Army not funding 66S/Other medical MOS incentives?

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I am prior service and for the last 9 months completed the process to join the reserves as a 66S. I was supposed to have my packet sent in October but was told there was a problem with the budgets and funding so they were holding off on sending anyone to the board. I was then told everything was good to go for November boards and that the incentive for 66S was 20k-25k per year for 3 years. I was notified I was selected a few weeks ago and I should expect to sign and take the oath the beginning of January. I just received a phone call and was told by my recruiter that apparently the reserves failed to properly fund and that only incentives for dentists and physicians were being funded. He was calling me because higher command was requesting they call all of their selected recruits and ask if they would still accept without any guaranteed bonus or if they are declining.

He explained that if I decline and funding becomes available that I can try to appeal my declination, but he admitted he had never seen that process before so he can’t guarantee anything. He said I could then wait one year and try again next October to re-board, but that my declination may or may not hurt my chances. My recruiter is a good guy and it sounds like this is all higher-level mistakes. I’ve served before and the money is not the only reason I want to join, but to offer a bonus of 20+k per year and to have offered a similarly high bonus every year for the last few years shows the need for the field and skills. Then to expect recruits to join after being specifically told they qualified for a certain amount and ask them to take $0 makes me wonder if anyone knows what's really going on? If the recruiter is not been given all the information either?

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Well, how would you go about checking on the information above the level of the recruiter? Your concerns are valid. Recently I was promised a pay raise upon hire after a certain milestone was reached. Guess what happened? The employer didn't care because they had me in their claws and what was I to do? Resign over it? I had to make a decision. Sounds like you have such a decision and I would not blame you for being upset.

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Specializes in Dialysis.

Read through other threads on here. Not many nurses being accepted into active duty or reserve from my understanding. Very selective, so I'm not sure where the recruiter got these huge bonuses. I'm not sure of good advice for you, but I'd ask above then go from there

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
On 12/11/2019 at 9:04 PM, Hoosier_RN said:

Read through other threads on here. Not many nurses being accepted into active duty or reserve from my understanding. Very selective, so I'm not sure where the recruiter got these huge bonuses. I'm not sure of good advice for you, but I'd ask above then go from there

Before I resigned my commission this summer, I was getting Reserve recruiting emails with similar bonuses being held out for certain AOCs, including critical care nurses. But incentive specialty pay is never guaranteed and is subject to overall funding — even in subsequent years after receiving the bonus, they can be unfunded later.

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At the end of the day, it will come down to where the force is going and pay incentives will reflect that. They have laid out clear goals of transferring a substantial amount of their medical service to civilian hands. This will likely reflect in retention and recruitment goals at much lower levels. Not to mention more comparative openings.

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53 minutes ago, djmatte said:

At the end of the day, it will come down to where the force is going and pay incentives will reflect that. They have laid out clear goals of transferring a substantial amount of their medical service to civilian hands. This will likely reflect in retention and recruitment goals at much lower levels. Not to mention more comparative openings.

Exactly. The drawdown has been going on for years. No reason why the effects of that should not reach the medical or nurse corps.

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Specializes in PCU/Step-Down, Satellite ED, ICU.

Kind of going/went through the same thing in Nov. However, my recruiter just called me last week saying they are (unofficial rumor) now bringing back the reserve incentives for this FY but just haven't made the announcement yet. Fingers crossed!

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Specializes in Primary Care/ Trauma.

The bonus for 66S has returned. It's $25k X 3 years. GL

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