2023 CS Incentives – A Message from the RFMC (Select)

With the RFMC change out we wanted to research and provide simple and current guidance on CS monetary incentives so all CSs can quickly reference. With the upcoming FY24 Workforce Planning Team (WPT) and Special Duty Pay (SDP) Panels commencing, we are prepared to request continuances (and increases if possible) to current incentives. It is obvious that everyone is a little confused, therefore a little guidance never hurt. Hopefully this helps all CSs get paid what is being offered to them and explains some of the monetary interventions available to us to increase retention and recruiting.

State of the current CS Interventions:
Recently the FY23 Workforce Planning Team (WPT) and Special Duty Pay (SDP) Panel met to analyze recruiting and retention to create balanced intervention strategies in order to obtain and retain a mission-ready workforce. These teams identified monetary and non-monetary options and recommended focused and aligned bonus offerings to the CS rating to build talent for planned growth, career retention, and predictable attrition. These interventions begin in FY23 (beginning 01 Oct 2022) and are anticipated to remain in effect until the end of FY23 (30 Sep 2023). CS interventions for FY23 include:

Interventions for Retaining CSs
1. Special Duty Pay (SDP) for and Food Service officers
2. Selective re-enlistment bonuses (SRB)
3. Suspension of the High Year Tenure (HYT)

Interventions for Recruiting CSs
4. SRB for members in the CS rating who transfer from the IRR to Active Duty
5. Enlistment Bonuses (EB)
6. Critical Skills Training Bonuses (CSTB)
7. Open Rate List (ORL)
8. Opening Extended Active Duty (EAD) contracts for reserve
9. CS Guaranteed A-Schools
10. CS while on new Rating School List

The following is a further breakdown of each CS Intervention (with user guide if applicable):

1. SPECIAL DUTY PAY (SDP). $225 A MONTH FOR ALL UNDERWAY FSOs

SDP is authorized as an incentive to retain members who perform duties requiring special qualifications and having difficulty and arduousness of a greater degree than that expected of the majority of the Coast Guard personnel. ALCOAST 359/22 SUBJ: FY23 SPECIAL DUTY PAY (SDP) AND ASSIGNMENT PAY (AP) states: All underway FSOs are authorized SDP Level SD-3 ($225 a month) to begin in FY23 01 Oct 2022 (or upon reporting, whichever is later) and are anticipated to remain in effect until the end of FY23 (30 Sep 2023). Please go our Bonus guide for more information.

2. SELECTIVE REENLISTMENT BONUS (SRB):

ALCOAST 403/22 SUBJ: FY23 WORKFORCE PLANNING TEAM RESULTS – ENLISTED MONETARY INTERVENTIONS states: A $30,000 Zone A SRB is authorized for CS members in paygrades E-4 through E-6 who reenlist for an additional six (6) years of active duty service obligation. Please go our Bonus guide for more information.

3. SUSPENSION OF HIGH YEAR TENURE (HYT):

ALCOAST 368/22 SUBJ: Suspension of High Year Tenure (HYT) states: Effective immediately, active duty enlisted members who reach or exceed their Professional Growth Point (PGP) on or before 1 January 2025, to include members serving on a current HYT waiver, shall not be separated under the HYT policy.

4. (IRR) RESERVE to Active SELECTIVE REENLISTMENT BONUS (SRB):

ALCOAST 403/22 SUBJ: FY23 WORKFORCE PLANNING TEAM RESULTS – ENLISTED MONETARY INTERVENTIONS states: A $30,000 Zone B SRB is authorized for CS members in the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) who enlist into the Regular Coast Guard under the ORL. Members are eligible for a bonus if they are in paygrades E4 through E5 and if they reenlist for four (4) years of active service obligation. Please go our Bonus guide for more information.

5. ENLISTMENT BONUS (EB).

ALCOAST 403/22 SUBJ: FY23 WORKFORCE PLANNING TEAM RESULTS – ENLISTED MONETARY INTERVENTIONS states: Guaranteed A School Enlistment Bonus (GA-EB). A GA-EB is authorized for new recruits, for their first career enlistment, that sign an agreement to attend CS A Schools immediately upon graduation from boot camp. Prior service applicants are not authorized a GA-EB. Applicants agree to enlist and satisfactorily complete a minimum of four years of Active Duty Service Commitment (ADSC).

A $50,000 EB is authorized for CS applicants with a qualifying culinary degree.

A qualifying culinary degree is defined as an Associate of Arts (AA) or Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in culinary arts from an accredited academic or culinary institution.

The culinary degree must be verified by the CS Rating Force Master Chief (RFMC).
A $45,000 EB is authorized for CS applicants with a qualifying culinary certificate to enlist.

A qualifying culinary certificate is defined as a culinary arts certification from an institution accredited by the American Culinary Federation.

The culinary certificate must be verified by the CS RFMC.

A $40,000 EB is authorized for CS applicants without a degree or certificate to enlist.

Please go our Bonus guide for more information.

6. CRITICAL SKILLS TRAINING BONUS (CSTB).
ALCOAST 403/22 SUBJ: FY23 WORKFORCE PLANNING TEAM RESULTS – ENLISTED MONETARY INTERVENTIONS states: A CSTB is authorized for current active duty enlisted personnel who agree to attend and complete Class A-Schools and agree to extend their enlistment upon graduation to meet obligated service IAW REF (C).

All CSTBs incur a four (4) year Active Duty Service Commitment (ADSC) from date of Class A-School graduation or receipt of designator, whichever is later.

A $40,000 CSTB is authorized for CS Class A-School.

Please go our Bonus guide for more information.

7. OPEN RATE LIST (ORL).
ALCOAST 402/22 SUBJ: FY23 WORKFORCE PLANNING TEAM RESULTS – ENLISTED NON-MONETARY NTERVENTIONS states: The ORL is a workforce planning tool designed to enlist skilled and qualified prior service members to fill vacancies in targeted rates. The advancement implications of listing rates on the ORL are structured to meet current and future mission needs. Eligibility requirements and procedures for enlistment under the ORL are contained in Section 3.E.2.b of

Maximum active duty time for paygrade E-4 applicants is six (6) years TIS

Maximum active duty time for E-5 applicants is ten (10) years TIS. Applicant qualifications for enlistment will be reviewed by the appropriate AO in consultation with the RFMC.

Applicants who exceed the TIS for paygrades E-4 or E-5 but otherwise meet the criteria in this ALCOAST may submit a waiver request to Recruiting Command (CGRC). Final approval or disapproval of an applicant’s enlistment via the ORL will be made by CGRC.

The ORL includes CS rating in paygrades E-4 and E-5

8. EXTENDED ACTIVE DUTY (EAD).

ALCOAST 402/22 SUBJ: FY23 WORKFORCE PLANNING TEAM RESULTS – ENLISTED NON-MONETARY NTERVENTIONS states: EAD assignments will be considered based on needs of the service for Coast Guard reserve members in paygrades E-4 and E-5 for CSs

9. GUARANTEED A SCHOOLS.
ALCOAST 402/22 SUBJ: FY23 WORKFORCE PLANNING TEAM RESULTS – ENLISTED NON-MONETARY NTERVENTIONS states: Guaranteed A-Schools for CSs.

10. CS WHILE ON NEW RATING SCHOOL LIST.

ALCOAST 501/22 SUBJ: UPDATE 2 – FY23 MILITARY WORKFORCE PLANNING TEAM RESULTS – CS CHANGE IN RATING ENLISTMENT BONUS states: A $15,000 GA-EB is authorized for new recruits, for their first career enlistment, who agree to obligate a four (4) year ADSC and attend a CS Class A School immediately upon graduation from boot camp. Members who enlist under this intervention have the option to change to a new rating after completing two years (2) in the CS rating.

Thanks all! Hopes this helps simply all our 2023 CS Incentives.

– CSCM James Swenson RFMC Select