Guardsmen looking to reenlist soon might want to consider holding out for a few more drill weekends, as the service component’s reenlistment incentives have been put on hold, according to an internal memo to the force reviewed by Military.com.
“Effective immediately, the issuance of reenlistment bonuses is suspended,” the March 1 memo said. The suspension is for bonuses that would have a payout between now and the end of 2025, effectively including anyone who would reenlist now, though existing contracts are not impacted, according to the document.
The sudden suspension is due to a miscalculation by National Guard planners who forecast the amount of funds needed and the anticipated volume of troops planning to continue their service, a spokesperson said. Guard officials are aiming to have bonuses back on track in April, meaning service members who reenlist now won’t be entitled to incentives, but could be in a few weeks if they wait.
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“This requires a pause to assess fiscal resources that will determine when we can resume offering new bonuses with the issuance of new reenlistment contracts,” Paul Swiergosz, a National Guard Bureau spokesperson, told Military.com in a statement.
The Army National Guard is facing a retention slump, missing its goal of keeping 36,000 soldiers from leaving the force by 1,000 last year….
