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NAVADMIN 071/10

MSGID/GENADMIN/CNO WASHINGTON DC/N1/FEB//

SUBJ/FY-10 NURSE OFFICER ACCESSION BONUS//

REF/A/DOC/ASD(HA)/9SEP09//
REF/B/DOC/OPNAV/28DEC05//

NARR/REF A IS THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE (HEALTH AFFAIRS
POLICY) (ASD(HA)) NURSE SPECIAL PAY PLAN FOR FISCAL YEAR 2010.
REF B IS OPNAVINST 7220.17, SPECIAL PAY FOR MEDICAL CORPS, DENTAL CORPS, 
MEDICAL SERVICE CORPS, AND NURSE CORPS OFFICERS.//

RMKS/1.  PER REFS A AND B, THE FY-10 NURSE OFFICER ACCESSION BONUS IS A 
TIERED ACCESSION BONUS USED AS A RECRUITING INCENTIVE TO ATTRACT 
QUALIFIED APPLICANTS TO JOIN THE NAVY NURSE CORPS.  IT IS AVAILABLE TO 
NEWLY APPOINTED DIRECT ACCESSION NURSE CORPS OFFICERS REPORTING TO 
ACTIVE DUTY.  ACCESSION BONUS AUTHORIZED IS $20,000 FOR A THREE-YEAR 
ACTIVE DUTY OBLIGATION (ADO) AND $30,000 FOR A FOUR-YEAR ADO.

2.  THIS ACCESSION BONUS ENHANCES NAVY'S ABILITY TO SIZE, SHAPE, AND 
STABILIZE THE FORCE WHILE RESPONSIBLY OPTIMIZING USE OF FISCAL 
RESOURCES IN TIME OF WAR.  DOING SO GIVES NAVY THE ABILITY TO RECRUIT 
THE RIGHT MIX OF SKILLED AND MOTIVATED OFFICERS WHO ARE CRUCIAL TO OUR 
MISSION SUCCESS TODAY AND READINESS TOMORROW.

3.  ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS.  THE INDIVIDUAL MUST:
    A.  BE A GRADUATE OF A SCHOOL OF NURSING ACCREDITED BY THE NATIONAL 
LEAGUE FOR NURSING ACCREDITING COMMISSION (NLNAC) OR THE COMMISSION ON 
COLLEGIATE NURSING EDUCATION (CCNE) THAT CONFERRED A BACCALAUREATE OR 
ADVANCED NURSING DEGREE.
    B.  OBTAIN AND MAINTAIN A LICENSE AS A REGISTERED NURSE.
    C.  BE QUALIFIED TO HOLD AN APPOINTMENT AS A COMMISSIONED OFFICER.
    D.  EXECUTE A WRITTEN AGREEMENT TO ACCEPT A COMMISSION AS AN 
OFFICER OF THE NURSE CORPS OF THE NAVY AND TO SERVE ON ACTIVE DUTY FOR 
A PERIOD OF NOT LESS THAN THREE YEARS FOR THE $20,000 ACCESSION BONUS, 
AND NOT LESS THAN FOUR YEARS FOR THE $30,000 ACCESSION BONUS.
    E.  NOT HAVE RECEIVED FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF 
DEFENSE WHILE PURSUING A BACCALAUREATE DEGREE IN NURSING.  THIS 
INCLUDES THE ARMED FORCES HEALTH PROFESSIONS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
(HPSP) AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (FAP).
    F.  NOT HAVE SERVED AS A FORMER NURSE OFFICER, ACTIVE OR RESERVE, 
IN ANY OF THE UNIFORMED SERVICES IN THE LAST TWO YEARS, OR WHO HAS NOT 
HELD A NURSE CORPS APPOINTMENT IN AT LEAST TWO YEARS AND IS OTHERWISE 
ELIGIBLE.
    G.  HAVE BEEN DISCHARGED FROM THE NURSE CORPS OF ANY UNIFORMED 
SERVICE AT LEAST TWO YEARS PRIOR TO EXECUTION OF THE WRITTEN AGREEMENT 
TO RECEIVE THE ACCESSION BONUS.

4.  ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS WHO SIGNED A WRITTEN AGREEMENT ON OR AFTER
1 OCTOBER 2009 TO SERVE ON ACTIVE DUTY IN EXCHANGE FOR THE BONUS ARE 
AUTHORIZED TO RECEIVE PAYMENT UPON ACCEPTANCE OF THE AGREEMENT BY THE 
SECRETARY OF THE NAVY.

5.  ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS, REVISED REPAYMENT GUIDANCE, AND 
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES ARE AVAILABLE AT 
HTTP://WWW.MED.NAVY.MIL/BUMED/SPECIAL_PAY/PAGES/DEFAULT.ASPX.

6.  POINT OF CONTACT:  CDR L. BATEMAN, BUPERS-316D, AT (901) 874- 
2818/DSN 882 OR E-MAIL AT lawrence.bateman@navy.mil.

7.  RELEASED BY VADM MARK FERGUSON, N1.//

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