Army hikes bonuses for recruits

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Army, for the first time, is offering a maximum enlistment bonus of $50,000 to highly skilled recruits who join for six years, the Associated Press has learned, as the service struggles to lure soldiers into certain critical jobs amid the continuing pandemic.

Maj. Gen. Kevin Vereen, head of Army Recruiting Command, told AP that shuttered schools and the competitive job market over the past year have posed significant challenges for recruiters. So heading into the most difficult months for recruiting, the Army is hoping that extra cash and a few other changes will entice qualified young people to sign up.

“We are still living the implications of 2020 and the onset of COVID, when the school systems basically shut down,” he said. “We lost a full class of young men and women that we didn’t have contact with, face-to-face.”

Competition for quality workers has intensified as young people weigh their options.

The annual recruiting goal fluctuates as currently serving soldiers decide whether to reenlist or leave. In the past two years, as the pandemic raged, many decided to stay in, lessening the pressure on recruiting. Last year’s recruiting goal was 57,500, and Vereen said it will be about the same this year.

To entice recruits, those who sign up for a six-year enlistment in a high-demand career field can get bonuses that total up to $50,000. Given the high standards, it will be difficult for many to qualify for the top bonus.

Certain careers — such as missile defense crew, special forces, signals intelligence and fire control specialists who coordinate battlefield weapons operations — can often come with the maximum bonuses. Other key jobs include infantry, intelligence analyst, combat medic specialist, military police and combat engineer.