The Air Force is now offering even more money for troops to reenlist and stay in 73 of its toughest and most critical jobs.
These bonuses, which can range anywhere from $180,000 (an $80,000 increase from prior years) to $360,000 over the span of an airman’s entire career, are for positions such as tactical air control party airman and explosive ordnance disposal to jobs in religious affairs or being a dental assistant.
The selective retention bonus “serves as a retention tool, targeting experienced enlisted personnel in critical career fields, particularly those with lower manning or retention rates. Additionally, specialties involving extensive initial skills training and stringent qualification requirements are considered,” the Air Force said in a news release.
The latest list of 73 Air Force specialty codes applicable for the new bonus is a major increase from the prior year’s 51 eligible career fields. Airmen identified as being eligible last year are still eligible if their job remains on the list.
Service members can reenlist up to 12 months before the end of their current contracts. In addition to expanding the career list, the service also upped the service cap from six years (72 months) to eight years (96 months).
“The change not only allows airmen to maximize the amount received from eligible retention bonuses, but also allows airmen in any AFSC flexibility in their reenlistment contract,” the service said.
Here are the 73 Air Force specialty codes, provided to Military.com on Wednesday, that are now eligible for the bonus:
- 1A1X3D – Special Mission Aviator (C-130J Loadmaster)
- 1A1X3E – Special Mission Aviator (HC-130J Loadmaster)
- 1A8X1G – Airborne Cryptologic Language Analyst (Chinese)
- 1A8X1I – Airborne Cryptologic Language Analyst (Russian)
- 1A8X1K – Airborne Cryptologic Language Analyst (Persian)
- 1B4X1 – Cyber Warfare Operations
- 1C1X1 – Air Traffic Control
- 1C3X1 – All-Domain Command and Control Operations
- 1C5X1 – Battle Management Operations
- 1C5X1D – Battle Management Operations (Weapons Director)
- 1D791 – Cyberspace Defense Operations, Superintendent
- 1D7X1M – Cyber Defense Operations (Mission Defense Activities)
- 1D7X1P – Cyber Defense Operations (Data Operations)
- 1D7X1Q – Cyber Defense Operations (Enterprise Operations)
- 1D7X1W – Cyber Defense Operations (Expeditionary Communications)
- 1D7X3C – Cable and Antennae Defense Operations (Cable and Antennae Operations)
- 1H0X1 – Aerospace Physiology
- 1N2X1A – Signal Intelligence (Electronic Non-Communications Analyst)
- 1N3X1G – Cryptologic Language Analyst (Chinese)
- 1N3X1I – Cryptologic Language Analyst (Russian)
- 1N3X1K – Cryptologic Language Analyst (Persian)
- 1N4X1A – Cyber Intelligence (Analysis)
- 1N8X1 – Targeting Analyst
- 1P0X1A – Aircrew Flight Equipment (Ejection Seat Aircraft)
- 1P0X1B – Aircrew Flight Equipment (Non-Ejection Seat Aircraft)
- 1T0X1 – Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape
- 1Z1X1 – Pararescue
- 1Z2X1 – Combat Control
- 1Z3X1 – Tactical Air Control Party
- 1Z4X1 – Special Reconnaissance
- 2A373 – Tactical Aircraft Maintenance Craftsman
- 2A3X5B – Advanced Fighter Aircraft Integrated Avionics (F-35)
- 2A3X5C – Advanced Fighter Aircraft Integrated Avionics (MQ-1/MQ-9/RQ-4)
- 2A375 – Advanced Fighter Aircraft Integrated Avionics Craftsman
- 2A377 – Tactical Aircraft Maintenance (5th Generation) Craftsman
- 2A378 – Remotely Piloted Aircraft Maintenance Craftsman
- 2A3X8A – Remotely Piloted Aircraft Maintenance (MQ-1/MQ-9)
- 2A3X8B – Remotely Piloted Aircraft Maintenance (RQ-4)
- 2A5X1A – Airlift/Special Mission Aircraft Maintenance (C-20/C-21/C-22/C-37/C-40/E-4/VC-25)
- 2A574 – Refuel/Bomber Aircraft Maintenance Craftsman
- 2A5X4C – Refuel/Bomber Aircraft Maintenance (KC-46)
- 2A5X4D – Refuel/Bomber Aircraft Maintenance (B-52)
- 2A5X4E – Refuel/Bomber Aircraft Maintenance (B-1)
- 2A5X4F – Refuel/Bomber Aircraft Maintenance (B-2)
- 2G0X1 – Logistics Plans
- 2M090 – Missile and Space System Maintenance
- 2M0X1X – Missile and Space System Electronic Maintenance
- 2M0X2 – Missile and Space System Maintenance
- 2M0X3 – Missile and Space Facilities
- 2W2X1 – Nuclear Weapons
- 3E5X1 – Engineering
- 3E8X1 – Explosive Ordnance Disposal
- 3F371 – Manpower
- 3P0X1A – Security Forces (Military Working Dog Handler)
- 3P0X1B – Security Forces (Combat Arms)
- 4C0X1 – Mental Health Service
- 4H0X1 – Respiratory Care Practitioner
- 4J0X2 – Physical Medicine
- 4J0X2A – Physical Medicine (Orthotic)
- 4N0X1C – Aerospace Medical Service (Independent Duty Medical Technician)
- 4N0X1D – Aerospace Medical Service (Allergy/Immunization Technician)
- 4N0X1F – Aerospace Medical Service (Flight and Operational Medicine)
- 4N0X1G – Aerospace Medical Service (Aeromedical Evacuation)
- 4N0X1H – Aerospace Medical Service (National Registry Paramedic)
- 4N1X1B – Surgical Technologist (Urology)
- 4N1X1C – Surgical Technologist (Orthopedics)
- 4N1X1D – Surgical Technologist (Otorhinolaryngology)
- 4P0X1 – Pharmacy
- 4R0X1A – Diagnostic Imaging (Nuclear Medicine)
- 4R0X1C – Diagnostic Imaging (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)
- 4V0X1S – Ophthalmic (Ophthalmology)
- 4Y0X1H – Dental Assistant (Dental Hygienist)
- 5R0X1 – Religious Affairs
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