Retention bonus drops for senior SWOs - Navy News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Navy Times

Retention bonus drops for senior SWOs

Strong retention is taking a bite out of retention bonuses for senior surface warfare officers, but bonus levels are expected to remain for junior and midgrade SWOs.

Captains are hardest hit, with their annual bonus level dropping from $20,000 to $10,000. Bonuses for commanders are dipping from $15,000 to $12,000.

However, bonus levels for younger SWOs are staying where they are because year-groups are smaller. Personnel officials believe they have retained enough SWOs to fill department head billets, but officials say when the pool is small, it’s important to keep retention high.

“We are still very committed to [the critical skills retention bonus program] and the junior SWO bonus,” said Rear Adm. Daniel Holloway, director of manpower, personnel, training and education. “Beyond near-term, this will be a CSRB that will be used effectively, though we may dial it up and down over time to address small year-groups or changing continuation rates.”

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