March 14, 2011

Social Inequity and the Public Treasury: Why Should Federal Workers, Career Military, and Public School Employees Get a Larger Share Than Others?

Military Pay and Benefits Top Federal Civilian Compensation

  • In 2009, the average wage for the nation's 108 million private sector workers was $50,082; the benefit cost for the average private sector employees was $9,974.
  • In 2009, the average wage for the nation's two million federal civilian workers was $79,197; the benefit cost for the average federal employee was $40,785.
January 26, 2011

govexec.com - Military personnel receive higher salaries and better benefits than most federal civilian employees, according to the Congressional Budget Office.[Editor's Note: And most federal civilian employees receive higher salaries and better benefits than private sector employees, state government employees and local government employees (everyone except public school employees, where they are about equal.]

In a Jan. 20 study requested by Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Md., CBO found the average enlisted service member receives higher cash compensation -- made up of basic pay, housing and food allowances, and tax benefits -- than 75 percent of civilian workers with comparable education.

In addition, officers with at least two years of experience are paid more than three-quarters of federal employees with four-year college degrees. The disparity between officer and civilian cash compensation increases with years of experience and is greater than the disparity for enlisted personnel, according to the report.

CBO also found benefits for service members are more generous than those available to federal employees. While military members receive benefits roughly equal in value to their cash compensation, effectively doubling their overall compensation, civilians receive only half as much, or an additional 55 percent.
"[Federal civilians] generally pay more for health insurance than military personnel do," the report said. "For people who stay for a full career, the military retirement system is more generous than the federal civilian system... In addition, noncash benefits like subsidized housing and groceries are not available to most federal civilian workers."
The report also noted several challenges in comparing military and civilian pay. Occupations are different across both workforces, and pay analyses cannot account for intangible benefits, such as working conditions or career responsibilities, or on-the-job training and education. Government-provided training for military personnel would increase compensation even further over that of civilian employees, according to CBO.
When President Obama in November 2010 announced a two-year freeze on federal civilian salaries, Hoyer said government could achieve additional savings, as well as pay parity, if the freeze applied to both civilian and military employees.
"While I appreciate that the president reduced the length of his proposed pay freeze from three to two years, it would have produced significantly more savings had that sacrifice been shared between federal civilian and military personnel -- with a strong exception for the members of our military and civilian employees risking their lives on our behalf in Afghanistan, Iraq and anywhere else they are serving in harm's way," Hoyer said.
According to spokeswoman Maureen Beach, Hoyer has not made any judgments on the CBO report's findings at this point.
"We appreciate that the CBO put together this report, which is part of Congressman Hoyer's larger effort to assemble information on the state of federal and military pay," Beach said.

Navy Bonus and Incentives Overview

Military.com - The Navy offers many incentives for joining; these include several types of cash signing bonuses, education bonuses, and additional incentives. If you qualify for more than one bonus the Navy may combine them to pay a combined bonus, which is not to exceed $30,000, except in the case of Nuclear and SEAL enlistment programs which are capped at $40,000.

Many cash enlistment incentives may also be combined with either the Navy’s Student Loan Repayment Program or the Navy College Fund, but not both.

How the Navy Pays Bonuses

If you enlist for cash bonuses the Navy will normally pay the entire bonus amount (lump sum), when you arrive at your first permanent duty station, after you have successfully completed your training. In some cases the Navy may pay the bonuses incrementally as you reach certain career milestones or following special training.

Navy Cash Bonuses

The Navy’s cash bonuses include bonuses for joining the Navy SEALS, choosing a high demand job specialty - called a Navy Rating, for selecting a specific date to begin basic training - called shipping dates, for having a college education, signing up for “Delayed Entry,” and more.

The following is a quick summary of the current Navy Cash Bonus:
  • Enlisted Source Rate (Specialty) Bonuses (ESRBP)– Up to $15,000
  • Enlistment Bonus Source Rate with Navy College Fund (EBSR-NCF)– up to 8,000 plus up to $72,900 for the Navy College Fund.
  • Extended Enlistment Bonus – Up to $5,000
  • College Education Bonus – up to $8,000
  • National Call to Service Bonus – Combined incentives equal to more than $23,000.
  • Navy SEAL or Special Warfare Bonuses – Up to $40,000
  • Extended Delayed Entry Program – $500
  • High ASVAB score - $100 for Each Month on DEP

Army National Guard Bonus and Incentive Overview

Military.com - The National Guard offers many incentives for joining; these include several types of cash signing bonuses and education incentives. If you qualify for more than one bonus the National Guard may combine them to pay a combined bonus, which is not to exceed $20,000.

How the Army National Guard Pays Bonuses

Depending on the type of bonus, the Army National Guard Enlistment bonuses are paid either in one lump sum upon successful completion of initial entry training or in a 50/50 payment plan. Under the 50/50 plan National Guardsmen are paid 50 percent at the completion of Initial Active Duty for Training (IADT)and the remaining 50 percent paid in at the end of three years service.

Army National Guard Cash Bonuses

The bonuses include cash for choosing a high demand military occupational specialty (MOS), for selecting a specific date to begin basic training, for being willing to leave for boot camp within 45 days (Quick Ship), for advanced civilian skills, and more.

The following is a quick summary of the current Army National Guard Cash Bonus:
  • National Guard Non-Prior Service Enlistment Bonuses – up to $20,000
  • Non-Prior Service Quick Ship or Off-Peak Bonus - $5,000 (each)
  • Prior Service Affiliation Bonus – up to $20,000
  • Civilian Acquired Skills Program (CASP) Bonus – $10,000

A $15,000 Bonus for Selected Marines

October 5, 2010

MilitaryHub - Even in times of military budget cuts and economic downturn, the military continues to offer a variety of military bonuses.

Military bonuses are not about throwing money recklessly at troops; bonuses are deployed in order to help allocate the military budget in a clear, deliberate way and thus build the most complete and powerful U.S. military force possible.

For 2010, the Marine Force Reserve offered $15,000 in re-enlistment and affiliation bonuses for Marines in selected fields, with the goal of building and retaining a diverse selection of Marines and creating the most effective force.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR MARINE BONUSES?

The $15,000 Marine Force Reserve re-enlistment bonus eligibility includes active-duty or Individual Ready Reserve corporals (IRR), sergeants, and staff sergeants in over 125 Military Occupational Specialties (MOS), including Marines in infantry, communications and artillery spots.

Enlisted active-duty and IRR Marines entering the SMCR, who retrain for a new MOS, are not eligible for the $15,000 bonus.

The $15,000 Marine Force Reserve bonus, directed to the first 300 Marines to sign up and re-enlist before September 30, 2010, also required Marines to sign a three-year contract with the Selected Marine Corps Reserve.

HOW MILITARY BONUSES SHAPE THE MILITARY FORCE

After years of manpower shortages due to high operation demands in Iraq and Afghanistan, by 2010 the Reserve finally came back to a higher manpower number of 39,600. New bonuses intended to fill essential gaps in Marine units including intelligence, logistics, explosive ordnance disposal, aircraft maintenance, and public affairs.

More Army Incentives, Bonuses and Rewards

February 26, 2010

Military Hub - Today’s Army offers more enlistment incentives than any other branch of the US military services. Of course, joining any branch of the military comes with the special benefits and rewards of military life including today’s most complete GI Bill for educational support, and access to financial programs like VA Home Loans that can help you realize homeownership faster. But in particular, Army special enlistment incentives seem to be expanding further and faster all the time.

Each Army active duty incentive is individual and has limits on combinations with other offers, but in general, a military bonus or bonus combination cannot exceed $40,000. Army enlistment cash bonuses at or above $10,000 are paid in full upon successful completion of basic training. The rest of the eligible army bonus is paid in annual portions of $10,000 until the entire bonus amount is received in full.

There is a wide variety of active duty incentives, enlistment bonuses and benefits available; consider them all when you’re considering joining today’s Army...

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