Public Law 119-88 (05/04/2026)

37 U.S.C. § 309

Special pay: enlistment bonus

(a)

Bonus Authorized; Bonus Amount .—

A person who enlists in an armed force for a period of at least 2 years may be paid a bonus in an amount not to exceed $40,000. The bonus may be paid in a single lump sum or in periodic installments.
(b)

Repayment .—

section 303a(e) of this titleA member who does not complete the term of enlistment for which a bonus was paid to the member under this section, or a member who is not technically qualified in the skill for which a bonus was paid to the member under this section, shall be subject to the repayment provisions of .
(c)

Relation to Prohibition on Bounties .—

section 514(a) of title 10The enlistment bonus authorized by this section is not a bounty for purposes of .
(d)

Regulations .—

This section shall be administered under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense for the armed forces under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of Defense and by the Secretary of Homeland Security for the Coast Guard when the Coast Guard is not operating as a service in the Navy.
(e)

Duration of Authority .—

No bonus shall be paid under this section with respect to any enlistment in the armed forces made after .

Pub. L. 106–398, § 1 [[div. A]114 Stat. 1654 Pub. L. 107–107, div. A, title VI, § 614(c)115 Stat. 1136 Pub. L. 107–296, title XVII, § 1704(c)116 Stat. 2314 Pub. L. 107–314, div. A, title VI, § 614(c)116 Stat. 2568 Pub. L. 108–136, div. A, title VI, § 614(c)117 Stat. 1501 Pub. L. 108–375, div. A, title VI, § 614(d)118 Stat. 1948 Pub. L. 109–163, div. A, title VI119 Stat. 3295 Pub. L. 109–364, div. A, title VI, § 614(d)120 Stat. 2248 Pub. L. 110–181, div. A, title VI, § 614(c)122 Stat. 149 Pub. L. 110–417122 Stat. 4485 Pub. L. 111–84, div. A, title VI, § 615(4)123 Stat. 2354 Pub. L. 111–383, div. A, title VI, § 615(4)124 Stat. 4237 Pub. L. 112–81, div. A, title VI, § 615(4)125 Stat. 1450 Pub. L. 112–239, div. A, title VI, § 615(4)126 Stat. 1777 Pub. L. 113–66, div. A, title VI, § 615(4)127 Stat. 781 Pub. L. 113–291, div. A, title VI, § 615(4)128 Stat. 3401 Pub. L. 114–92, div. A, title VI, § 615(4)129 Stat. 839 Pub. L. 114–328, div. A, title VI, § 615(4)130 Stat. 2159 Pub. L. 115–91, div. A, title VI, § 615(4)131 Stat. 1423 (Added , title VI, § 624(a)(1)], , , 1654A–152; amended , , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , §§ 624(d), 635, 687(b)(20), , , 3300, 3330; , , ; , , ; , [div. A], title VI, § 614(d), , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , , .)

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

Pub. L. 87–64976 Stat. 468 Pub. L. 96–107, title IV, § 404(a)(1)93 Stat. 808 A prior section 309, , , , related to authority of Secretary concerned to provide for additional pay for performance of administrative functions by officers of the National Guard and reserve components, prior to repeal by , (b), , , 809, applicable only with respect to administrative functions performed after .

Amendments

Pub. L. 115–912017—Subsec. (e). substituted “” for “”.

Pub. L. 114–3282016—Subsec. (e). substituted “” for “”.

Pub. L. 114–922015—Subsec. (e). substituted “” for “”.

Pub. L. 113–2912014—Subsec. (e). substituted “” for “”.

Pub. L. 113–662013—Subsec. (e). substituted “” for “”.

Pub. L. 112–239 substituted “” for “”.

Pub. L. 112–812011—Subsec. (e). substituted “” for “”.

Pub. L. 111–383 substituted “” for “”.

Pub. L. 111–842009—Subsec. (e). substituted “” for “”.

Pub. L. 110–4172008—Subsec. (e). substituted “” for “”.

Pub. L. 110–181 substituted “” for “”.

Pub. L. 109–163, § 6352006—Subsec. (a). , substituted “$40,000” for “$20,000”.

Pub. L. 109–163, § 687(b)(20)Subsec. (b). , amended heading and text of subsec. (b) generally, substituting provisions referring to repayment provisions of section 303a(e) for specific provisions relating to refunds required when member is not technically qualified in skill for which bonus was paid or fails to complete term of enlistment for which bonus was paid.

Pub. L. 109–364Subsec. (e). substituted “” for “”.

Pub. L. 109–163, § 624(d), substituted “” for “”.

Pub. L. 108–3752004—Subsec. (e). substituted “” for “”.

Pub. L. 108–1362003—Subsec. (e). substituted “” for “”.

Pub. L. 107–2962002—Subsec. (d). substituted “of Homeland Security” for “of Transportation”.

Pub. L. 107–314Subsec. (e). substituted “” for “”.

Pub. L. 107–1072001—Subsec. (e). substituted “” for “”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2008 Amendment

Pub. L. 110–181section 610 of Pub. L. 110–181section 2130a of Title 10Amendment by effective as of , and subject to various special provisions, see , set out as a Correction of Lapsed Authorities for Payment of Bonuses, Special Pays, and Similar Benefits for Members of the Uniformed Services note under , Armed Forces.

Effective Date of 2002 Amendment

Pub. L. 107–296section 1704(g) of Pub. L. 107–296section 101 of Title 10Amendment by effective on the date of transfer of the Coast Guard to the Department of Homeland Security, see , set out as a note under , Armed Forces.

Effective Date

Pub. L. 106–398, § 1 [[div. A]114 Stat. 1654

“The amendments made by subsection (a) [enacting this section] shall take effect on , and apply with respect to enlistments in the Armed Forces made on or after that date.”
, title VI, § 624(c)(1)], , , 1654A–153, provided that:

Savings Provision

section 687(b) of Pub. L. 109–163section 687(f) of Pub. L. 109–163section 510 of Title 10For savings provision relating to payment or repayment of any bonus, incentive pay, special pay, or similar pay obligated to be paid before , under a provision of this section amended by , see , set out as a note under , Armed Forces.