BEAR program options decrease

[unhappycamper]

Reductions were made to the Bonus Extension and Retraining program effective Feb. 20. They are similar to changes made in the Enhanced SRB program.


BEAR program options decrease
By Jim Tice - Staff writer
Posted : Saturday Mar 7, 2009 10:56:47 EST

A force alignment incentive that encourages soldiers in overstrength specialties to retrain and re-enlist in priority specialties has been scaled back by the Army.

Reductions to the Bonus Extension and Retraining program took effect Feb. 20 and are similar to changes made in the Enhanced SRB program on that date.

Among the changes affecting both programs is the elimination of the ETS (expiration term of service) option that was aimed at soldiers whose enlistments expire before Oct. 1, the end of fiscal 2009.

Before the Feb. 20 elimination of this option, the ETS category featured bonuses of $2,000 to $18,500 for soldiers who retrained and reclassified in 10 critical skills from the field artillery, air defense, aviation, signal, public affairs, transportation and quartermaster career management fields.

These bonus levels were introduced in January and have not changed. However, there have been adjustments to the specialties and eligibility zones.


Rest of article at: http://armytimes.com/news/2009/03/army_bear_030709w/%2e