Army ups bonuses for recruits to $50K, as COVID takes toll

[George II]

Source: Associated Press

By LOLITA C. BALDOR
33 minutes ago

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Army, for the first time, is offering a maximum enlistment bonus of $50,000 to highly skilled recruits who join for six years, The Associated Press has learned, as the service struggles to lure soldiers into certain critical jobs amid the continuing pandemic.

Maj. Gen. Kevin Vereen, head of Army Recruiting Command, told AP that shuttered schools and the competitive job market over the past year have posed significant challenges for recruiters. So heading into the most difficult months of the year for recruiting, the Army is hoping that some extra cash and a few other changes will entice qualified young people to sign up.

“We are still living the implications of 2020 and the onset of COVID, when the school systems basically shut down,” said Vereen. “We lost a full class of young men and women that we didn’t have contact with, face-to-face.”

Two years of the pandemic has made it more difficult to recruit in schools and at public events, and the competition for quality workers has intensified as young people weigh their options.



Read more: https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-army-us-army-b6be4a79b014327e1105dc7a857c8f56

[mahatmakanejeeves]

1. George II wins by a nose. From WTOP, the same AP story:

What's the upper age limit, I wonder.

Home » Government News » Army ups bonuses for…

Army ups bonuses for recruits to $50K, as COVID takes toll

The Associated Press

January 12, 2022, 1:19 PM

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Army, for the first time, is offering a maximum enlistment bonus of $50,000 to highly skilled recruits who join for six years, The Associated Press has learned, as the service struggles to lure soldiers into certain critical jobs amid the continuing pandemic.

Maj. Gen. Kevin Vereen, head of Army Recruiting Command, told AP that shuttered schools and the competitive job market over the past year have posed significant challenges for recruiters. So heading into the most difficult months of the year for recruiting, the Army is hoping that some extra cash and a few other changes will entice qualified young people to sign up.

“We are still living the implications of 2020 and the onset of COVID, when the school systems basically shut down,” said Vereen. “We lost a full class of young men and women that we didn’t have contact with, face-to-face.” ... Two years of the pandemic has made it more difficult to recruit in schools and at public events, and the competition for quality workers has intensified as young people weigh their options.

{snip}

To entice recruits, those who sign up for a six-year enlistment in one of several high-demand career fields can get bonuses that total as much as $50,000. Given the high standards, it will be difficult for many to qualify for the top bonus.

{snip}

[madville]

2. It always sounds good

But when you amortize it out over 6 years and take out the taxes it’s basically a $500 a month bonus. That doesn’t sound as attractive.

[manicdem]

4. It is good

Rare for entry level jobs to offer a $500 a month bonus. I don't know of any.

[madville]

10. That's terrible in today's job market

Over their first six years they’ll probably average $30k a year in taxable income between about $24-36k if they can make it to E-5 towards the end.

Add $8k a year average in bonus pay before taxes, SS, etc. So $38k a year average. With training, duty, etc it’s probably a 60 hour a week job on a light week. That’s around an $11 an hour job on average over the six years counting the OT at 1.5x. That’s including the bonus!

Meanwhile businesses can’t fill $20 an hour entry level jobs out here in the civilian world lol.

[rpannier]

16. You are seriously low balling the perks of being on active duty

Free medical and dental for you and your family. That's a lot right there.
- I have two porcelain crowns on my teeth put on when I was in the Army. They were both free, even though I didn't break my teeth while on active duty -- I broke them when I was 7 and 9 playing hockey.
One of the crowns fell out and got lost while on duty. The dentist put the porcelain crown on (5000 dollars in 1992 money) and said, "I don't like the way that looks in your mouth." and he had a second made (though I didn't need it) -- both free. That's about 10k right there
Birth of a child, surgery, psychologist? All free -- though (when I was in) they charge you a few bucks for meals
- I had ankle surgery, and knee surgery and all I was charged was for food and I was on crutches for a month. Did physical therapy for both surgeries, had follow up appointments (the ankle surgery was done at the Air Force Academy even though I was Army because when I got injured I was brought to Peterson AFB, so they were my doctors of responsibility) and I paid nothing for everything they did.
Want to pursue a degree, a second degree? The military pays a portion of that
Medical School? Law School? Vet? They'll foot the whole bill.
The use of the PX and commissary -- non taxed goods
As well as use of military bases/posts anywhere in the world
Banks that operate on bases are regulated
Food and housing is free if you live in the barracks (no utility payments)
Live off base - BAS and BAQ: The monthly pay for food and housing. You keep what you don't spend. (In the early 90's I was receiving 290 a month BAQ and 270 a month BAS as an E-4.)

Yeah... 20 bucks an hour, crappy health coverage if any, ability to be fired, etc. lol

[madville]

18. Young people don't care about medical and dental benefits

Especially the ones on their first enlistment deemed healthy enough to initially join in the first place these days. They are thinking about blowing all their money on a used truck or muscle car from the predatory car lots outside the base offering 18% interest and all they need is a copy of their LES to qualify.

E-3 and below in the Army are rarely going to be getting BAH and BAS unless they are married and then they’ll be broke regardless in the inflated rental markets around most bases these days. I first got BAH as a single person at E-4 in 1999, $390 a month and the cheapest one bedroom apartment in that area was $550 just for the rent, good luck, find some roommates.

I did 21 years, retired at E-8, most don’t recognize and appreciate all the benefits you mention until later, like the 8+ year mark and they have a family, once they’ve decided to make a career of it.

[manicdem]

21. Military sets people up for success

Yeah, military does a good job of making people successful in life if they adapt and put in the hard work.

[marie999]

19. I find it closer to $50,000 average including the bonus.

E-1 4 months, E-2 4 months, E-3 6 months, E-4 18 months, E-5 28 months, and E-6 12 months. I had to break down months in my calculation because there are raises after time in service. I used the months for a Russian linguist in the Army Security Agency in the 60s.

[manicdem]

20. A lot better than that

Benefits and pay are way better than that. Medical, no rent, food, GI bill, dependents, tuition assistance, propays, retirement, opportunity for OCS/ROTC, etc. Plus this could be for a person straight out of high school with no skills or experience.

Do a good 4 years in the military and switch to the civilian side and at least you'll get gibill, some retirement, leadership skills, discipline, and job experience. On the high end a high paying TS contract job or tech skills

[doc03]

3. I doubt they will take a 73 year old. If they take that $50000

and invest it wisely they would have a nice nest egg along with their military pension. But most will blow it on a pickup truck.

[TheRealNorth]

7. "Most will blow it on a pick-up truck"

That's what all my friends that joined the military did- they took their savings and bought a pick-up as soon as they came out.

[ColinC]

5. Wife won't let me re enlist

[George II]

8. I'm wondering if a 73-year old with an Honorable Discharge can re-enlist?

[ColinC]

9. I hear they have waivers for everything

[rpannier]

12. If you find out they can let me know

I'm under 60 and have an honorable

[George II]

14. I don't even think I'd pass the physical at this point. As a matter of fact, I don't even know...

....where one goes to enlist in the military these days. Years ago there were recruitment centers all over the place - Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines.

[nitpicker]

6. Traditionally it was 33 max, but rules have changed

https://militarybenefits.info/military-enlistment-age-limits/#:~:text=Army%20Age%20Limit%3A%2035%20for,38%20for%20Air%20Force%20Reserve

And given the effects of the last two sedentary years, I suspect the pool of those able to enter active duty has shrunken further.

[madville]

11. Also COVID vaccination and legal marijuana use

That will be too big disqualifying factors for the foreseeable future as well. Regardless of the opinions or politics surrounding those issues, it will significantly continue to shrink the recruitment pool. Last I saw obesity was the #1 disqualifying factor, followed by prior drug use and criminal history. Tattoos and piercings in prohibited places or with prohibited content were also quite high on the list.

[TexasBushwhacker]

13. "Highly skilled" - that's the key to the piggy bank

If you're just a kid out of high school, I doubt it's anything.

[manicdem]

22. It can be

Depends where the shortages are and test scores. Vast majority of jobs in the military require no prior experience or skills prior to joining. Most is based on Asvab scores, so do well in high school to get good scores and you could be almost anything. Including becoming an officer.

[marie999]

23. You don't have to be highly skill if your tests show you can learn one of the right jobs.

I enlisted right out of high school and after basic training, I spent a year learning Russia. 6 hours a day, 5 days a week, 47 weeks, automatic E-4 specialist 4th class, 23 credits from UC Berkeley, top secret clearance NSA. If I reenlisted for 6 years I would have received a bonus of $10,000. Inflation wise much higher the $50,000.

[Gore1FL]

15. Seems like a smaller military makes more sense. Nt

[DENVERPOPS]

17. They did that

and ended up employing a TON of people through Halliburton. In turn, that massive hiring enriched the Halliburton executives and stock holders more than they ever dreamed of. And of course, don't forget the large number of Black Water Merc's they brought in....once again at ludicrous prices..........