSN and I'll get a status for you tomorrow.

Three people reenlisted and three, including my husband, were already indefinite. It is good to hear that they are paying it but it makes one wonder what is going on. They were all told that they qualified and there was nothing rejected when they spoke with their retention NCOs just last week. They are all in different units stationed at FT Lewis.

PM your husband's SSN and I'll get you a more exact answer.

A couple of our guys had some time remaining on our prior enlistment (2 years) we were told that we qualified for the CSRB and to go ahead with it. We re-enlisted INDEF (one in March the other in April) and was told everything was approved and was a go. However we have not been paid our bounus. Today I was told that it is held up at HRC. So what are our options now?

Current law (I'm still researching) does not allow the CSRB to be paid until previously obligated service has been completed.

HRC is currently working hard to get this changed and all Soldiers not already serving under the indefinite reenlistment program and having previously obligated service; I'll keep this community updated when change is made.