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Referral bonus discontinued July 1

The Army has suspended the $2,000 bonus it paid to soldiers, retirees, cadets and Army civilians who referred new recruits to join the service.

The suspension takes effect July 1. Soldiers who submitted referrals before July 1 will receive their bonus if their recruits enlist before Sept. 30, said Douglas Smith, spokesman for Recruiting Command.

The Army Referral System — Sergeant Major of the Army Recruiting Team program offered $2,000 bonuses to active, Guard and Reserve soldiers, retirees, U.S. Military Academy and ROTC cadets, and Army civilians who referred a new recruit who wound up enlisting in the active Army or Army Reserve, Smith said. Although the bonus has been suspended, the program still exists, and those who make successful referrals after July 1 will receive a Sergeant Major of the Army coin and a certificate, Smith said.

The referral bonus is just the latest in a string of recruiting and retention bonuses that have been suspended or cut as the Army balances strong recruiting and retention rates with cuts in the budget. Also, the Army reached its authorized end-strength of 547,400 in January, three years earlier than planned.

Similar programs that offer $2,000 referral bonuses, including the Guard and Army Reserve Recruiting Assistance Programs, are still in place, and bonuses are still available.