NAVAL SPECIAL WARFARE SEAL/SWCC SENIOR ENLISTED RETENTION BONUS PROGRAM:

CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED// 
ROUTINE 
R 101343Z JAN 23 MID600052600254U 
FM CNO WASHINGTON DC 
TO NAVADMIN 
INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC 
BT 
UNCLAS 
 
NAVADMIN 004/23 
 
PASS TO OFFICE CODES: 
FM CNO WASHINGTON DC//N1// 
INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC//N1// 
MSGID/NAVADMIN/CNO WASHINGTON DC/N1/JAN// 
 
SUBJ/NAVAL SPECIAL WARFARE SEAL/SWCC SENIOR ENLISTED RETENTION BONUS 
PROGRAM// 
 
REF/A/MSG/CNO WASHINGTON DC/261355ZFEB20// 
REF/B/DOC/U.S.C./03JAN16// 
REF/C/MEMO/ASN MNRA/22AUG01// 
 
NARR/REF A NAVADMIN 049/20, RENEWAL OF NAVAL SPECIAL WARFARE ENLISTED AND 
CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER CRITICAL SKILLS RETENTION BONUS PROGRAM.   
REF B IS TITLE 37, U.S. CODE, SECTION 31, GENERAL BONUS AUTHORITY FOR 
ENLISTED MEMBERS.   
REF C IS THE CNP AUTHORIZATION OF THE NAVAL SPECIAL WARFARE SEAL/SWCC SENIOR 
ENLISTED RETENTION BONUS.// 
 
RMKS/1.  This NAVADMIN cancels reference (a) and announces the authorization 
of the Naval Special Warfare (NSW) Navy Sea, Air, and Land (SEAL)/Special 
Warfare Combatant-Craft Crewmen (SWCC) Senior Enlisted Retention Bonus 
(SSRB).  The NSW SSRB is part of the overarching effort of the Navy to size, 
shape, and stabilize the force. 
 
2.  Program Overview.  This bonus is authorized under references (b) and 
(c).  The Naval Special Warfare Enlisted Community Manager (BUPERS-324) will 
act as the NSW SSRB program manager.  All applications for this bonus will be 
submitted to the program manager for processing and tracking.  By law, 
Sailors may receive no more than 360,000 dollars in retention bonus monies 
over a career. 
Selective reenlistment bonus (SRB) awards are included in that cap. 
The eligibility criteria stated in this NAVADMIN can be reduced at any time 
by the program manager based on the needs of the NSW community, with the 
approval of the Director, Military Personnel Plans and Policy (OPNAV N13). 
 
3.  Eligibility.  NSW senior enlisted Sailors with the O26X or O52X 
Navy enlisted classification (NEC), in paygrades E-7 and above, who have 
between 20 and 28 years of active service (YOAS), will be eligible to apply 
for the NSW SSRB, but must also meet the following eligibility criteria: 
    a.  Be serving on active duty in the Active Component. 
    b.  Have the favorable recommendation of the commanding officer (CO) for 
receipt of NSW SSRB. 
 
4.  Ineligibility: 
    a.  Sailors serving under an existing critical skills retention bonus 
contract are not eligible to receive a SSRB for service outlined in the 
original contract agreement. 
    b.  Sailors who are approved for the High Year Tenure (HYT) Plus pilot 
are not eligible for SSRB payments past their HYT date. 
    c.  Sailors with documented misconduct or below standard performance may 
be removed from SSRB eligibility. 
 
5.  Contract Terms.  NSW SSRB contract lengths, payments, and Active 
Component service obligations are outlined below. 
    a.  Sailors may sign a contract in their 19th year of active service.   
SSRB payments begin at 20 YOAS.  Enlisted Sailors may contract to their HYT 
mark.  E-7s are eligible to contract to 24 YOAS.  E-8s are eligible to 
contract to 26 YOAS.  E-9s are eligible to contract to 30 YOAS.  If a Sailor 
serves a partial year, that year will be prorated pursuant to the bonus 
amount of that year. 
All payments must be completed before the Sailor reaches 28 YOAS, and all 
Sailors must contract prior to reaching 28 YOAS.  Specific bonus amounts are 
graduated in line with YOAS. 
        (1) Phase One NSW SSRB.  The Sailor must be E-7 or above and carry 
the O26X/O52X NEC to apply for a phase one bonus.  Phase one corresponds with 
E-7 HYT and encompasses 20 to 24 YOAS.  Sailors will have the opportunity to 
receive up to 80,000 dollars in retention bonuses for phase one 
contracts.  At a minimum, members must contract through 21 YOAS. 
YOAS                Bonus Amount 
20+                 20,000 dollars 
21+                 20,000 dollars 
22+                 20,000 dollars 
23+                 20,000 dollars 
        (2) Phase Two NSW SSRB.  The Sailor must be E-8 (select) or above and 
carry the O26X/O52X NEC to apply for a phase two bonus. 
Phase two corresponds with E-8 HYT and encompasses 24 to 26 YOAS. 
Members will have the opportunity to receive up to 50,000 dollars in 
retention bonuses for phase two contracts. 
YOAS                Bonus Amount 
24+                 25,000 dollars 
25+                 25,000 dollars 
        (3) Phase Three NSW SSRB.  The Sailor must be E-9 (select) or above 
and carry the O26X/O52X NEC to apply for a phase three 
bonus.  Phase three corresponds with E-9 HYT and encompasses 26 to 30 
YOAS.  Sailors may not enter contracts after they reach 28 YOAS. 
Sailors will have the opportunity to receive up to 100,000 dollars in 
retention bonuses for phase three contracts, which must be paid before they 
reach 28 YOAS. 
YOAS                Bonus Amount 
26+                 25,000 dollars 
27+                 25,000 dollars 
28+                 25,000 dollars 
29+                 25,000 dollars 
        (4) SSRB Contract.  SSRB contract phases may be combined as long as 
the Sailor is eligible to receive payments to the contracted end dates. 
    b.  NSW SSRB contracts will be for a minimum of 2 and a maximum of  
3 years.  Sailors under the SSRB contract will not submit a request for 
retirement with an effective date that is prior to the completion of the 
agreement.  Sailors must reenlist or extend their enlistment contract, soft 
end of active obligated service, for a period of at least 2 years.  Sailors 
are authorized early reenlistment in order to align SSRB and reenlistment 
contracts. 
Reenlistments and extensions may be combined to align service dates for the 
maximum opportunity, up to a reenlistment of 6 years and an extension of up 
to 12 months. 
 
6.  Program Execution: 
    a.  Sailors should submit requests for NSW SSRB to the program manager 60 
to 180 days prior to entering into an NSW SSRB contract via their chain of 
command.  If operational commitments limit the ability to submit SSRB 
applications via this manner, commands should submit requests through their 
immediate superior in the chain of command who can submit the request to the 
program manager. 
    b.  Upon acceptance of an agreement of the Sailor by the program manager, 
the amount of the bonus becomes fixed and the Sailor incurs a firm service 
obligation. 
    c.  Sailors will receive the bonus in a lump sum payment, effective from 
the date of contract execution. 
    d.  SSRB requests for personnel who are being processed for disciplinary 
action, NEC removal, or restoration will be held in abeyance pending final 
resolution. 
 
7.  Payment Processing.  SSRB approval does not currently update the Navy 
Standard Integrated Personnel System (NSIPS) of the intent of the Sailor to 
reenlist.  Until NSIPS can be programmed to accept SSRB reenlistment 
payments, manual processing is required.  Payment should post to the account 
of the member by the second pay period following the day the SSRB program 
manager receives the notification of reenlistment.  Master Military Pay 
Account (MMPA) must reflect contract or obligated service for enlisted 
Sailors and tax-free status (if applicable) must post to MMPA prior to final 
payment. 
 
8.  Application.  The following documents are required: 
    a.  60-180 days prior to contract: 
        (1) Letter of the Sailor requesting a NSW SSRB contract. 
        (2) COs endorsement letter. 
    b.  Prior to payment, Sailors will submit a copy of reenlistment contract 
and/or extension agreement with proof of tax-free status, if applicable. 
 
9.  Points of Contact: 
    a.  LCDR Andrew Parker, Sea, Air, Land (SEAL) and Special Warfare 
Combatant-craft Crewmen (SWCC) Enlisted Community Manager, at (703) 604-5064 
/DSN 664 or via e-mail andrew.j.parker78.mil@us.navy.mil. 
    b.  Mr. Frederick Wienbeck, Deputy, SEAL and SWCC Enlisted Community 
Manager, at (901) 874-3552/DSN 882 or via e-mail 
frederick.c.wienbeck.civ@us.navy.mil. 
 
10.  This NAVADMIN will remain in effect until superseded or canceled, 
whichever occurs first. 
 
11.  Released by Vice Admiral Richard J. Cheeseman, Jr., N1.// 
 
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CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED//