Enlisted Affiliation Bonus (EAB)

The Enlisted Affiliation Bonus is offered to current enlisted Service Members who affiliate directly into a critical skill position in the Army National Guard from another branch of the military.

You must affiliate with an approved critical skill Military Occupational Specialty (MOS). Soldiers joining from another service must be awarded the enlistment MOS as their primary MOS, as determined by the proponent school at the time of affiliation.

Critical skill positions and availabilities vary from state to state. Contact your state Incentive Manager for the current designated critical skill listings in your area.

Eligibility

In order to be eligible for the EAB:

  • You must be Duty Military Occupational Specialty Qualified (DMOSQ) at the time of enlistment and affiliate with a critical skill, unit or pay grade for no less than three years.
  • You must be in pay grade E-7 or below and no more than one pay grade below the required grade for the duty position.
  • You must have completed any term of service or period of obligated service.
  • You must have fewer than 16 years of total military service.
  • You must serve a minimum of three years with the Army National Guard in an active drilling status (contractual obligation).

Amount

Qualifying Soldiers will receive $5,000 for committing to a three-year term of service. You’ll receive a lump-sum payment upon affiliating with the Guard and reporting to your assigned unit.

If you contract under the retraining provision, you must first be awarded a vacant MOS. The bonus payment will be initiated by the unit commander upon award of a vacant MOS.

No combination of incentives may exceed the $20,000 limit set by federal law.

Contact your Reserve Component Career Counselor (RCCC) or Active Component Career Counselor for additional details.