Thread: Marine Corps offers $10,000 incentives for some recruits

Marine Corps offers incentives for some recruits

By Dan Lamothe - Staff writer
Posted : Sunday Feb 13, 2011 8:47:37 EST

Re-enlistment bonuses have been shrinking for the last few years, but the Marine Corps is still offering cash incentives to recruits who take on some jobs.

New Marines can collect up to $10,000 in enlistment bonuses this year to help Recruiting Command fill slots in more than 40 specific military occupational specialties, according to Marine administrative message 033/11.

Marines must complete their MOS school and be awarded the desired specialty to collect. The service also is offering a $4,000 shipping bonus to some Marines without any MOS restrictions. That bonus can be collected after a Marine graduates boot camp, said Lt. Col. Kevin Williams, the head of enlisted plans at Manpower & Reserve Affairs in Quantico, Va.

The largest enlistment bonuses in 2011 will go to selected recruits in 12 electronics maintenance specialties and four cryptologic linguist specialties. The Corps also is offering $7,500 to some highly skilled musicians and $5,000 to recruits selected for assignments in meteorology and Marine air-ground task force plans.

Recruits in a handful of other fields will be eligible to receive $2,500 to $4,000. For example, Marines in motor transportation are eligible for an enlistment bonus of $4,000, while combat correspondents and food service specialists can collect $2,500. Marines enlisting in five intelligence specialties are eligible to collect $3,000, officials said.

As with re-enlistment bonuses, the incentives for recruits are down substantially in 2011. In 2010, recruits enlisting into electronics maintenance and cryptologic linguist specialties were eligible to receive up to $15,000. Recruits also could receive $12,000 to become a meteorologist and oceanography forecaster, or $10,000 to be a musician or join one of several command-control or electrician specialties.

Last year, the Corps also offered $7,500 to enlist in the infantry for six years or $4,000 to enlist for five years. No first-time enlistment bonus is set aside for Marines joining the conventional infantry in 2011.

Officials continue to emphasize the $4,000 enlistment bonuses for prospective reconnaissance Marines, however. It is payable only after a new Marine completes the Basic Reconnaissance Course and does not apply to current Marines who make a lateral move into recon.

Marines who enlist for four years into the infantry this year may volunteer for recon and receive the $4,000 enlistment bonus as long as they are still in the training pipeline at the School of Infantry, officials said. The swap can occur only if there are seats available at the Basic Reconnaissance Course. Conventional infantry recruits cannot attempt the swap until they are at the school.

http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/20 ... s-021311w/

I say good for them. Our military service members get little enough pay for what they do.