AS the end of the final year approaches, soldiers yet to make a decision regarding the Army Expansion Rank Retention (AERR) or the Critical Employment Category Retention (CECR) bonus are encouraged to submit their decisions as soon as possible.
While more than 2700 soldiers have accepted the $10,000 AERR, a number have still to take up this offer and commit to Army for a further 12 months.
The Director of Military Personnel Administration-Army is aware of several points of confusion regarding members currently undertaking a return of service obligation (ROSO) under MSBS. The following examples should clarify the situation: Example 1: Member is eligible for AERR as at March 1, 2007, is on MSBS ROSO ending August 28, 2007, and is made an offer on March 20, 2007.
If offer is accepted by June 18 (end of 90-day consideration period) the member would receive the $10,000 AERR bonus now, with the 12-month return of service starting on August 29, 2008, and ceasing on August 29, 2009. Member is not eligible for the $30,000 completion bonus as it was disallowed in Determination 2007/07, clause 3.5.187. If offer is not accepted by June 18, the member would receive no retention bonus this year, but may be still eligible at March 1, 2008, providing all other eligibility criteria is met.
Example 1: Member is eligible for AERR as at March 1, 2007, is on MSBS ROSO ending August 28, 2007, and is made an offer on March 20, 2007.
If offer is accepted by June 18 (end of 90-day consideration period) the member would receive the $10,000 AERR bonus now, with the 12-month return of service starting on August 29, 2008, and ceasing on August 29, 2009. Member is not eligible for the $30,000 completion bonus as it was disallowed in Determination 2007/07, clause 3.5.187. If offer is not accepted by June 18, the member would receive no retention bonus this year, but may be still eligible at March 1, 2008, providing all other eligibility criteria is met.
Example 3: Member is eligible for AERR at March 1, 2007, is on MSBS ROSO ending August 28, 2011, and is made an offer on March 20, 2007.
If offer is accepted by June 18 (end of 90-day consideration period) the member would receive the $10,000 retention bonus now, with the 12-month return of service starting on August 29, 2011, and ceasing on August 29, 2012. Member is not eligible for the $30,000 completion bonus as it was disallowed in Determination 2007/07, clause 3.5.187. If offer is not accepted by June 18 the member would receives no bonus as per Determination 2007/07, 3.5.183.
As can be seen from these examples, members on a ROSO are eligible for the AERR bonus but may not be eligible for the completion bonus if they take the retention bonus while still under their MSBS ROSO. Also, if any members decline the AERR bonus this year and still maintain eligibility as at March 1, 2008, they will be made the offer again next year.
Members who have doubts about their eligibility should raise the issue with their chain of command. |
