Expert: Cynthia Bedell - 2/23/2010

Question
Colonel Bedell,

I am planning on joining the Navy Reserves, and then active duty as a Hospital Corpsman once I am out of college.  I was wondering what type of sign-on bonus I would get for the Reserves.

Here's a little about my background, but I'm not sure if it's relevant to the amount:

EMT-B,
Eagle Scout,
Red Cross CPR/FA/AED instructor,
Lifeguard,
50-60 college credit hours,
3.5 GPA

Sincerely,

Joe

Answer
Dear Joe -

I cannot predict what your enlist bonus would be when you finally sign a contract.  I actually recommend you defer your enlistment until you have graduated from college.  

YOur enlistment bonus will be based on your:
Education -- College grad -- very good, but much less if you join before you have graduated.
Overall fitness.
Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery scores.
Moral conduct, and
Health history.

For an active duty enlistment, you can qualify for up to $40,000, if you enlist for an 8 year service tour in a field the Navy has difficulty filling.  This bonus is taxable, and will be paid out at no more than $10,000 per year.  Usually the payout is over the term of your service, so likely you would get around $5,000 per year.  A reserve enlistment would be smaller, but still linked to the period of service for which you enlist.

Alternatively, you could get your bonus as a payment of any college loans.  Similar terms, except the bonus is paid directly to the agency handling your loans.  Again the bonus is taxable income.

You might want to consider that as a college graduate you will qualify for Officer Training School.  The increase in pay over your enlistment period could well exceed the bonus for which you would qualify as an enlisted Sailor.

Only a Navy recruiter can answer your questions about the actual bonuses for which you would qualify.  You may want to discuss with them your pre-graduation versus post-graduation opportunities and benefits.

Please write back, if you have additional questions.  Good luck to you.