The Air Force reported in a press release the opening of two bonus programs that aim to retain "experienced airmen and qualified officers" to combat personnel shortages:
The programs called: the Fiscal Year 2024 Experienced Airman Retention Incentive (EARI), formerly known as the Aviation Bonus, and the 2024 Demonstration Bonus will offer up to $600,000 in total over the next 12 years to military pilots who enroll in 2024:
The Air Force recently announced the opening of two Air Force regular aviation bonus programs for FY24: the FY2024 Experienced Airman Retention Incentive, formerly known as the Aviation Bonus, and the Demonstration Bonus for fiscal year 2024.
It is reported that the bonuses range from "$15,000 to $50,000 per year for contracts ranging from three to 12 years of additional service." Likewise, it is detailed that "eligible active duty airmen have until August 1 to register":
Eligible active duty Airmen have until August 1, 2024 to apply for EARI and the FY 2024 Demonstration Bonus; however, the program eligibility window will close early if the maximum budgeted number of contracts is reached by August 1.
The EARI aims to "deliberately develop and retain experienced qualified officers to meet the Air Force's mission readiness, training and retention requirements to maintain force lethality."
Air Force Major General Adrián España, director of training and readiness and deputy chief of staff for operations at Air Force Headquarters, said in the statement:
In today's strategic environment, the requirement to preserve critical skills in our Air Force has never been more important ... Specifically, aviation-related skills, formed through the crucible of combat and the daily execution of high intensity, are the necessary foundation to continue to effectively deliver warfighting capabilities to the Joint Force and the American people. Retaining the experience and expertise of these professional Airmen within Total Force is imperative to meeting future challenges that may arise across the entire spectrum of conflict.
