The US Air Force began offering cash bonuses for its aviators on 11 April, as part of the service’s effort to close a multi-year pilot shortage.

The Air Force added more opportunities for future Airmen to receive bonuses upon entering active duty in fiscal 2022.

Six skills were added to the FY22 Initial Enlistment Bonus program on April 11, 2022 for four or six-year contracts in hard-to-fill job specialties and an additional incentive called “Quick Ship” will be offered from April, 11 to Sept. 30, 2022.

“As we roll up our sleeves in the battle for talent, we’ve got to remain competitive as we go after our next generation of Airmen,” said Maj. Gen. Ed Thomas, Air Force Recruiting Service commander. “While we’ve got an unmatched value proposition we also have a record-high level of competition for America’s best and brightest.”

Any member who enters active duty with any career field in a quick-ship status may be eligible to receive an $8,000 bonus. Quick Ship is when an already fully-qualified applicant fills a short-notice Basic Military Training Vacancy, shipping out within five days or less.

Recruiting incentives give recruiters additional support and tools to use as they press through all the challenges associated with reaching the Air Force’s FY22 Total Force accessions goals. Those challenges include a low youth propensity to join, a national labor shortage and aggregate effects of operating primarily virtual since the March 2020 outbreak of COVID-19.

“These potential recruits are the lifeblood of combat readiness and national security,” said Thomas. “So we must do everything we can to inspire, engage and recruit the Airmen.”

AFRS is also expecting to see recruiting incentives from Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard that support their Total Force recruiting mission.

Source: Air Force Recruiting Service Press Release

For more information, kindly contact Air Force Recruiting Service.

You may also check our Terms and Conditions for our Content Policy.