The Army National Guard restarted issuing reenlistment bonuses on March 8, just a week after the program was suspended due to service planners miscalculating funding.
The service announced the move in a memo the day before, saying “states may resume the issuance of reenlistment bonuses. This is inclusive of all contracts with a future payment date in FY24 or FY25.”
However, the updated policy cannot be applied retroactively, meaning that those who signed reenlistment packages between March 1 and March 7 will still not be eligible for signing bonuses. The memo was initially leaked online via a Reddit post, but the Guard has since acknowledged its authenticity.
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“Our first obligation to the Army and to Congress is for us to meet our end strength mission,” Lt. Gen. Jon Jensen, director of the Army National Guard, said in a statement. “Our soldiers represent all that is truly great about our Army and our nation.”
The March 1 memo suspending incentives was due to a fiscal 2024 miscalculation by Army National Guard planners, a spokesperson said, miscounting the amount of funds needed and the anticipated number of troops planning on continuing their service.
“The Guard initially anticipated a 30-day pause in new retention bonuses would be needed,” a press release from the service said, noting that a funding solution has since been…
