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Military bonus is an incentive offered to prospective enlistees to join the armed forces. The bonus depends on which branch of the military you wish to join and what job you plan to sign up for. The issue is rather complicated since there are multiple options of bonuses that may be offered to choose from. This article provides answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about issues related to this. What should someone do if after signing up for the Army one is erroneously told that the bonus program has ceased to exist while in fact it is not so?
Firstly, you should go through the enlistment papers thoroughly and make sure that you meet all the criteria to receive the bonus. Maybe you were not properly informed of the program. After that you may speak with a legal assistance officer on base and confirm whether you are entitled to the bonus. If the officer fails to provide you with the necessary information you may file a complaint with the Department of Military Affairs. You can also file a complaint with the Inspector General connected to your unit. If you are still not satisfied, you may contact your congressman or senator. They will enquire on your behalf. When a soldier is discharged from the Army with an honorable discharge for failing multiple APFT’s, does he / she have to pay the sign on bonus back?
It depends on whether you were discharged because of your lack of will or whether you failed to perform due to medical reasons. Usually, if the reason is medical, the military might consider waiving the payback. But, if it is the perception of the military that you intentionally did not try, you will be asked to repay the bonus. While the military may allow you to pay back in installments, they might sue you if you do not repay the money. How can a soldier receive the enlistment bonus if a year has passed while no money has been received?
In case you have not received any money from the military, you should do certain things before contacting them. Firstly, you should scan through your bank statements to see whether any money has been deposited over the past one year. It should be remembered that the entire amount will not be reflected in the account since there are tax deductions. In case there are no deposits from the military, you ought to go through your chain of command and urge them that your bonus be paid. Sometimes it is possible that they have mistakenly failed to deposit the money. Usually, if there is a mistake in the payment of the bonus, the military will rectify the mistake and make the payment. A soldier requests to be released early after having their clearance revoked for marrying a foreign national with consent. Do they need to pay the remainder of their re-enlistment bonus?
Usually, if you request to leave the military, it is expected that you would return the unearned bonus money. If you think you must leave, you should place your case in writing to the military. You have to mention in detail along with examples why you want to leave the Army. If you can substantiate with facts the reasons for your early leaving, and also explain why you feel that you should not be compelled to repay all or part of the bonus, it is possible that the DFAS might waive your debt or a part of it. What should someone do if they did not receive their enlistment bonus but was discharged for not attending drill? The military claims that the soldier was given the enlistment bonus.
Under the circumstances where you have not received your enlistment bonus, you should contact the DFAS and tell them that you have never received the money. However, if you are no longer in the service, you cannot appeal with the military. If you received your enlistment bonus and the military wants the money back, the likely explanation is that you were discharged because you had stopped going to drill. However, if you are absolutely sure that you were never given the bonus and the military is unfairly reporting the debt to your credit, you will need to hire an attorney. You have the right to sue the military under the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Getting a bonus for enlisting in the Armed forces is a great incentive for many people. Usually, the bonus program works for the benefit of most people. However, sometimes complications might arise and in such cases it is better to ask a military lawyer to decide the best course of action.
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