{"id":25353,"date":"2018-05-31T21:04:04","date_gmt":"2018-05-31T21:04:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/uncategorized\/2018\/05\/31\/retention-bonuses-are-spiking-for-a-lot-of-air-force-pilots-could-you-get-up-to-420k\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T20:44:47","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T20:44:47","slug":"retention-bonuses-are-spiking-for-a-lot-of-air-force-pilots-could-you-get-up-to-420k","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/news\/your-air-force\/2018\/05\/31\/retention-bonuses-are-spiking-for-a-lot-of-air-force-pilots-could-you-get-up-to-420k\/","title":{"rendered":"Retention bonuses are spiking for a lot of Air Force pilots \u2014 could you get up to $420K?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Air Force this year is offering some bomber, fixed-wing combat search-and-rescue, special operations, mobility, and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance pilots the same <a href=\"https:\/\/www.airforcetimes.com\/news\/your-air-force\/2017\/06\/05\/air-force-rolls-out-13-year-455000-bonuses-for-fighter-pilots\/\" title=\"\" class=\"\" target=\"_blank\">massive retention bonuses<\/a> as fighter pilots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In an email Thursday, Air Force spokeswoman Maj. Kate Atanasoff said that those pilots could receive <a href=\"https:\/\/www.airforcetimes.com\/news\/your-air-force\/2016\/12\/05\/congress-readies-smaller-pilot-bonus-hike-than-james-requested\/\" title=\"\" class=\"\" target=\"_blank\">aviator retention payments<\/a> of up to $420,000 if they sign up to serve the maximum 12 more years \u2014 the same maximum benefit 11F fighter pilots could receive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This represents the broadest expansion in years of the Air Force\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.airforcetimes.com\/news\/your-air-force\/2017\/03\/29\/the-air-force-is-thinking-about-paying-pilots-up-to-455000-to-stay-in-uniform\/\">Aviation Bonus Program<\/a>, one of the service\u2019s most crucial tools in its effort to stop the departure of experienced pilots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Part of the problem is that commercial airlines can offer much higher salaries than the Air Force can, which has contributed to an alarming pilot shortfall that top leaders have warned could \u201cbreak the force.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These bonuses don\u2019t completely close the gap, officials said, but help narrow it a little.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThis is a strategic force management tool tailored annually to meet Air Force requirements and help retain the right mix of critical aviation skills needed to improve the readiness and increase the lethality of the force,\u201d Lt. Gen. Gina Grosso, the Air Force\u2019s deputy chief of staff for manpower, personnel and services, said in the email. \u201cThis bonus doesn\u2019t allow us to compete financially with airline salaries, but it recognizes the inherent sacrifices associated with aviation service and provides an offset to help potentially rebalance the scale between service and sacrifice.\u201d<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Air Force used to offer fighter pilots Aviator Retention Pay bonuses of $25,000 per year, meaning if they signed up for the maximum nine-year extension, they could get up to $225,000. Other pilots were eligible for smaller bonuses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Congress in December 2016 upped that maximum annual bonus to $35,000. And in 2017, the Air Force dramatically lengthened the maximum service commitment extension for fighter pilots to 13 years, or until they reached 24 years of aviation service, meaning they could get bonuses of up to $455,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But that expansion did little to stop an ongoing slide in the so-called \u201ctake rate,\u201d or the percentage of aviators agreeing to stay longer in exchange for hefty bonuses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The overall take rate declined from 55 percent in fiscal 2015 to 48 percent in 2016, and then to 44 percent last year \u2015 well below the 65 percent Air Force officials usually hope will accept the retention bonuses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And only five fighter pilots in fiscal 2017 opted for the full, up to 13-year service commitment and the up to $455,000 that comes with it.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/news\/your-air-force\/2017\/11\/19\/the-air-force-is-throwing-money-at-pilots-to-stay-fewer-and-fewer-are-interested\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AIR-breaking-the-force-side-bar-1-web.jpg.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">The Air Force is throwing money at pilots to stay. Fewer and fewer are interested.<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">Despite offering large retention bonuses to entice pilots to stay in the Air Force, the percentage of eligible pilots accepting them is plummeting.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This year, however, the maximum service commitment available to fighter pilots has been trimmed slightly to 12 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But opportunities are expanding for 11B bomber pilots, 11R command, control, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, 11S special operations, 11M mobility, and 11H fixed-wing CSAR pilots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Bomber, SOF and mobility pilots last year could only get annual bonuses of $30,000 for signing up for a maximum of nine years \u2015 or up to $270,000 \u2015 and C2ISR and CSAR pilots could only sign up for five more years with annual payments of $28,000, or up to $140,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This year, however, all of those pilots, if eligible, can sign up for contract extensions of 10 to 12 years, and receive annual payments of $35,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/041618_FLP_17.JPG.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-11990\" srcset=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/041618_FLP_17.JPG.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/041618_FLP_17.JPG.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/041618_FLP_17.JPG.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/041618_FLP_17.JPG.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">In this image released by the Department of Defense, a U.S. Air Force B-1 Bomber separates from the boom pod after receiving fuel from an Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker on April 13, 2018, en route to strike chemical weapons targets in Syria. President Donald Trump declared &#8220;Mission Accomplished&#8221; for a U.S.-led allied missile attack on Syria&#8217;s chemical weapons program, but the Pentagon said the pummeling of three chemical-related facilities left enough others intact to enable the Assad government to use banned weapons against civilians if it chooses. (Department of Defense via AP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Fighter and bomber pilots signing up for 10 to 12 years will also be able to receive almost half of that maximum bonus as an up-front payment of $200,000, according to a chart provided by the Air Force.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That is a change from last year, when the Air Force dropped the lump-sum option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Fighter and bomber pilots can also sign up for four to six or seven to nine more years, with $35,000 annual payments, and could take a $100,000 lump-sum payment if they extend their contracts by seven to nine more years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">SOF, mobility, C2ISR and CSAR fixed-wing pilots signing up for 10 to 12 years will not be eligible for a lump-sum payment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And the annual bonuses for SOF, mobility, C2ISR, and fixed-wing CSAR pilots drop to $30,000 if they sign up for four to nine more years. They could get a $100,000 up-front lump sum if they extend their contracts by seven to nine more years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Eligible 18X remotely-piloted aircraft pilots would only be able to sign up for four to six or seven to nine more years, with $35,000 annual payments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They cannot sign up for 10 to 12 more years or receive lump-sum payments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The annual payment for RPA pilots remains unchanged from last year, but the possible contract length is greater. Last year, RPA pilots could only sign up for five more years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">11H CSAR rotary wing pilots can extend their contracts by four to six, or seven to nine more years, and receive $28,000 per year, but are not eligible for lump-sum payments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Combat systems officers for bombers, fighters, CSAR, C2ISR and special operations are also seeing increases. They can sign up for four to six more years at $20,000 annually, or seven to nine more years at $25,000 annually. They cannot receive up-front payments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Last year, CSOs could only sign up for five more years. And 12F fighter CSOs and 12B bomber CSOs were eligible for annual payments of $15,000, 12H CSAR CSOs were eligible for annual payments of $20,000, and 12S special operations and 12R C2ISR CSOs were eligible for annual payments of $10,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But Air Force officials have also acknowledged that solving the pilot crisis isn\u2019t just a matter of throwing money at the problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe rely on our skilled aviators not only to win in today\u2019s fights, but also to help us train the next generation of aviators who will ensure our nation is ready to counter reemerging strategic competitors,\u201d Brig. Gen. Mike Koscheski, the head of an aircrew crisis task force set up to solve the pilot retention problem. \u201cWhile financial incentives are important, we know we must address our aircrew\u2019s concerns about their quality of service and work-life balance if we want to retain the world\u2019s best aviators.\u201d<br><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Air Force this year is offering some bomber, fixed-wing combat search-and-rescue, special operations, mobility, and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance pilots the same massive retention bonuses as fighter pilots.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":34965,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-nofollow":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_acf":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":67,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","_smg_distribution_targets":{"2":{"categories":["your-military","news","left-column","home"],"primary_category":"your-military"}}},"categories":[101,16,26,67],"tags":[],"coauthors":[3320],"class_list":["post-25353","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-daily-news-roundup","category-news","category-newsletters","category-your-air-force"],"acf":{"subheadline":"","legacy_arc_id":"74EHPDOU3NAJ3O3LROHJB3OS6A","arc_canonical_url":"\/news\/your-air-force\/2018\/05\/31\/retention-bonuses-are-spiking-for-a-lot-of-air-force-pilots-could-you-get-up-to-420k\/","remove_feature_photo":false,"is_sponsored":false,"subtype":"","redirect_url":"","disable_inline_ads":false,"native_logo_pretext":"Presented By:"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.0 (Yoast SEO v28.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Retention bonuses are spiking for a lot of Air Force pilots \u2014 could you get up to $420K? - Air Force TImes<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The Air Force this year is offering some bomber, fixed-wing combat search-and-rescue, special operations, mobility, and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance pilots the same massive retention bonuses as fighter pilots.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/news\/your-air-force\/2018\/05\/31\/retention-bonuses-are-spiking-for-a-lot-of-air-force-pilots-could-you-get-up-to-420k\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" 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