Do I have to return my enlistment bonus after being selected for direct commission?

2020-11-21T10:04:53-05:00

I am in army reserve and my contract is till oct 2021. I will be releasing soon coz i got selected ij Direct commision officer. If i get release now do i have to return whole bonus or just part of it? Please let me know if you have any idea.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 21 at 2020 10:08 AM

2020-11-21T10:08:18-05:00

No you get to keep it.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 21 at 2020 10:21 AM

2020-11-21T10:21:22-05:00

I still had several months remaining on a bonus when I DC'ed, and I got to keep all of it. Typically, if you have an enlisted bonus and commission, you get to keep the bonus. However, these rules do change. I would ask your Specialty Branch Recruiter (whoever did your packet for the DC); they will be the ones up to date on the current rules.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 21 at 2020 1:36 PM

2020-11-21T13:36:44-05:00

You get to keep all your bonus when commissioning. This is why I always tell people to reenlist for as much bonus as possible if they plan to commission

Response by MAJ Javier Rivera made Nov 21 at 2020 2:26 PM

2020-11-21T14:26:04-05:00

Unless things have changed, which I doubt, you keep your bonuses after being selected to any officer commissioning program.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 21 at 2020 10:08 PM

2020-11-21T22:08:06-05:00

I had $12,000 sign in bonus when i was enlisted as Army Reserve.

Under DA Form 4856 by Career counselor, i was counseled as “Any benefit or incentive you received in the USAR may be terminated to recouped according to your contract”

And under DA Form 4856 by Company Commander as Counselor, I was counseled as “understand that if effective, there will be renouncement of the Non prior service bonus of $12,000.

Can someone please make me clear. I am confused with two different counsel by career counselor and company comander counselling. Thank you

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 21 at 2020 10:53 PM

2020-11-21T22:53:10-05:00

The Army will not recoup your enlisted bonus unless you received a bonus for commissioning, to which they will recoup only what’s left on your enlistment contract. I will use myself as an example. I received a $15k for reenlisting in 2010 (tax free in a combat-zone). In 2015, I direct commissioned with a $10k bonus. When I commissioned, I received a $0 dollar LES for “bonus recoupment”. Once I completed BOLC and filed for my commissioning bonus. Instead of $10k, I received $7,500 (pre-tax) as $2,500 was recouped from my one year left on my prior enlistment contract. I filed a pay inquiry and the official response from the Army was that they would have let bygones be bygones, but since I wanted more money they then balanced out the 2 bonuses. The key word in the counseling you have received is “may” recoup. Feel free to find me on the global if you want to discuss more.