Guy on the BM board is saying as of Friday a message was released stating as of 31 Dec. there are no more bonuses. Any truth to that?

R 042012Z JAN 08
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//CG-1//
TO ALCOAST
BT
UNCLAS //N07220//
ALCOAST 006/08
COMDTNOTE 7220
SUBJ: FY2008 MILITARY PAY AND BENEFITS
A. TITLE 37 USC, SECTION 1009(C)
B. PERSONNEL MANUAL, COMDTINST M1000.6 (SERIES)
C. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 051932Z FEB 07, ALCOAST 064/07
D. JOINT FEDERAL TRAVEL REGULATIONS (JFTR)
1. GENERAL:
A. THE ABSENCE OF A NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT (NDAA) AS
OF 31 DEC 2007 AFFECTED THE INCREASE TO BASIC PAY EFFECTIVE 1 JAN
2008. THIS ALCOAST DISCUSSES THE RESULTING IMPACT ON THE 2008
MILITARY BASIC PAY INCREASE AND OTHER BASIC ALLOWANCE RATES THAT
HAVE GONE INTO EFFECT ON 1 JAN 2008.
B. AUTHORITY TO PAY ACTIVE DUTY AND RESERVE BONUSES USED BY THE
COAST GUARD TO SHAPE OUR MILITARY WORK FORCE EXPIRED ON 31 DEC
2007. THIS ALCOAST PROVIDES INTERIM GUIDANCE FOR ADMINISTRATION OF
THOSE BONUSES UNTIL THE ENACTMENT OF A FY08 NDAA OR OTHER
LEGISLATION RESTORES OUR AUTHORITY TO MAKE THOSE BONUS PAYMENTS.
.
.
D. BONUSES AND SPECIAL PAYS: UNTIL THE FY08 NDAA IS SIGNED, ALL
INCENTIVE, ENLISTMENT, AND REENLISTMENT BONUSES UNDER REFS B AND C
ARE SUSPENDED FOR NEW CONTRACTS AS OF 1 JAN 2008. HOWEVER, THE
FOLLOWING GENERAL GUIDANCE MUST BE FOLLOWED UNTIL THE LEGISLATION
REINSTATING THE REQUIRED AUTHORITIES IS ENACTED:
(1) THE WORDING FOR CONTINGENT BONUS ADDENDUMS STATED BELOW SHALL
BE ADDED TO BOTH ENLISTMENT/REENLISTMENT CONTRACTS AND
ADMINISTRATIVE REMARKS (CG-3307), WHICH ACKNOWLEDGE ELIGIBILITY FOR
A BONUS BUT DOES NOT GUARANTEE A BONUS PAYMENT. THIS WILL ENABLE
BONUSES TO BE PAID AT A LATER DATE WITHOUT FURTHER ACTION BY THE
MEMBER ONCE, OR IF, AUTHORITY IS REESTABLISHED. HOWEVER, WHETHER
PAYMENTS WILL BE RETROACTIVE WILL DEPEND ON HOW CONGRESS REINSTATES
THE LAPSED AUTHORITIES.
(2) ACTIVE DUTY AND RESERVE AGREEMENTS EXECUTED DURING THE PERIOD
OF LAPSED AUTHORITY SHALL NOT INCLUDE BONUS GUARANTEES UNLESS THE
FOLLOWING WORDING FOR THE CONTINGENT BONUS ADDENDUM IS INCLUDED:
(A) BONUSES MUST BE AUTHORIZED BY CONGRESS AND ENACTED INTO LAW.
THE AUTHORIZATION FOR PREVIOUS BONUSES EXPIRED ON 31 DEC 2007.
CONGRESS IS CONSIDERING RENEWING THESE AUTHORIZATIONS. THESE
AUTHORIZATIONS MAY BE RETROACTIVE TO 1 JAN 2008, OR THEY MAY TAKE
EFFECT WHEN ENACTED, OR THEY MAY NOT BE ENACTED.
(B) I UNDERSTAND THAT MY ENTITLEMENT TO A (FILL IN THE AMOUNT OR
ZONE) BONUS IS CONTINGENT UPON ENACTMENT OF AUTHORITY FOR THE (FILL
IN APPROPRIATE BONUS PROGRAM). THE POSSIBILITY OF RECEIVING A
BONUS WAS A CONSIDERATION IN MY CONTRACT DECISION. HOWEVER, IF
CONGRESS FAILS TO AUTHORIZE THE (FILL IN APPROPRIATE BONUS
PROGRAM), MY CONTRACT TO SERVE IN THE U.S. COAST GUARD IS STILL
VALID AND ENFORCEABLE. ANY VERBAL REPRESENTATIONS BY ANY BONUS-
PROFFERING PERSONNEL THAT DIFFER FROM THOSE CONTAINED IN THIS
ADDENDUM ARE UNAUTHORIZED AND UNENFORCEABLE.(UNQUOTE)
(C) THIS ADDENDUM AND THE CG-3307 MUST BE SIGNED AND DATED BY
BOTH THE APPLICANT AND A COMMAND REPRESENTATIVE.
(3) THE FOLLOWING LIST OF BONUS AND INCENTIVE PROGRAM AUTHORITIES
EXPIRED 31 DEC 2007:
(A) BONUS AND SPECIAL PAYS FOR RESERVE FORCES.
1. BONUS FOR AFFILIATION OR ENLISTMENT IN THE SELECTED
RESERVE - 37 USC 308C(I) AND 308I(F), SECTIONS 3-E-5 THRU 3-E-7 OF
REF B.
2. SPECIAL PAY FOR MEMBERS OF THE SELECTED RESERVE ASSIGNED
TO CERTAIN HIGH PRIORITY UNITS - 37 USC 308D(C), REF C.
3. REPAYMENT OF EDUCATIONAL LOANS FOR CERTAIN HEALTH
PROFESSIONALS WHO SERVE IN THE SELECTED RESERVE - 10 USC 16302(D),
REF C.
(B) AUTHORITIES RELATING TO PAYMENT OF OTHER BONUSES AND
SPECIAL PAYS
1. SPECIAL PAY: REENLISTMENT BONUS - 37 USC 308(G), SECTION
3-A OF REF B.
2. SPECIAL PAY: ENLISTMENT BONUS - 37 USC 309(E), SECTION 3-
C OF REF B.
E. BENEFITS AND RETIRED PAY: THE CURRENT DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION
BILL HAS A NUMBER OF CHANGES TO RETIRED PAY AND OTHER BENEFITS THAT
WILL GO INTO EFFECT WHEN THE BILL IS SIGNED INTO LAW AND WILL BE
THE SUBJECT OF A FUTURE ALCOAST.

So what I am understanding is, they are still going to be given just not untill congress figures out this whole budget ordeal. would that be correct in my assumption?

so now comes the fun part. will they back date them? I know my 10 year is coming up quick and that is the last time I can get a bonus.

I thought the message answered your question pretty clearly.

The law authorizing bonuses expired.
It is no longer lawful to pay them out.
When folks go through a process that would have given them a bonus, they are to understand that.
It is expected that the next version of the bill will contain the same language, allowing the bonuses to be paid.
It is unkown whether or not the congress will change the language to authorize retoractive bonuses.

Nothing Congress does in regard to bonuses will have an effect on the validity of your contract.

I did my reenlistment first week in December and signed for SRB that day also. I was told I am getting an SRB...Am I ok since I did this before Dec 31? No one here is giving me any answers any help?

From the message above:

quote:

D. BONUSES AND SPECIAL PAYS: UNTIL THE FY08 NDAA IS SIGNED, ALL
INCENTIVE, ENLISTMENT, AND REENLISTMENT BONUSES UNDER REFS B AND C
ARE SUSPENDED FOR NEW CONTRACTS AS OF 1 JAN 2008. HOWEVER, THE
FOLLOWING GENERAL GUIDANCE MUST BE FOLLOWED UNTIL THE LEGISLATION
REINSTATING THE REQUIRED AUTHORITIES IS ENACTED:

Since the bonus authorization expired on 31 Dec and you signed the re-enlistment contract before that, you will get the bonus.

That's what I thought but wanted to make sure. Thanks

Yep, your good as long as you did it before Dec 31st. What boils my blood is that I reenlisted on Jan 4th for my Zone B. Well, five hours later they released the message saying it was suspended. Thats complete BS, after doing research I discovered that other branches released their message prior to the end of DEC 2007. The CG must have decided to stay on their New Years break and lolly gag around before releasing. I emailed them and asked several questions as to why it was released so late; hell I could have eaisly sworn in on Dec 31st had I known.
Anyways, they released another message on Jan 8th answering all my questions so we should get our bonus and pay made retroactive to Jan 1st. This information came from the President in his White House briefing. It's my tenth year so I have no other choice but to reenlist and hope they keep their word. The reason the bill is being held up has nothing to do with our pay & bonus so thats a good thing at least. It's just more pins and needles that I have to tread; just don't care to have right now you know...

Folks would have been unhappy if they released it early too. If you would have done it in December, you would have lost some 'pre-obligated' time and would have been paid based on last years payscale. Besides, it was not a sure thing that the bill would not have been passed in a way that would have made the boss comfortable signing it. Imagine the aingst that could have been caused if they sent it out and a bunch of people re-up'd in Dec only to find out they didn;t need too! Like you said though, the most likely scenario is that the check will just arrive a little later. The final comment as has been said in some other strings, we are talking about BONUSs here - not entitlements. Some people refer to them as gift horses! What are you not supposed to do with a gift horse?

Your right, a bonus is not an entitlement....but it sure does help out with bills and other expenses. I believe the Army has something like a billion dollars tied up in bonus sign-on's & reenlistments. It makes me wonder if this has held anyone else up from enlisting or reenlisting in the other branches.

The FY08 NDAA has been passed!

Yep, I've been keeping up with it. I believe it's on the way to the President to be signed. Everything should work out, I'm very happy

Anyone else curious as to why noone has said anything about our bonuses or pay raise since the President signed the bill 2 days ago? I asked my YNs and they had no clue that the bill was even signed. It seems like everyone is kind of trying to keep this thing out of the public eye. No big headlines...No messages...No e-mails...PSC site still says there is no NDAA...What gives?

I noticed it too, I'm in a holding pattern right now on a possible home purchase. Some info would be nice. But it was only 2 days ago, I think we should give PSC a little time to develop the ALCOAST. Stand by.

I just contracted today, and that's when my recruiter mentioned this. I'd like to at least think that the lack of details in this regard is simply to get the word out to the "need-to-know" people first, then everyone else once the logistics are in place. But maybe that's just wishful thinking, and my entitlement and signing bonus already evaporated into the thin air above Washington.

I'm in the process of enlisting. I was wondering if we had a go, no go on enlistment bonuses.

Just got a Military.com newsletter stating that Bush signed the bill including the pay raise, and that it is retroactive to Jan. 1. No word on inclusion of bonuses and other such things, but research would probably shed light on that.

I've read the section of the bill pertaining to the bonuses. It talks about reenlistment but I see nothing on original enlistment bonuses. Anybody know of a good site to research this on, I keep running into dead ends.

Word on the street from PERSRU is that a message will be out in the next couple of days reinstating the bonuses.

quote:

Originally posted by b0ats:
Word on the street from PERSRU is that a message will be out in the next couple of days reinstating the bonuses.

For those who are noobs, "PERSRU"?