Navy offers incentives to senior sub officers - Navy News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Navy Times

Navy offers incentives to senior sub officers

Navy officials are sweetening the pot to entice some senior officers in the submarine support community to stay in uniform.

Members of the community are no longer qualified for submarine duty at sea, but offer a wealth of experience to submariners, both at sea and ashore.

Submarine support incentive pay previously was used to retain lieutenant commanders.

“We’ve changed the demographic we’re targeting now to those who have screened for commanding officer ... at the O-5 and O-6 levels,” said Rear Adm. Tony Kurta, head of manpower policy and plans for the chief of naval personnel.

To qualify, officers must have 20 to 25 years of service, be eligible for assignment worldwide and have nuclear training, according to NAVADMIN 293/10, released Aug. 30.

Under the program, a one-year contract will net $15,000, up from $10,000. A two-year deal will net $20,000 annually for a total payout of $40,000, nearly double the previous $11,000 annual payment.

A three-year deal will net $75,000, with $25,000 paid each year, up from $12,000 each year under the old program.

Kurta said the changes will not impact those currently under an SSIP contract.

“All existing contracts will be honored,” he said. But those contracts will be honored at the old rates of pay.