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Retention Bonuses: More Direction and Oversight Needed

NSIAD-96-42 Published: Nov 06, 1995. Publicly Released: Nov 06, 1995.
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Highlights

GAO reviewed whether the Department of Defense (DOD) has effectively managed the Selective Reenlistment Bonus (SRB) Program.

Recommendations

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of Defense The Secretary of Defense should establish guidance and controls to ensure that the SRB program provides bonuses only for enlistments in skill categories that are in short supply. Specifically, the Secretary should: (1) provide more explicit guidance regarding the determination of shortage categories and eligibility for SRB and require the services to establish and document more specific criteria for determining which skills will receive SRB; and (2) monitor the services' adherence to this guidance.
Closed – Not Implemented
OSD has never concurred with the recommendation and does not plan any action to implement it.
Department of Defense Because of the extent to which exit incentives have been provided to personnel in skills which also receive SRB, the Secretary of Defense should ensure that payment of exit and retention incentives is coordinated so that they are not both provided to personnel in the same skill categories.
Closed – Not Implemented
OSD has never concurred with the recommendation and does not plan any action to implement it.

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Topics

Combat readinessMilitary compensationMilitary downsizingMilitary officersMilitary recruitingMilitary personnel retentionMilitary reenlistment bonusesPersonnel managementReductions in forceRetirement benefitsStaff utilization