ACN 114/19 - SEP 2019 FY20 SELECTED RESERVE (SELRES) BONUS, ELIGIBILITY, PAYMENT METHOD AND SPECIAL INCENTIVE PAY

ALCOAST COMMANDANT NOTICE                CANCEL DATE 25 SEP 2020

R 260900 SEP 19
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//CG-1/CG-R//
TO ALCOAST 
UNCLAS //N07220//
ACN 114/19
SUBJ:  FY20 SELECTED RESERVE (SELRES) BONUS, ELIGIBILITY, PAYMENT METHOD AND SPECIAL
INCENTIVE PAY
A. Military Bonus Programs, COMDTINST M7220.2 (series)
B. 37 U.S.C. § 331 - General bonus authority for enlisted members
C. 37 U.S.C. § 352 - Assignment pay or special duty pay
D. 37 U.S.C. § 371 – Pay and Allowances of the Uniformed Service
E. 37 U.S.C. § 373 - Repayment of unearned portion of bonus, incentive pay, or similar
benefit, and termination of remaining payments, when conditions of payment not met
F. Reserve Policy Manual, COMDTINST M1001.28 (series)
G. Personnel and Pay Procedures Manual, PPCINST M1000.2 (series)
H. Title 10, United States Code - Armed Forces
I. Coast Guard Pay Manual, COMDTINST M7220.29
J. COMDT (CG-R8) memo 1001 of 23 Aug 19
1. Overview: In accordance with REFs (A) and (B), this ACN announces a bonus offer for
eligible enlisted members who enlist and affiliate with the Coast Guard SELRES in a
designated rating and unit. It also announces Designated Unit Pay (DUP) authorized in
REF (C). These bonuses and DUP are incentives to encourage the recruitment, proficiency
and retention of individuals in designated ratings and units.
    a. In accordance with REF (J), COMDT (CG-133) has approved an exception to policy
in FY20 to allow SELRES bonuses offered under 4.B.1.c, 4.B.2.c, and 4.B.3.c of REF (A)
to be paid in lump sum to members that meet the established Coast Guard requirements.
A single lump sum bonus payment of $10,000 is authorized if participation standards
outlined in 4.B of REF (F) have been met for assignment to a Port Security Unit (PSU),
in the critical rating of BM, ME and MK for the following SELRES bonus programs listed
in paragraph 2.
    b. The bonus offerings in this ACN start at the beginning of FY20 (01 OCT 2019 and
not before) and are anticipated to remain in effect until the end of FY20
(30 SEP 2020 and not after) contingent upon Congress extending the authority to make
payments. Monetary interventions may be adjusted or terminated not less than 30 days
in advance. The date determining bonus eligibility is the signature date of the
written obligation from the member to serve in the SELRES (Administrative Remarks,
forms CG-3307 BON-02, BON-03, BON-04 or CG-3307 AT-10D as appropriate). The signature
date must fall within the effective dates; the transition date (transition to SELRES)
must be within 6 months after the signature date. Eligible personnel must remain in the
enlisted rating and at the unit for which the bonus is authorized.
    c. Unit SPOs must submit all bonus documentation to Pay and Personnel Center (PPC)
via a customer care trouble ticket after completion of first drill for RX accessions and
for those members whose SELRES Affiliation or Prior Service bonuses do not require
completion of Initial Active Duty for Training (IADT). USCG Training Center (TRACEN)
Petaluma and Yorktown SPOs will complete all Direct Access entries prescribed and submit
all bonus documentation to PPC via a customer care trouble ticket upon successful
completion of A-school for RA, RK and RP accessions programs and for those members whose
SELRES Affiliation or Prior Service bonuses require completion of IADT.
2. Authorization and Eligibility Requirements: The following SELRES bonuses are
authorized for members who join the SELRES in the ratings and units detailed in
paragraph 1.a. An enlistment bonus is authorized for those joining the Coast Guard SELRES
with an original enlistment (non-prior service). An affiliation bonus is authorized for
enlisted Coast Guard Veterans (CGVET) and Other Service Veterans (OSVET) who separate
(RELAD or discharge) from active duty, or who are serving in the Individual Ready
Reserve (IRR) and subsequently join the SELRES within six months of their separation date.
A prior service bonus is authorized for CGVET and OSVET who are within 3 months of
completing their 8-year Military Service Obligation (MSO) and join the Coast Guard SELRES
greater than six months after separation from active duty. CGVET and OSVET who join the
SELRES with over 14 years of combined military service ARE NOT AUTHORIZED a SELRES
Affiliation or Prior Service enlistment bonus.
    a. Initial Enlistment (Non-Prior Service; RP, RK, RX, RA Programs): Applicants
must meet the eligibility requirements of 4.B.2.b. of REF (A), enlist for 8-years
(6-years SELRES, 2-years IRR) and complete IADT within 24 months as stated in REF
(F). IADT consists of Basic Training or Direct Petty Officer Training (DEPOT) plus
A-school completion, if required. For bonus payment, the SELRES enlistment
obligation (CG-3307 BON-02) should be executed by Recruiting Office and member prior
to SELRES enlistment.
    b. Affiliation (RJ, RN, RQ Programs with SELRES entry within six months of RELAD
or discharge): Members must meet the eligibility requirements of 4.B.1.b. of REF (A)
and have completed fewer than 14 years of combined military service after being
discharged or released from active duty under honorable conditions. The member shall
commit to a 6-year SELRES obligation within six months of RELAD or discharge date,
be an E-3 requiring A-school, E-4, or above, and complete IADT if required.   
       (1) RJ Program - CGVET, RELAD with a portion of 8-year MSO remaining: For
members enlisting in the Reserve within 24-hours after RELAD and transferred to the
IRR due to billet non-availability, eligibility for the affiliation bonus will
remain effective for up to nine months after discharge. For bonus payment, the
SELRES affiliation obligation (CG-3307 BON-4 and CG-3307 AT-10D) should be executed
before the member is released from active duty. However, if necessary, the agreement
may be executed up to nine months after RELAD date and still retain eligibility to
a SELRES Affiliation bonus.
       (2) RN Program - Prior enlisted with remaining MSO (Mostly OSVET): For bonus
payment, the SELRES affiliation obligation (CG-3307 BON-4) should be executed by
Recruiting Office and member prior to affiliating into the SELRES.
       (3) RQ Program – CGVET or OSVET with no remaining MSO:
            [a] For CGVET enlisting in the Reserve within 24-hours after RELAD and
transferred to the IRR due to billet non-availability, eligibility for the
affiliation bonus will remain effective for up to nine months after discharge. For
bonus payment, the SELRES affiliation obligation (CG-3307 BON-4 and CG-3307 AT-10D)
should be executed before the member is released or discharged from active duty.
However, if necessary, the agreement may be executed up to nine months after RELAD
date and still retain eligibility to a SELRES affiliation bonus.
            [b] For OSVET affiliating in the Coast Guard SELRES, for payment, the
SELRES affiliation obligation (CG-3307 BON-4) should be executed by Recruiting
Office and member prior to affiliating into the SELRES.
    c. Prior Service (CGVET or OSVET with no remaining MSO; RQ Program with SELRES
entry after six months of RELAD or discharge): Members must meet the eligibility
requirements of 4.B.3.b. of REF (A), and have over 7 years and 9 months of active
duty service but less than 14 years of combined military service after being
discharged or released from active duty with an honorable discharge. The member
shall commit to a 6-year SELRES obligation, be an E-3 requiring A-school, or an E-4
or above, and complete IADT if required. Members must not have been released, or is
not being released, from active duty for the purpose of enlistment in a reserve
component. (In such cases, see paragraph 2.b, Affiliation). For payment, the SELRES
prior service obligation (CG-3307 BON-3) should be executed by Recruiting Office and
member prior to enlisting the SELRES.
    d. Reenlistment: Not authorized.
    e. REF (G) outlines the application procedures for enlisted bonus programs, along
with additional eligibility restrictions, payment schedules and information on
recoupment of bonuses should a member not satisfactorily complete a contract.
Before advising members about the availability of bonuses, commands or recruiters
shall ensure that members meet all eligibility requirements in this message and in
REF (A). Bonus eligibility shall be documented on the appropriate Administrative
Remarks, Form CG-3307, as per REF (G). Commands shall initiate recoupment action
against members who receive a SELRES bonus, but who later do not meet satisfactory
participation requirements outlined in REF (F).
    f. SELRES members who accept an Extended Active Duty (EAD) contract, those who
are approved for conditional release into a Department of Defense (DoD) enlistment
to fill a vacant active duty billet, and those who integrate to active duty during
the period in which they obligated themselves to serve with the SELRES shall have
the unearned portion of the affiliation bonus recouped. Members with obligated
service due to acceptance of SELRES enlistment or affiliation bonuses will not
normally be approved for enlistment into a DoD component or the Regular Coast Guard
until completion of the obligated Coast Guard SELRES service. SELRES members who
are performing short-term Active Duty Operational Support (ADOS), whether it is in
support of a contingency or not, shall retain their bonus. SELRES members performing
long term ADOS at a PSU shall retain their bonus; all other long term ADOS
(including back-to-back short term ADOS) will result in bonus recoupment. Any
non-fulfillment of obligated SELRES service will result in the member's indebtedness
to the Coast Guard in the amount of the unearned bonus as prorated per REF (E).
Waivers for unearned bonus debts under 10 U.S.C. § 2774 or remission under 14 U.S.C.
§ 461 are discouraged. Exceptions to unearned bonus collection must be requested
from COMDT (CG-R82) per Subsection 373(b) of REF (E).
    g. Members should review 4.C.3 of REF (A) prior to requesting a transfer from
their assigned PSU or accepting an appointment as an officer.
3. DUP is authorized by REF (C) at $15 per Inactive Duty Training Period (IDT) or
Additional Training Period (ATP) authorized with pay for Reservists assigned to a PSU,
Naval Coastal Riverine Squadrons (CORIVRON), and Naval Coastal Riverine Groups (CORIVGRU).
4. Policy: To receive the bonus, members must abide by and continuously maintain the
eligibility criteria of this ACN for the entirety of their enlistment and their
designated rate and unit.
    a. Bonus Agreement limits and payment of bonus. Bonuses will be paid in a lump sum
in accordance with REF (A). Bonus amounts not contributed to a tax-deferred Thrift
Savings Plan (TSP) account are subject to 22% federal and applicable state income tax
withholdings. Members desiring to contribute bonus monies to a TSP account must consider
the TSP Elective Deferral limit and confirm election not less than 30 days prior to
receipt of bonus.
       (1) The lump sum will normally be paid on next pay cycle after the effective date
of the Bonus Agreement or, if the member has not met all eligibility requirements, as
of the Bonus Agreement effective date, the date the member meets all eligibility
requirements after the effective date, whichever is later.
       (2) Once a Bonus Agreement is signed, it will remain in force until the enlistment
expires.
       (3) In accordance with REF (D), a member is prohibited from receiving a bonus
payment under both Subchapters I and II of Title 37, U.S.C., for the same activity,
skill, or period of service.
    b. Repayment of Unearned Bonus Amounts. Per REF (A) and (E), unearned bonuses
shall be repaid, unless collection is excepted under authorized conditions.
    c. Authorized exceptions to repayment of unearned bonuses include the situations
listed below and shall be cited by CG PSC-RPM in separation authorizations or other
documentation:
       (1) Separated, retired, or loss of bonus eligibility by reason of
combat-related physical disability, illness, or injury, and not due to misconduct.
            [a] The term “combat-related” has the same meaning as in 10 U.S.C. § 1413a(e)
and further described in Section 16.D.6 of REF (I).
            [b] Combat-relatedness determinations will be made by CG PSC-PSD-MED.
            [c] In cases where a member with a current Bonus Agreement in effect 1)
dies or 2) is retired or separated with a combat-related disability, and the death
or disability is not the result of the member’s misconduct, any bonus installment
amount previously paid shall not be repaid. Further, the full amount of the Bonus
Agreement amount not yet paid prior to the date of 1) death or 2) retirement or
separation due to combat-related disability but to which the member was eligible
immediately before the death, retirement, or separation and would otherwise be paid
if not for the death, retirement, or separation shall be included as a lump sum in
the member’s final settlement of pay and allowances. The lump sum shall be equal to
the full remaining amount specified in the agreement as if the member continued to
be eligible for the remaining bonus payments. This payment must be paid not later
than 90 days following the member’s death, retirement, or separation.
       (2) Sole survivorship discharge.
       (3) When explicitly accepted from repayment by Coast Guard personnel policy.
       (4) All other requests for exceptions to repayment of unearned bonus amounts
must be approved by COMDT (CG-R82). Consideration for exception to repayment
determinations will generally follow the standards for remission of indebtedness as
described in Section 11.G.5 of REF (I).
       (5) Unearned bonus calculations will be based on the Defense Finance and
Accounting Services accounting method described in REF (A).
5. These changes will be implemented into the next revision of REF (A), which will
be released within the next year.
6. For questions please contact the following POCs.
    a. SELRES bonuses and Reserve policy, contact: COMDT (CG-R55),
HQS-DG-LST-CG-R55@uscg.mil.
    b. For general policy questions contact COMDT (CG-1331) at:
HQS-PolicyandStandards@uscg.mil.
    c. USCG members transitioning to SELRES status: Ms. Michelle Naegeli,
CGR-SMB-ISTT@uscg.mil or (202) 795-6851, In-Service Transfer Team (ISTT).
    d. POC for recruiters: Mr. Lane Solak, Lane.A.Solak@uscg.mil or (202) 795-6852.
7. Released by Mr. Gary C. Rasicot, Acting Assistant Commandant for Human Resources and
RDML T.C. Wiemers, Assistant Commandant for Reserve.
8. Internet release is authorized.