republic-os/legal/us/code/title-37/chapter-5/section-309.md

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LegalText	37 U.S.C. § 309	Special pay: enlistment bonus	us	united_states_code	code_section	37	PAY AND ALLOWANCES OF THE UNIFORMED SERVICES	5	SPECIAL AND INCENTIVE PAYS	309	37 U.S.C. § 309	current	119-100	2026-06-26	official	https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc37@119-100.zip	/us/usc/t37/s309	data/legal/raw/us/code/title-37/usc37.xml	090fc02ae1388461e8f8358dc3472220ba1e5bf55e89be96d09c46152ea3bdf7	e0a35eb7ef12b7ff3b62c2d230c815f864ad090f207afa5aca869467bb414b1c	bd697866c98bdf0665f38d255afaf639ff4418acb60054e8af82181817c85136	2026-07-04	official	legal us-code

37 U.S.C. § 309 - Special pay: enlistment bonus

Text

(a) Bonus Authorized; Bonus Amount.— A person who enlists in an armed force for a period of at least 2 years may be paid a bonus in an amount not to exceed $40,000. The bonus may be paid in a single lump sum or in periodic installments.

(b) Repayment.— A member who does not complete the term of enlistment for which a bonus was paid to the member under this section, or a member who is not technically qualified in the skill for which a bonus was paid to the member under this section, shall be subject to the repayment provisions of section 303a(e) of this title.

(c) Relation to Prohibition on Bounties.— The enlistment bonus authorized by this section is not a bounty for purposes of section 514(a) of title 10.

(d) Regulations.— This section shall be administered under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense for the armed forces under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of Defense and by the Secretary of Homeland Security for the Coast Guard when the Coast Guard is not operating as a service in the Navy.

(e) Duration of Authority.— No bonus shall be paid under this section with respect to any enlistment in the armed forces made after December 31, 2018.

(Added Pub. L. 106–398, § 1 [[div. A], title VI, § 624(a)(1)], Oct. 30, 2000, 114 Stat. 1654, 1654A–152; amended Pub. L. 107–107, div. A, title VI, § 614(c), 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(c), Dec. 2, 2002, 116 Stat. 2568; Pub. L. 108–136, div. A, title VI, § 614(c), Nov. 24, 2003, 117 Stat. 1501; Pub. L. 108–375, div. A, title VI, § 614(d), Oct. 28, 2004, 118 Stat. 1948; Pub. L. 109–163, div. A, title VI, §§ 624(d), 635, 687(b)(20), Jan. 6, 2006, 119 Stat. 3295, 3300, 3330; Pub. L. 109–364, div. A, title VI, § 614(d), Oct. 17, 2006, 120 Stat. 2248; Pub. L. 110–181, div. A, title VI, § 614(c), Jan. 28, 2008, 122 Stat. 149; Pub. L. 110–417, [div. A], title VI, § 614(d), Oct. 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 4485; Pub. L. 111–84, div. A, title VI, § 615(4), Oct. 28, 2009, 123 Stat. 2354; Pub. L. 111–383, div. A, title VI, § 615(4), Jan. 7, 2011, 124 Stat. 4237; Pub. L. 112–81, div. A, title VI, § 615(4), Dec. 31, 2011, 125 Stat. 1450; Pub. L. 112–239, div. A, title VI, § 615(4), Jan. 2, 2013, 126 Stat. 1777; Pub. L. 113–66, div. A, title VI, § 615(4), Dec. 26, 2013, 127 Stat. 781; Pub. L. 113–291, div. A, title VI, § 615(4), Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 3401; Pub. L. 114–92, div. A, title VI, § 615(4), Nov. 25, 2015, 129 Stat. 839; Pub. L. 114–328, div. A, title VI, § 615(4), Dec. 23, 2016, 130 Stat. 2159; Pub. L. 115–91, div. A, title VI, § 615(4), Dec. 12, 2017, 131 Stat. 1423.)

Notes

Editorial Notes

Prior ProvisionsA prior section 309, Pub. L. 87–649, Sept. 7, 1962, 76 Stat. 468, related to authority of Secretary concerned to provide for additional pay for performance of administrative functions by officers of the National Guard and reserve components, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 96–107, title IV, § 404(a)(1), (b), Nov. 9, 1979, 93 Stat. 808, 809, applicable only with respect to administrative functions performed after Sept. 30, 1980.

Amendments2017—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 115–91 substituted “December 31, 2018” for “December 31, 2017”. 2016—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 114–328 substituted “December 31, 2017” for “December 31, 2016”. 2015—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 114–92 substituted “December 31, 2016” for “December 31, 2015”. 2014—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 113–291 substituted “December 31, 2015” for “December 31, 2014”. 2013—Subsec. (e). 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. (e). Pub. L. 112–81 substituted “December 31, 2012” for “December 31, 2011”. Pub. L. 111–383 substituted “December 31, 2011” for “December 31, 2010”. 2009—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 111–84 substituted “December 31, 2010” for “December 31, 2009”. 2008—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 110–417 substituted “December 31, 2009” for “December 31, 2008”. Pub. L. 110–181 substituted “December 31, 2008” for “December 31, 2007”. 2006—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 109–163, § 635, substituted “$40,000” for “$20,000”. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 109–163, § 687(b)(20), amended heading and text of subsec. (b) generally, substituting provisions referring to repayment provisions of section 303a(e) for specific provisions relating to refunds required when member is not technically qualified in skill for which bonus was paid or fails to complete term of enlistment for which bonus was paid. Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 109–364 substituted “December 31, 2007” for “December 31, 2006”. Pub. L. 109–163, § 624(d), substituted “December 31, 2006” for “December 31, 2005”. 2004—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 108–375 substituted “December 31, 2005” for “December 31, 2004”. 2003—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 108–136 substituted “December 31, 2004” for “December 31, 2003”. 2002—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 107–296 substituted “of Homeland Security” for “of Transportation”. Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 107–314 substituted “December 31, 2003” for “December 31, 2002”. 2001—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 107–107 substituted “December 31, 2002” for “December 31, 2001”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2008 AmendmentAmendment by 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.

Effective Date of 2002 AmendmentAmendment 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.

Effective DatePub. L. 106–398, § 1 [[div. A], title VI, § 624(c)(1)], Oct. 30, 2000, 114 Stat. 1654, 1654A–153, provided that: “The amendments made by subsection (a) [enacting this section] shall take effect on October 1, 2000, and apply with respect to enlistments in the Armed Forces made on or after that date.”

Savings ProvisionFor 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.