As the FY25 Workforce Planning Team (WPT) and Special Duty Pay (SDP) Panels approach, we are diligently researching the intricacies of our current bonus structures to ensure we’re adequately prepared to request continuations of existing incentives. In the process of documenting our findings, we’ve decided to share this information with you. Our hope is that this will assist all CSs in obtaining the compensation they’re entitled to and shed light on the financial initiatives available to us for boosting retention and recruitment.
The FY23 Workforce Planning Team (WPT) and the Special Duty Pay (SDP) Panel met to analyze recruiting and retention to create balanced intervention strategies with the aim of obtaining and retaining a mission-ready workforce. These teams identified monetary and non-monetary options and recommended focused and aligned bonus offerings for the CS rating to build talent that supports planned growth, career retention, and predictable attrition. These interventions began in FY24 (starting October 1, 2023) and will remain in effect until the end of FY24 (September 30, 2024).
The following is a summary of CS interventions for FY24:
Interventions for Retaining CSs
1. Special Duty Pay (SDP) for and Food Service officers $225 – Per Month
2. Selective re-enlistment bonuses (SRB) Zone A $45,000 – Six Years
3. Selective re-enlistment bonuses (SRB) Zone B $30,000 – Six Years
4. Food Service Officer Kicker $20,000 – Only With SRB
Interventions for Recruiting CSs
5. Enlistment Bonuses (EB) $65,000, $70,000, $75,000 – 4 Years
6. Lateral entry bonuses $70,000, $75,000 – 4 Years
7. Critical Skills Training Bonuses (CSTB) $65,000 – 4 Years
8. Enlistment Bonus with 2 Year option to Lateral to new Rate $20,000 – 2 Years
9. Open Rate List (ORL E4/E5/E6)
10. Opening Extended Active Duty (EAD) contracts for reserve E4-E5
11. CS Guaranteed A-Schools
The following is a further breakdown of each CS Intervention:
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 360/23 SUBJ: FY24 SPECIAL DUTY PAY (SDP) AND ASSIGNMENT PAY (AP) states: All underway FSOs are authorized SDP Level SD-3 ($225 a month) to begin in FY24 01 Oct 2023 (or upon reporting, whichever is later) and are anticipated to remain in effect until the end of FY24 (30 Sep 2024). For more info, please go to https://coastguardculinary.com/2023/10/15/how-to-get-your-2024-sdp-with-sample-memo-template/
2. SELECTIVE REENLISTMENT BONUS (SRB) ZONE A $45,000 BONUS WITH SIX YEAR OBLIGATION: A $45,000 Zone A SRB is authorized for CS members with End of Enlistment in FY24 or 6 Year Anniversary date, in paygrades E-4 through E-6 who reenlist for an additional six (6) years of active duty service obligation.
3. SELECTIVE REENLISTMENT BONUS (SRB) ZONE B $30,000 BONUS WITH SIX YEAR OBLIGATION: A $30,000 Zone B SRB is authorized for CS members with End of Enlistment in FY24 or 10 Year Anniversary date, in paygrades E-4 through E-6 who reenlist for an additional six (6) years of active duty service obligation.
4. FOOD SERVICE OFFICER KICKER (FS-17, FS-18, CS-17, or CS-18) $20,000 BONUS: A $20,000 FSO Kicker for CS members in paygrade E-4/E-5 with FS-17, FS-18, CS-17, or CS-18 competency code. Member must be Zone A or Zone B SRB eligible to receive FSO Kicker.
5. ENLISTMENT BONUS (EB). $65,000, $70,000, $75,000 BONUS WITH FOUR YEAR OBLIGATION: 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 $65,000 EB is authorized for CS applicants without a culinary degree or certificate, to enlist and go direct to CS A-school.
– A $70,000 EB is authorized for CS applicants with a culinary arts certification from an institution accredited by the American Culinary Federation to enlist. The culinary certificate must be verified by the CS Rating Force Master Chief (RFMC); CS members who acquire a culinary certificate after completion of CS Class A-School and members in the Regular Coast Guard who acquire or hold a culinary certificate are ineligible.
– A $75,000 EB is authorized for CS applicants with an associate or bachelor’s degree in culinary arts from an accredited academic or culinary institution to enlist. The culinary degree must be verified by the CS RFMC; CS members who acquire a culinary degree after completion of CS Class A- School and members in the Regular Coast Guard who acquire or hold a culinary degree are ineligible.
6. LATERAL ENTRY $75,000 BONUS WITH FOUR YEAR OBLIGATION: Set lateral entry bonuses equivalent to rating accession bonuses of $75,000 bonus with four year obligation.
7. CRITICAL SKILLS TRAINING BONUS (CSTB). $65,000 BONUS WITH FOUR YEAR OBLIGATION: 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. All CSTBs incur a four (4) year Active-duty service commitment will be from date of Class A-School graduation, advancement to pay grade E-4, or receipt of designator, whichever is later.
8. GUARANTEED A-SCHOOL ENLISTMENT BONUS 2-YEAR LATERAL ENTRY $20,000: A $20,000 Bonus is authorized for CS applicants, for their first career enlistment. Must serve 2 years in CS rating; members have the option to lateral to another rating after 2 years of service as a CS. 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.
9. OPEN RATE LIST (ORL). (E4/E5/E6): 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
10. EXTENDED ACTIVE DUTY (EAD): 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
11. GUARANTEED A SCHOOLS: Recruiters can guaranteed A-School for Stressed/Critical Rating CS. Authority to change via DCMS-DPR-22/EPM/CGRC.
Notes on Bonus WAVIERS, Bonus DENIALS, Bonus request TIMEFRAMES and CANCELING Extensions to maximize your Bonus:
Bonus WAIVERS!!: BONUS WAIVER TEMPLATE – Select the link for an example Memorandum. https://www.dcms.uscg.mil/Portals/10/CG-1/PPC/MAS/Bonus%20Waiver%20Template.docx?ver=zrGaWVAd2IiSvTNo6wkAAg%3d%3d
To request a bonus waiver, Chapter 1.C.6 of COMDTINST 7220.2A and the following guidance must be adhered to:
1) The request must be signed by the member’s command CO/XO or CO of Enlisted Personnel.
2) The memo and endorsements, as applicable, must be specific on what the error(s) or miscounseling is/are that resulted in the waiver request.
3) The following documentation is required to be submitted with the request, as applicable:
– Copies of Enlistment/Reenlistment Documents.
– Copies of Agreement to Extend/Reextend Enlistment.
– Copies of ALL Annexes, to include incorrect and corrected.
– Any correspondence from EPM, OPM, CG PPC Bonus Team, or relevant bonus program office addressing the bonus issue and eligibility.
Once all items are ready to be submitted to COMDT (CG-1M1), save all items into adobe format, and email them to the Office of Military Personnel at: HQSPolicyandStandards@uscg.mil
PREVIOUS EXTENSIONS: If you already signed an extension, you may be able to cancel your extension to qualify for the SRB, as long as you have not commenced that extension. Members who previously extended their enlistment period due to obligated service requirements for transfer, training or advancement can cancel such extensions prior to their operative date in order to enact an immediate reenlistment are entitled to an SRB. Members who have already commenced the extension of their enlistment, but otherwise would have been eligible prior to the operative date of that extension, may also apply for SRB eligibility determination.
BONUS DENIALS: Members who were previously denied SRB eligibility or who were improperly counseled and therefore did not apply for an applicable SRB may apply for eligibility determination and SRB entitlement.
WHEN CAN I APPLY FOR A BONUS: You can execute a reenlistment anytime within the fiscal year, prior to the end of the enlistment contract.
For more information on Bonus DENIALS, Bonus request TIMEFRAMES and CANCELING Extensions go to the REENLISTMENT ELIGIBILITY ALCOAST 142/21 at https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDHSCG/bulletins/2cbd103
For all CG bonus information go here https://www.dcms.uscg.mil/Our-Organization/Assistant-Commandant-for-Human-Resources-CG-1/Pay-and-Personnel-Center-PPC/Military-Accounts-Support-MAS/Selective-Reenlistment-Bonuses-SRB/
CS FORCE Master Chief "LIVE" Force Notes 
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