The Bonus Programs of the U.S. army Reserve, and Their Effect on Recruiting and Retention.

This paper traces the history of the four primary cash bonus programs of the Reserve Component Incentive Programs--the Reenlistment Bonus for Service in the Selected Reserve, the Non-Prior Service Enlistment Bonus for Service in the Selected Reserve, the Affiliation Bonus for Service in the Selected Reserve, and the Prior Service Enlistment Bonus for Service in the Selected Reserve. With the main focus being the Army Reserve, this paper illustrates the affect bonuses have on recruiting and retention efforts, and it attempts to measure their effectiveness by analyzing data gathered through various surveys and studies. It identifies successes such as increased number of six-year enlistment and reenlistment terms, improved soldier quality, increased commitment of man-years of service, improvement in the length of time soldiers serve toward their obligation, and decreased attrition rate. The paper also makes recommendations to help ensure the bonus programs proceed to evolve so they will continue be effective tools for assisting the Army Reserve recruit and retain high quality soldiers to fill its units.