Prior Service Enlistment Bonus

Applicants with prior military service may be eligible for the Prior Service Enlistment Bonus (PSEB). To qualify, you’ll need to enlist into a critical skill Military Occupational Specialty (MOS). Contact your local Army National Guard recruiter to find out which positions are currently available in your state.

Eligibility:

Prior Service (PS) applicants must meet the following general eligibility criteria to qualify for a PSEB:

  • Must enlist in a designated critical skill MOS to either a Modified Table of Organization & Equipment (MTOE), Aviation Classification and Repair Activity Depot (AVCRAD), Regional Training Institute (RTI); or a Medical, Special Forces or deploying Table of Distribution and Allowance (TDA) unit.
  • Cannot have more than 16 years of total military service upon enlistment in the National Guard. This service is computed from your adjusted Pay Entry Basic Date (PEBD), which is effective upon enlistment.
  • Must have received an honorable discharge upon completion of all prior periods of service. A General Under Honorable Conditions or Uncharacterized Discharge does not qualify you to receive the PSEB. Exception: Soldiers competing Initial Active Duty Training (IADT) with Uncharactized Discharge are eligible.
  • If your last discharge was from the Army National Guard and you are within 12 months of that discharge date, you do not qualify for any PS incentive.
  • If you have previously received any Selected Reserve Non-Prior Service (NPS) enlistment incentive, re-enlistment/extension incentive or affiliation incentive, you may still receive the PSEB.
  • If you have previously received a PS incentive, you are not eligible for another PS enlistment incentive.
  • If you are currently on any PS incentive, you may qualify for the re-enlistment/extension incentive at the conclusion of your contract term (upon entering the 12-month re-enlistment window).
  • If you are contracting for the Critical Skill Bonus, you must be DMOSQ at the time of enlistment. If enlisting for PS Non-DMOSQ Critical Skill Bonus, you must become DMOS qualified within 24 months from your enlistment date, plus any time spent in a mobilized status or bonus will be terminated.
  • Reserve Component Career Counselors (RCCC) and Active Component (AC) Career Counselors are authorized to offer the PS enlistment bonus as an incentive to those Soldiers transitioning off Active Duty for service agreement into the Army National Guard.

Amount:

The PSEB is a part of the Army National Guard Selected Reserve Incentive Program (SRIP). Qualifying Prior Service Soldiers can receive a bonus amount of up to $15,000 for enlisting into a designated critical skills MTOE* or medical  TDA** unit only.

Incentive Option
Amount
Years of Service
Payment Schedule
DMOSQ Critical Skill Bonus -
Valid Vacancy in MTOE or TDA
$2,500-$15,000
6
Initial 50%
3-Yr. Anniv. 25%
5-Yr. Anniv. 25%
Non-DMOSQ Critical Skill Bonus -
Valid Vacancy in MTOE or TDA
$2,500-$15,000
6
Initial 50%
3-Yr. Anniv. 25%
5-Yr. Anniv. 25%

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

Available critical skill positions vary from state to state. State Incentive Managers can tell you which MOSs qualify in their state.

* Modified Table of Organization & Equipment
** Table of Distribution and Allowance