| BEAR PROGRAM UPDATES The Bonus Extension and Retraining program was last updated in April. It applies to soldiers in overstrength military occupational specialties who retrain and reclassify in a shortage MOS. Soldiers serving under the BEAR program may have up to 24 months of previously obligated service forgiven, provided they re-enlist for the Regular Army re-up option within 90 days after completing MOS training. |
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| Critical skills option | |||||
| Soldiers who extend under the provisions of the BEAR program and who hold a critical skill (see Table 1) may be entitled to a lump sum bonus as follows: | |||||
| 12-23 months | 24-35 months | 36-47 months | 48-59 months | 60+ months | |
| Zone A | |||||
| Pfc. | none | $3,000 | $4,500 | $6,000 | $7,500 |
| Spc. | none | $4,000 | $5,000 | $6,500 | $8,500 |
| Sgt. | none | $5,000 | $6,000 | $8,000 | $10,500 |
| Staff sgt. | none | $6,000 | $8,000 | $10,500 | $12,500 |
| Zone B | |||||
| Spc. | none | $5,000 | $7,000 | $9,000 | $10,000 |
| Sgt. | none | $7,000 | $8,000 | $11,000 | $14,000 |
| Staff sgt. | none | $8,000 | $11,000 | $14,000 | $16,000 |
| Zone C | |||||
| Spc. | $1,000 | $1,000 | $2,000 | $2,500 | $8,500 |
| Sgt. | $1,500 | $1,500 | $2,500 | $3,000 | $10,500 |
| Staff sgt. | $2,000 | $2,000 | $3,000 | $4,000 | $12,000 |
| Table 1: Critical skills | ||
| MOS | Description/Rank | SRB Zone |
| 13R | Field artillery firefinder radar operator (E-3 through nonpromotable E-4) | A and B |
| 14S | Air and missile defense crewmember (E-3 through nonpromotable E-4) | A and B |
| 15J | OH-58D armament/electrical/avionics system repairer (E-3 through nonpromotable E-4) | A and B |
| 21Y | Geospatial engineer (E-3 through promotable E-4) | A, B and C |
| 25N | Nodal network operator-maintainer(E-3 through nonpromotable E-4) | A and B |
| 25P | Microwave systems operator-maintainer (E-3 through promotable E-4) | A, B and C |
| 25Q | Multi-channel transmission systems operator-maintainer (E-3 through promotable E-4) | A, B and C |
| 25U | Signal support systems specialist (E-3 through promotable E-4) | A, B and C |
| 27D | Paralegal specialist (E-3 through nonpromotable E-4) | A and B |
| 35N | Signals intelligence analyst (E-5 through E-6) | A, B and C |
| 46R | Public affairs broadcast specialist (promotable E-4 through E-5) | A, B and C |
| 68W | Health care specialist (E-3 through nonpromotable E-4) | A and B |
| 92F | Petroleum supply specialist (E-3 through promotable E-5) | A, B and C |
| Special critical skills option Soldiers who extend under the provisions of the BEAR program and who reclassify to a special critical skill (see Table 2) may be eligible for a bonus as follows: |
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| 12-23 months | 24-35 months | 36-47 months | 48-59 months | 60+ months | |
| Zone A | |||||
| Spc. | $6,000 | $8,000 | $10,000 | $12,500 | $16,000 |
| Sgt. | $8,000 | $9,500 | $11,000 | $13,500 | $18,000 |
| Staff sgt. | $9,500 | $11,000 | $13,500 | $17,500 | $20,000 |
| Zone B | |||||
| Spc. | $6,000 | $8,500 | $10,000 | $13,000 | $17,500 |
| Sgt. | $8,000 | $10,000 | $12,000 | $14,000 | $18,500 |
| Staff sgt. | $9,500 | $12,000 | $14,000 | $18,500 | $21,000 |
| Zone C | |||||
| Sgt. | $9,500 | $12,000 | $14,000 | $18,500 | $21,000 |
| Staff sgt. | $11,000 | $16,500 | $17,500 | $23,000 | $27,000 |
| Table 2: Special critical skills | ||
| MOS | Rank | SRB Zone |
| 09L | Interpreter/translator (E-5 through E-6) | A, B and C |
| 18B | Special Forces weapons sergeant (E-4 through E-7) | A, B and C |
| 18C | Special Forces engineer sergeant (E-4 through E-7) | A, B and C |
| 18D | Special Forces medical sergeant (E-4 through E-7) | A, B and C |
| 18E | Special Forces communications sergeant (E-3 through E-7) | A, B and C |
| 18F | Special Forces assistant operations and intelligence sergeant (E-7 only) | A, B and C |
| 21D | Diver (E-4 only) | A and B |
| 21P | Prime power production specialist (E-4* through promotable E-5) | A, B and C |
| 25L (ASI J2) | Cable systems installer-maintainer (E-3 through E-5) | A, B and C |
| 25S | Satellite communications operator-maintainer (E-3 through nonpromotable E-4) | And and B |
| 35H | Common ground station analyst (E-3 through nonpromotable E-4) | A and B |
| 35L | Counterintelligence agent (E-5 through E-6) | A, B and C |
| 35N | Signals intelligence analyst (E-4 only) | A, B and C |
| 35P | Cryptologic linguist (E-3 through E-6) | A, B and C |
| 37F | Psychological operations specialist (E-4 through E-6) | A, B and C |
| 38B | Civil affairs specialist (E-5 through E-6) | A, B and C |
| 89D | Explosive ordnance disposal specialist (E-3 through promotable E-4) | A, B and C |
| * Specialist must meet the criteria of the Special MOS Alignment Promotion Program and be a sergeant at the time of re-enlistment. | ||
| Critical skills location option Soldiers who extend and reclassify under the provisions of the BEAR program may be eligible for a lump-sum bonus listed in Table 3 as follows: |
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| 12-23 months | 24-35 months | 36-47 months | 48-59 months | 60+ months | |
| Zone A | |||||
| Pfc. | $1,500 | $2,000 | $3,000 | $6,000 | $9,000 |
| Spc. | $2,000 | $3,000 | $4,000 | $7,500 | $9,500 |
| Sgt. | $3,000 | $4,000 | $5,000 | $8,000 | $10,000 |
| Staff sgt. | $4,000 | $5,000 | $6,000 | $10,000 | $15,000 |
| Zone B | |||||
| Spc. | none | $5,000 | $7,000 | $9,000 | $10,000 |
| Sgt. | none | $7,000 | $8,000 | $11,000 | $13,500 |
| Staff sgt. | none | $8,000 | $11,000 | $14,000 | $15,500 |
| Zone C | |||||
| Spc. | $1,000 | $1,000 | $2,000 | $2,500 | $9,500 |
| Sgt. | $1,500 | $1,500 | $2,500 | $3,000 | $10,000 |
| Staff sgt. | $2,000 | $2,000 | $3,000 | $4,000 | $15,000 |
| Table 3 | |||
| MOS | Location | Rank | SRB Zone |
| 68W (SQI F) | At all general support aviation locations | E-5 only (PMOS 68W only) | A, B and C |
| 68W (ASI W1) | Special Operations Command | -3 through E-6 (PMOS 68W w/"P only) | A, B and C |
