{"id":20235,"date":"2019-02-01T01:11:32","date_gmt":"2019-02-01T01:11:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/uncategorized\/2019\/02\/01\/air-force-offers-hefty-bonuses-to-hold-on-to-experienced-eod-techs\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T20:32:45","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T20:32:45","slug":"air-force-offers-hefty-bonuses-to-hold-on-to-experienced-eod-techs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/news\/your-air-force\/2019\/02\/01\/air-force-offers-hefty-bonuses-to-hold-on-to-experienced-eod-techs\/","title":{"rendered":"Air Force offers hefty bonuses to hold on to experienced EOD techs"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Air Force is now offering selective retention bonuses<\/a> of up to $75,000 to hold on to some senior explosive ordnance disposal airmen<\/a> who have served on active duty for at least two decades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a Thursday release, the Air Force Personnel Center said the service has received an exception to policy allowing it to offer bonuses to certain senior non-commissioned officers in the 3E8X1 EOD career field<\/a> with at least 20 years, but fewer than 25 years, of active duty service. AFPC spokesman Mike Dickerson said master sergeants and senior master sergeants will be eligible for the bonuses, but not chief master sergeants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eligible EOD specialists who sign up for three more years would receive $30,000, the release said, and a four-year service agreement would draw $50,000. And airmen who sign up for five more years would receive $75,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The bonuses could be payable in either a lump sum, or in periodic installments, Dickerson said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Edgar Holt, AFPC\u2019s re-enlistments program manager, said the service offers such bonuses to encourage qualified and experienced enlisted airmen to re-enlist in jobs that are having a hard time with retention, or are facing high training costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\t