US Code

Public Law 119-83 (04/13/2026)

37 U.S.C. § 326

Incentive bonus: conversion to military occupational specialty to ease personnel shortage

(a)

Incentive Bonus Authorized .—

The Secretary concerned may pay a bonus under this section to an eligible member of a regular or reserve component of the armed forces who executes a written agreement to convert to, and serve for a period of not less than three years in, a military occupational specialty for which there is a shortage of trained and qualified personnel.
(b)

Eligible Members .—

A member is eligible to enter into an agreement under subsection (a) if, at the time the agreement is executed, the member is serving in—
(1)
section 205 of this title pay grade E–6, with not more than 10 years of service computed under ; or
(2)
pay grade E–5 or below, regardless of years of service.
(c)

Amount and Payment of Bonus .—

(1)
A bonus under this section may not exceed $4,000.
(2)
A bonus payable under this section shall be disbursed in one lump sum when the member’s conversion to the military occupational specialty is approved by the chief personnel officer of the regular or reserve component of the member’s armed force.
(d)

Relationship to Other Pay and Allowances .—

A bonus paid to a member under this section is in addition to any other pay and allowances to which the member is entitled.
(e)

Repayment .—

section 303a(e) of this titleA member who does not convert to and complete the period of service in the military occupational specialty specified in the agreement executed under subsection (a) shall be subject to the repayment provisions of .
(f)

Regulations .—

The Secretaries concerned shall prescribe regulations to carry out this section. Regulations prescribed by the Secretary of a military department shall be subject to the approval of the Secretary of Defense.
(g)

Termination of Authority .—

No agreement under this section may be entered into after .

Pub. L. 108–136, div. A, title VI, § 625(a)117 Stat. 1506 Pub. L. 108–375, div. A, title VI, § 622118 Stat. 1955 Pub. L. 109–163, div. A, title VI, § 687(b)(34)119 Stat. 3333 Pub. L. 109–364, div. A, title VI, § 614(g)120 Stat. 2249 Pub. L. 110–181, div. A, title VI, § 614(f)122 Stat. 149 Pub. L. 110–417122 Stat. 4485 Pub. L. 111–84, div. A, title VI, § 615(6)123 Stat. 2354 Pub. L. 111–383, div. A, title VI, § 615(6)124 Stat. 4237 Pub. L. 112–81, div. A, title VI, § 615(6)125 Stat. 1450 Pub. L. 112–239, div. A, title VI126 Stat. 1777 Pub. L. 113–66, div. A, title VI, § 615(6)127 Stat. 781 Pub. L. 113–291, div. A, title VI, § 615(7)128 Stat. 3401 Pub. L. 114–92, div. A, title VI, § 615(7)129 Stat. 839 Pub. L. 114–328, div. A, title VI, § 615(7)130 Stat. 2159 Pub. L. 115–91, div. A, title VI, § 615(7)131 Stat. 1423 (Added , , ; amended , , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , [div. A], title VI, § 614(f), , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , §§ 615(6), 617, , , 1778; , , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , , .)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

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

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

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

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

Pub. L. 112–239, § 6172013—Subsec. (c)(1). , substituted “$4,000.” for “$4,000, in the case of a member of a regular component of the armed forces, and $2,000, in the case of a member of a reserve component of the armed forces.”

Pub. L. 113–66Subsec. (g). substituted “” for “”.

Pub. L. 112–239, § 615(6), substituted “” for “”.

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

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

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

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

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

Pub. L. 109–1632006—Subsec. (e). , amended heading and text of subsec. (e) generally, substituting provisions referring to repayment provisions of section 303a(e) for specific provisions relating to refunds required when member fails to serve in specified military occupational specialty for agreed upon period.

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

Pub. L. 108–375, § 622(a)(1)2004—Subsec. (a). , inserted “of a regular or reserve component” after “an eligible member”.

Pub. L. 108–375, § 622(a)(2)Subsec. (b). , substituted comma for dash after “if”, struck out “(1) the member is entitled to basic pay; and” and par. (2) designation before “at the time”, and redesignated subpars. (A) and (B) of former par. (2) as pars. (1) and (2), respectively.

Pub. L. 108–375, § 622(b)Subsec. (c)(1). , inserted before period at end “, in the case of a member of a regular component of the armed forces, and $2,000, in the case of a member of a reserve component of the armed forces”.

Pub. L. 108–375, § 622(a)(3)Subsec. (c)(2). , inserted “regular or reserve component of the” after “chief personnel officer of the”.

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.

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.