37 U.S.C. § 331 — General bonus authority for enlisted mem-

Page 129 TITLE 37—PAY AND ALLOWANCES OF THE UNIFORMED SERVICES § 331 EFFECTIVE DATE Pub. L. 109–364, div. A, title VI, § 622(a)(3), Oct. 17, 2006, 120 Stat. 2256, provided that: ‘‘The amendments made by this subsection [enacting this section] shall take effect on October 1, 2006.’’ SUBCHAPTER II—CONSOLIDATION OF SPE- CIAL PAY, INCENTIVE PAY, AND BONUS AUTHORITIES § 331. General bonus authority for enlisted mem- bers (a) AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE BONUS.—The Sec- retary concerned may pay a bonus under this section to a person, including a member of the armed forces, who— (1) enlists in an armed force; (2) enlists in or affiliates with a reserve com- ponent of an armed force; (3) reenlists, voluntarily extends an enlist- ment, or otherwise agrees to serve— (A) for a specified period in a designated career field, skill, or unit of an armed force; or (B) under other conditions of service in an armed force; (4) transfers from a regular component of an armed force to a reserve component of that same armed force or from a reserve component of an armed force to the regular component of that same armed force; or (5) transfers from a regular component or re- serve component of an armed force to a reg- ular component or reserve component of an- other armed force, subject to the approval of the Secretary with jurisdiction over the armed force to which the member is transferring. (b) SERVICE ELIGIBILITY.—A bonus authorized by subsection (a) may be paid to a person or member only if the person or member agrees under subsection (d)— (1) to serve for a specified period in a des- ignated career field, skill, unit, or grade; or (2) to meet some other condition or condi- tions of service imposed by the Secretary con- cerned. (c) MAXIMUM AMOUNT AND METHOD OF PAY- MENT.— (1) MAXIMUM AMOUNT.—The Secretary con- cerned shall determine the amount of a bonus to be paid under this section, except that— (A) a bonus paid under paragraph (1) or (2) of subsection (a) may not exceed $75,000 for a minimum two-year period of obligated serv- ice agreed to under subsection (d); (B) a bonus paid under paragraph (3) of subsection (a) may not exceed $50,000 for each year of obligated service in a regular component agreed to under subsection (d); (C) a bonus paid under paragraph (3) of subsection (a) may not exceed $15,000 for each year of obligated service in a reserve component agreed to under subsection (d); and (D) a bonus paid under paragraph (4) or (5) of subsection (a) may not exceed $10,000. (2) LUMP SUM OR INSTALLMENTS.—A bonus under this section may be paid in a lump sum or in periodic installments, as determined by the Secretary concerned. (3) FIXING BONUS AMOUNT.—Upon acceptance by the Secretary concerned of the written agreement required by subsection (d), the total amount of the bonus to be paid under the agreement shall be fixed. (d) WRITTEN AGREEMENT.—To receive a bonus under this section, a person or member deter- mined to be eligible for the bonus shall enter into a written agreement with the Secretary concerned that specifies— (1) the amount of the bonus; (2) the method of payment of the bonus under subsection (c)(2); (3) the period of obligated service; and (4) the type or conditions of the service. (e) RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER PAY AND ALLOW- ANCES.—A bonus paid to a person or member under this section is in addition to any other pay and allowance to which the person or mem- ber is entitled. (f) RELATIONSHIP TO PROHIBITION ON BOUN- TIES.—A bonus authorized under this section is not a bounty for purposes of section 514(a) of title 10. (g) REPAYMENT.—A person or member who re- ceives a bonus under this section and who fails to complete the period of service, or meet the conditions of service, for which the bonus is paid, as specified in the written agreement under subsection (d), shall be subject to the re- payment provisions of section 373 of this title. (h) TERMINATION OF AUTHORITY.—No agree- ment may be entered into under this section after December 31, 2025. (Added Pub. L. 110–181, div. A, title VI, § 661(a)(2), Jan. 28, 2008, 122 Stat. 163; amended Pub. L. 111–84, div. A, title VI, § 614(1), Oct. 28, 2009, 123 Stat. 2353; Pub. L. 111–383, div. A, title VI, § 614(1), Jan. 7, 2011, 124 Stat. 4237; Pub. L. 112–81, div. A, title VI, § 614(1), Dec. 31, 2011, 125 Stat. 1450; Pub. L. 112–239, div. A, title VI, § 614(1), Jan. 2, 2013, 126 Stat. 1777; Pub. L. 113–66, div. A, title VI, § 614(1), Dec. 26, 2013, 127 Stat. 780; Pub. L. 113–291, div. A, title VI, § 614(1), Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 3400; Pub. L. 114–92, div. A, title VI, § 614(1), Nov. 25, 2015, 129 Stat. 838; Pub. L. 114–328, div. A, title VI, § 614(1), Dec. 23, 2016, 130 Stat. 2158; Pub. L. 115–91, div. A, title VI, § 614(1), Dec. 12, 2017, 131 Stat. 1422; Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title VI, § 611(d)(1), Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 1797; Pub. L. 116–92, div. A, title VI, § 611(d)(1), Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 1426; Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title VI, § 611(d)(1), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 3673; Pub. L. 117–81, div. A, title VI, § 611(d)(1), Dec. 27, 2021, 135 Stat. 1769; Pub. L. 117–263, div. A, title VI, §§ 601(d)(1), 602(a), Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 2619, 2620; Pub. L. 118–31, div. A, title VI, § 613(d)(1), Dec. 22, 2023, 137 Stat. 291; Pub. L. 118–159, div. A, title VI, § 611(d)(1), Dec. 23, 2024, 138 Stat. 1932.) Editorial Notes AMENDMENTS 2024—Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 118–159 substituted ‘‘Decem- ber 31, 2025’’ for ‘‘December 31, 2024’’. 2023—Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 118–31 substituted ‘‘Decem- ber 31, 2024’’ for ‘‘December 31, 2023’’. Page 130 TITLE 37—PAY AND ALLOWANCES OF THE UNIFORMED SERVICES § 332 2022—Subsec. (c)(1)(A). Pub. L. 117–263, § 602(a)(1), sub- stituted ‘‘$75,000’’ for ‘‘$50,000’’. Subsec. (c)(1)(B). Pub. L. 117–263, § 602(a)(2), sub- stituted ‘‘$50,000’’ for ‘‘$30,000’’. Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 117–263, § 601(d)(1), substituted ‘‘December 31, 2023’’ for ‘‘December 31, 2022’’. 2021—Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 117–81 substituted ‘‘Decem- ber 31, 2022’’ for ‘‘December 31, 2021’’. Pub. L. 116–283 substituted ‘‘December 31, 2021’’ for ‘‘December 31, 2020’’. 2019—Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 116–92 substituted ‘‘Decem- ber 31, 2020’’ for ‘‘December 31, 2019’’. 2018—Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 115–232 substituted ‘‘Decem- ber 31, 2019’’ for ‘‘December 31, 2018’’. 2017—Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 115–91 substituted ‘‘Decem- ber 31, 2018’’ for ‘‘December 31, 2017’’. 2016—Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 114–328 substituted ‘‘Decem- ber 31, 2017’’ for ‘‘December 31, 2016’’. 2015—Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 114–92 substituted ‘‘Decem- ber 31, 2016’’ for ‘‘December 31, 2015’’. 2014—Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 113–291 substituted ‘‘Decem- ber 31, 2015’’ for ‘‘December 31, 2014’’. 2013—Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 113–66 substituted ‘‘Decem- ber 31, 2014’’ for ‘‘December 31, 2013’’. Pub. L. 112–239 substituted ‘‘December 31, 2013’’ for ‘‘December 31, 2012’’. 2011—Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 112–81 substituted ‘‘Decem- ber 31, 2012’’ for ‘‘December 31, 2011’’. Pub. L. 111–383 substituted ‘‘December 31, 2011’’ for ‘‘December 31, 2010’’. 2009—Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 111–84 substituted ‘‘Decem- ber 31, 2010’’ for ‘‘December 31, 2009’’. § 332. General bonus authority for officers (a) AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE BONUS.—The Sec- retary concerned may pay a bonus under this section to a person, including an officer in the uniformed services, who— (1) accepts a commission or appointment as an officer in a uniformed service; (2) affiliates with a reserve component of a uniformed service; (3) agrees to remain on active duty or to serve in an active status for a specific period as an officer in a uniformed service; (4) transfers from a regular component of a uniformed service to a reserve component of that same uniformed service or from a reserve component of a uniformed service to the reg- ular component of that same uniformed serv- ice; or (5) transfers from a regular component or re- serve component of a uniformed service to a regular component or reserve component of another uniformed service, subject to the ap- proval of the Secretary with jurisdiction over the uniformed service to which the member is transferring. (b) SERVICE ELIGIBILITY.—A bonus authorized by subsection (a) may be paid to a person or offi- cer only if the person or officer agrees under subsection (d)— (1) to serve for a specified period in a des- ignated career field, skill, unit, or grade; or (2) to meet some other condition or condi- tions of service imposed by the Secretary con- cerned. (c) MAXIMUM AMOUNT AND METHOD OF PAY- MENT.— (1) MAXIMUM AMOUNT.—The Secretary con- cerned shall determine the amount of a bonus to be paid under this section, except that— (A) a bonus paid under paragraph (1) of subsection (a) may not exceed $60,000 for a minimum three-year period of obligated service agreed to under subsection (d); (B) a bonus paid under paragraph (2) of subsection (a) may not exceed $20,000 for a minimum three-year period of obligated service agreed to under subsection (d); (C) a bonus paid under paragraph (3) of subsection (a) may not exceed $50,000 for each year of obligated service in a regular component agreed to under subsection (d); (D) a bonus paid under paragraph (3) of subsection (a) may not exceed $12,000 for each year of obligated service in a reserve component agreed to under subsection (d); and (E) a bonus paid under paragraph (4) or (5) of subsection (a) may not exceed $10,000. (2) LUMP SUM OR INSTALLMENTS.—A bonus under this section may be paid in a lump sum or in periodic installments, as determined by the Secretary concerned. (3) FIXING BONUS AMOUNT.—Upon acceptance by the Secretary concerned of the written agreement required by subsection (d), the total amount of the bonus to be paid under the agreement shall be fixed. (d) WRITTEN AGREEMENT.—To receive a bonus under this section, a person or officer deter- mined to be eligible for the bonus shall enter into a written agreement with the Secretary concerned that specifies— (1) the amount of the bonus; (2) the method of payment of the bonus under subsection (c)(2); (3) the period of obligated service; and (4) the type or conditions of the service. (e) RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER PAY AND ALLOW- ANCES.—The bonus paid to a person or officer under this section is in addition to any other pay and allowance to which the person or officer is entitled. (f) REPAYMENT.—A person or officer who re- ceives a bonus under this section and who fails to complete the period of service, or meet the conditions of service, for which the bonus is paid, as specified in the written agreement under subsection (d), shall be subject to the re- payment provisions of section 373 of this title. (g) TERMINATION OF AUTHORITY.—No agree- ment may be entered into under this section after December 31, 2025. (Added Pub. L. 110–181, div. A, title VI, § 661(a)(2), Jan. 28, 2008, 122 Stat. 164; amended Pub. L. 111–84, div. A, title VI, § 614(2), Oct. 28, 2009, 123 Stat. 2353; Pub. L. 111–383, div. A, title VI, § 614(2), Jan. 7, 2011, 124 Stat. 4237; Pub. L. 112–81, div. A, title VI, § 614(2), Dec. 31, 2011, 125 Stat. 1450; Pub. L. 112–239, div. A, title VI, § 614(2), Jan. 2, 2013, 126 Stat. 1777; Pub. L. 113–66, div. A, title VI, § 614(2), Dec. 26, 2013, 127 Stat. 781; Pub. L. 113–291, div. A, title VI, § 614(2), Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 3400; Pub. L. 114–92, div. A, title VI, § 614(2), Nov. 25, 2015, 129 Stat. 838; Pub. L. 114–328, div. A, title VI, §§ 614(2), 617, Dec. 23, 2016, 130 Stat. 2158, 2160; Pub. L. 115–91, div. A, title VI, § 614(2), Dec. 12, 2017, 131 Stat. 1422; Pub. L. 115–232, div. A,