37 U.S.C. § 355 (PAY AND ALLOWANCES OF THE UNIFORMED SERVICES)
§ 355. Special pay: retention incentives for members qualified in critical military skills or assigned to high priority units
(a) Retention Bonus Authorized.—
A member of the armed forces who is serving on active duty in a regular component or in an active status in a reserve component, or a member the Space Force who is serving in space force active status, and who is qualified in a critical military skill designated under subsection (b) or accepts an assignment to a high priority unit designated under such subsection may be paid a retention bonus as provided in this section if—
(1) in the case of an officer, the member executes a written agreement to remain on active duty for at least one year, to remain in an active status in a reserve component for at least one year, or to remain in space force active status for at least one year;
(2) in the case of an enlisted member, other than an enlisted member referred to in paragraph (3), the member reenlists or voluntarily extends the member’s enlistment for a period of at least one year; or
(3) in the case of an enlisted member serving pursuant to an indefinite reenlistment, the member executes a written agreement to remain on active duty for a period of at least one year or to remain in an active status in a reserve component for a period of at least one year.
(b) Eligibility Criteria.—
(1) A designated critical military skill referred to in subsection (a) is a military skill designated as critical by the Secretary of Defense, or by the Secretary of Homeland Security with respect to the Coast Guard when it is not operating as a service in the Navy.
(2) The Secretary of Defense, and the Secretary of Homeland Security with respect to the Coast Guard when it is not operating as a service in the Navy, may designate a unit as a high priority unit regarding which a retention bonus will be provided to a member of the armed forces who agrees to accept an assignment to the unit under subsection (a).
(c) Payment Methods.—
A bonus under this section may be paid in a single lump sum or in periodic installments.
(d) Maximum Bonus Amount.—
(1) A member may enter into an agreement under this section, or reenlist or voluntarily extend the member’s enlistment, more than once to receive a bonus under this section. However, a member may not receive a total of more than $200,000 (or $100,000 in the case of a reserve component member or a member of the Space Force not on sustained duty) in payments under this section.
(2) The limitation in paragraph (1) on the total bonus payments that a member may receive under this section does not apply with respect to an officer who is assigned duties as a health care professional.
(e) Certain Members Ineligible.—
(1) A retention bonus may not be provided under subsection (a) to a member of the armed forces who—
(A) has completed more than 25 years of a specified form of service (or combination thereof); or
(B) will complete the member’s twenty-fifth year of a specified form of service (or combination thereof) before the end of the period of service for which the bonus is being offered.
(2) The limitations in paragraph (1) do not apply with respect to an officer who, during the period of service for which the bonus is being offered, is assigned duties as a health care professional.
(3) The limitations in paragraph (1) do not apply with respect to a member who, during the period of service for which the bonus is being offered—
(A) is qualified in a skill designated as critical under subsection (b)(1) related to special operations forces; or
(B) is qualified for duty in connection with the supervision, operation, and maintenance of naval nuclear propulsion plants.
(4) The Secretary of Defense, or the Secretary of Homeland Security with respect to the Coast Guard when it is not operating as a service in the Navy, may waive the limitations in paragraph (1) with respect to a member who, during the period of service for which the bonus is being offered, is assigned duties in a skill designated as critical under subsection (b)(1). The authority to grant a waiver under this paragraph may not be delegated below the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness or the Deputy Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.
(5) In this subsection, the term “specified form of service” means—
(A) service on active duty;
(B) service in an active status in a reserve component; or
(C) service in the Space Force in space force active status.
(f) Relationship to Other Incentives.—
A retention bonus paid under this section is in addition to any other pay and allowances to which a member is entitled.
(g) Repayment.—
A member paid a bonus under this section who fails, during the period of service covered by the member’s agreement, reenlistment, or voluntary extension of enlistment under subsection (a), to remain qualified in the critical military skill or to satisfy the other eligibility criteria for which the bonus was paid shall be subject to the repayment provisions of section 373 of this title.
(h) Termination of Bonus Authority.—
No bonus may be paid under this section with respect to any reenlistment, or voluntary extension of an enlistment, in the armed forces entered into after December 31, 2026, and no agreement under this section may be entered into after that date.
(Added Pub. L. 106–398, § 1 [[div. A], title VI, § 633(a)(1)], Oct. 30, 2000, 114 Stat. 1654, 1654A–157, § 323; amended Pub. L. 107–107, div. A, title VI, § 614(d), Dec. 28, 2001, 115 Stat. 1136; Pub. L. 107–296, title XVII, § 1704(c), Nov. 25, 2002, 116 Stat. 2314; Pub. L. 107–314, div. A, title VI, §§ 614(d), 618, Dec. 2, 2002, 116 Stat. 2568, 2570; Pub. L. 108–136, div. A, title VI, §§ 614(d), 622, title X, § 1045(b)(1), Nov. 24, 2003, 117 Stat. 1501, 1505, 1612; Pub. L. 108–375, div. A, title VI, §§ 614(e), 621, title X, § 1084(e)(2), Oct. 28, 2004, 118 Stat. 1948, 1954, 2064; Pub. L. 109–163, div. A, title VI, §§ 624(e), 640(a)–(f)(1), 687(b)(31), Jan. 6, 2006, 119 Stat. 3295, 3302, 3303, 3332; Pub. L. 109–364, div. A, title VI, § 614(e), Oct. 17, 2006, 120 Stat. 2248; renumbered § 355 and amended Pub. L. 110–181, div. A, title VI, §§ 614(d), 622, 661(c), Jan. 28, 2008, 122 Stat. 149, 152, 178; Pub. L. 110–417, [div. A], title VI, § 614(h), Oct. 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 4485; Pub. L. 111–84, div. A, title VI, § 614(9), Oct. 28, 2009, 123 Stat. 2354; Pub. L. 111–207, § 4(a)(4), July 27, 2010, 124 Stat. 2251; Pub. L. 111–383, div. A, title VI, § 614(9), Jan. 7, 2011, 124 Stat. 4237; Pub. L. 112–81, div. A, title VI, § 614(9), Dec. 31, 2011, 125 Stat. 1450; Pub. L. 112–239, div. A, title VI, § 614(9), Jan. 2, 2013, 126 Stat. 1777; Pub. L. 113–66, div. A, title VI, § 614(9), Dec. 26, 2013, 127 Stat. 781; Pub. L. 113–291, div. A, title VI, § 614(10), Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 3401; Pub. L. 114–92, div. A, title VI, § 614(10), Nov. 25, 2015, 129 Stat. 839; Pub. L. 114–328, div. A, title VI, § 614(10), Dec. 23, 2016, 130 Stat. 2159; Pub. L. 115–91, div. A, title VI, § 614(10), Dec. 12, 2017, 131 Stat. 1422; Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title VI, § 611(d)(9), Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 1797; Pub. L. 116–92, div. A, title VI, § 611(d)(9), Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 1426; Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title VI, § 611(d)(9), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 3673; Pub. L. 117–81, div. A, title VI, § 611(d)(9), Dec. 27, 2021, 135 Stat. 1769; Pub. L. 117–263, div. A, title VI, § 601(d)(9), Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 2620; Pub. L. 118–31, div. A, title VI, § 613(d)(9), Dec. 22, 2023, 137 Stat. 292; Pub. L. 118–159, div. A, title VI, § 611(d)(9), Dec. 23, 2024, 138 Stat. 1932; Pub. L. 119–60, div. A, title VI, §§ 601(c)(5), 611(d)(9), Dec. 18, 2025, 139 Stat. 903, 906.)
heading: Editorial Notes
heading: Amendments
text: 2025—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 119–60, § 601(c)(5)(A)(i), substituted “A member” for “An officer or enlisted member” and inserted “, or a member the Space Force who is serving in space force active status,” after “in a reserve component” in introductory provisions.
Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 119–60, § 601(c)(5)(A)(ii), substituted “, to remain” for “or to remain” and inserted “, or to remain in space force active status for at least one year” before semicolon at end.
Subsec. (d)(1). Pub. L. 119–60, § 601(c)(5)(B), inserted “or a member of the Space Force not on sustained duty” after “reserve component member”.
Subsec. (e)(1)(A). Pub. L. 119–60, § 601(c)(5)(C)(i), substituted “a specified form of service (or combination thereof)” for “active duty or service in an active status in a reserve component”.
Subsec. (e)(1)(B). Pub. L. 119–60, § 601(c)(5)(C)(i), (ii), substituted “a specified form of service (or combination thereof)” for “active duty or service in an active status in a reserve component” and “service for which” for “active duty or service in an active status in a reserve component for which”.
Subsec. (e)(1)(2) to (4). Pub. L. 119–60, § 601(c)(5)(C)(ii), substituted “service for which” for “active duty or service in an active status in a reserve component for which”.
Subsec. (e)(5). Pub. L. 119–60, § 601(c)(5)(C)(iii), added par. (5).
Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 119–60, § 611(d)(9), substituted “December 31, 2026” for “December 31, 2025”.
2024—Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 118–159 substituted “December 31, 2025” for “December 31, 2024”.
2023—Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 118–31 substituted “December 31, 2024” for “December 31, 2023”.
2022—Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 117–263 substituted “December 31, 2023” for “December 31, 2022”.
2021—Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 117–81 substituted “December 31, 2022” for “December 31, 2021”.
Pub. L. 116–283 substituted “December 31, 2021” for “December 31, 2020”.
2019—Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 116–92 substituted “December 31, 2020” for “December 31, 2019”.
2018—Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 115–232 substituted “December 31, 2019” for “December 31, 2018”.
2017—Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 115–91 substituted “December 31, 2018” for “December 31, 2017”.
2016—Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 114–328 substituted “December 31, 2017” for “December 31, 2016”.
2015—Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 114–92 substituted “December 31, 2016” for “December 31, 2015”.
2014—Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 113–291 substituted “December 31, 2015” for “December 31, 2014”.
2013—Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 113–66 substituted “December 31, 2014” for “December 31, 2013”.
Pub. L. 112–239 substituted “December 31, 2013” for “December 31, 2012”.
2011—Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 112–81 substituted “December 31, 2012” for “December 31, 2011”.
Pub. L. 111–383 substituted “December 31, 2011” for “December 31, 2010”.
2010—Subsecs. (h), (i). Pub. L. 111–207 redesignated subsec. (i) as (h) and struck out former subsec. (h) which required the Secretaries of Defense and Homeland Security to submit to Congress annual reports on retention bonuses.
2009—Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 111–84 substituted “December 31, 2010” for “December 31, 2009”.
2008—Pub. L. 110–181, § 661(c)(1), renumbered section 323 of this title as this section.
Subsec. (e)(4). Pub. L. 110–181, § 622, added par. (4).
Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 110–181, § 661(c)(2), substituted “section 373” for “section 303a(e)”.
Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 110–417 substituted “December 31, 2009” for “December 31, 2008”.
Pub. L. 110–181, § 614(d), substituted “December 31, 2008” for “December 31, 2007”.
2006—Pub. L. 109–163, § 640(f)(1), substituted “Special pay: retention incentives for members qualified in critical military skills or assigned to high priority units” for “Special pay: retention incentives for members qualified in a critical military skill” in section catchline.
Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 109–163, § 640(a)(1)(A), (b)(1), in introductory provisions, substituted “who is serving on active duty in a regular component or in an active status in a reserve component and who” for “who is serving on active duty and” and “critical military skill designated under subsection (b) or accepts an assignment to a high priority unit designated under such subsection” for “designated critical military skill”.
Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 109–163, § 640(a)(1)(B), inserted “or to remain in an active status in a reserve component for at least one year” before semicolon.
Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 109–163, § 640(a)(1)(C), inserted “or to remain in an active status in a reserve component for a period of at least one year” before period.
Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 109–163, § 640(b)(2), substituted “Eligibility Criteria” for “Designation of Critical Skills” in heading, designated existing provisions as par. (1), and added par. (2).
Subsec. (d)(1). Pub. L. 109–163, § 640(c), inserted “(or $100,000 in the case of a reserve component member)” after “$200,000”.
Subsec. (e)(1)(A). Pub. L. 109–163, § 640(a)(2), inserted “or service in an active status in a reserve component” after “active duty”.
Subsec. (e)(1)(B). Pub. L. 109–163, § 640(a)(2), inserted “or service in an active status in a reserve component” after “active duty” in two places.
Subsec. (e)(2), (3). Pub. L. 109–163, § 640(d), added pars. (2) and (3) and struck out former par. (2) which read as follows: “The limitations in paragraph (1) do not apply with respect to an officer who is assigned duties as a health care professional during the period of active duty for which the bonus is being offered.”
Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 109–163, § 687(b)(31), amended heading and text of subsec. (g) generally, substituting provisions referring to repayment provisions of section 303a(e) for specific provisions relating to repayment required when member fails to remain technically qualified in critical military skill or to satisfy other eligibility criteria for which bonus was paid.
Subsec. (g)(1). Pub. L. 109–163, § 640(e), substituted “If a member paid a bonus under this section fails, during the period of service covered by the member’s agreement, reenlistment, or voluntary extension of enlistment under subsection (a), to remain qualified in the critical military skill or to satisfy the other eligibility criteria for which the bonus was paid,” for “If an officer who has entered into a written agreement under subsection (a) fails to complete the total period of active duty specified in the agreement, or an enlisted member who voluntarily or because of misconduct does not complete the term of enlistment for which a bonus was paid under this section,”.
Subsec. (h)(1). Pub. L. 109–163, § 640(b)(3), substituted “members of the armed forces who were offered a bonus under this section” for “members qualified in the critical military skills for which the bonuses were offered”.
Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 109–364 substituted “December 31, 2007” for “December 31, 2006”.
Pub. L. 109–163, § 624(e), substituted “December 31, 2006” for “December 31, 2005”.
2004—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 108–375, § 621, inserted “other than an enlisted member referred to in paragraph (3),” after “enlisted member,” in par. (2) and added par. (3).
Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 108–375, § 1084(e)(2), substituted “Secretary of Homeland Security” for “Secretary of Transportation” in introductory provisions.
Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 108–375, § 614(e), substituted “December 31, 2005” for “December 31, 2004”.
2003—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 108–136, § 1045(b)(1), substituted “one year” for “1 year” in pars. (1) and (2).
Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 108–136, § 622, struck out “(1)” before “A designated” and par. (2) which read as follows: “The Secretary of Defense, and the Secretary of Homeland Security with respect to the Coast Guard when it is not operating as a service in the Navy, shall notify Congress, in advance, of each military skill to be designated by the Secretary as critical for purposes of this section. The notice shall be submitted at least 90 days before any bonus with regard to that critical skill is offered under subsection (a) and shall include a discussion of the necessity for the bonus, the amount and method of payment of the bonus, and the retention results that the bonus is expected to achieve.”
Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 108–136, § 614(d), substituted “December 31, 2004” for “December 31, 2003”.
2002—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 107–296 substituted “of Homeland Security” for “of Transportation” in pars. (1) and (2).
Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 107–314, § 618(a), designated existing provisions as par. (1) and added par. (2).
Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 107–314, § 618(b), designated existing provisions as par. (1), redesignated former pars. (1) and (2) as subpars. (A) and (B), respectively, of par. (1), and added par. (2).
Subsec. (g)(1). Pub. L. 107–296 substituted “of Homeland Security” for “of Transportation”.
Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 107–314, § 614(d), substituted “December 31, 2003” for “December 31, 2002”.
2001—Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 107–107 substituted “December 31, 2002” for “December 31, 2001”.
heading: Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
heading: Effective Date of 2008 Amendment
text: Amendment by section 614(d) of Pub. L. 110–181 effective as of Dec. 31, 2007, and subject to various special provisions, see section 610 of Pub. L. 110–181, 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 section 2130a of Title 10, Armed Forces.
heading: Effective Date of 2002 Amendment
text: Amendment by Pub. L. 107–296 effective on the date of transfer of the Coast Guard to the Department of Homeland Security, see section 1704(g) of Pub. L. 107–296, set out as a note under section 101 of Title 10, Armed Forces.
heading: Effective Date
text: Pub. L. 106–398, § 1 [[div. A], title VI, § 633(b)], Oct. 30, 2000, 114 Stat. 1654, 1654A–158, provided that: “Section 323 [now 355] of title 10, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), shall take effect on October 1, 2000.”
heading: Savings Provision
text: For savings provision relating to payment or repayment of any bonus, incentive pay, special pay, or similar pay obligated to be paid before Apr. 1, 2006, under a provision of this section amended by section 687(b) of Pub. L. 109–163, see section 687(f) of Pub. L. 109–163, set out as a note under section 510 of Title 10, Armed Forces.