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ROUTINE

R 061551Z NOV 20 MID200000334433U

FM CNO WASHINGTON DC

TO NAVADMIN

INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC

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NAVADMIN 301/20

PASS TO OFFICE CODES:
FM CNO WASHINGTON DC//N1//
INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC//N1//

MSGID/GENADMIN/CNO WASHINGTON DC/N1/NOV//

SUBJ/NAVAL SPECIAL WARFARE OFFICER RETENTION BONUS PROGRAM//

REF/A/MSG/CNO WASHINGTON DC/N1/301456ZMAY18//
REF/B/DOC/U.S.C.//20DEC19//
REF/C/DOC/DOD/JUL16//

NARR/REF A IS NAVADMIN 137/18, NAVAL SPECIAL WARFARE OFFICER RETENTION BONUS 
PROGRAM UPDATE.  
REF B IS TITLE 37, U.S. CODE, PAY AND ALLOWANCES OF THE UNIFORMED SERVICES.  
REF C IS DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT REGULATION 7000.14, 
VOLUME 7A, CHAPTER 2, REPAYMENT OF UNEARNED PORTION OF BONUSES AND OTHER 
BENEFITS.//

RMKS/1.  This NAVADMIN announces the modification of the Naval Special 
Warfare Officer Retention Bonus (NSWRB) for qualified Naval Special Warfare 
(NSW) officers.  This NAVADMIN cancels reference (a).
Retaining NSW officers is a priority for the Navy.  The NSWRB is a flexible 
retention incentive that focuses on improving retention of NSW control grade 
officers.  NSW officers who meet the eligibility criteria in this NAVADMIN 
and hold an 1130 or 1137 designator may apply for this incentive.

2.  Program Overview.  This bonus is authorized under reference (b), section 
332.  As of 22 September 2020, eligible officers will be offered the 
opportunity to commit to a 5-year or a 3-year agreement for bonus amounts 
listed in paragraph 5.  NSW Program Management (OPNAV-N137) is designated as 
the NSWRB Program Manager.  All applications for this bonus will be submitted 
to the program manager for approval, payment processing and tracking.  The 
eligibility criteria stated in this NAVADMIN can be changed at any time by 
the program manager if a bonus reduction is warranted based on the needs of 
the NSW community.

3.  Eligibility.  NSW officers with designators 1130 or 1137, who have 
completed at least 15 years of Active-Duty commissioned service (ADCS), may 
be eligible to receive the NSWRB.  Applicants must receive written 
endorsement from their commanding officer (CO) recommending bonus approval.  
COs must ensure applications are accurate and verify applicants meet 
eligibility requirements.

4.  Program Execution
    a.  Officers must submit their request letter to the NSWRB program 
manager via their chain of command.
    b.  Upon acceptance of a bonus agreement by the program manager, the 
amount of the bonus becomes fixed and the officer incurs a firm service 
obligation.
    c.  Officers may elect one of the following payment options:
        (1)  To receive an initial lump sum payment of half the total bonus 
amount followed by equally divided annual installments through the term of 
the agreement.
        (2) To receive bonus payments in equal annual installments through 
the term of the agreement.
    d.  NSWRB requests for personnel who are being processed for officer 
designation removal or additional qualification designation removal will be 
held in abeyance pending final resolution of the action in question.

5.  Contract Terms.  NSWRB contract lengths and payments are outlined below.
    a.  The NSWRB will be offered in two phases.  Officers will be paid a 
fixed amount per year of service.
        (1) Phase 1 NSWRB.  Applicant must be a NSW officer with 1130 or 1137 
designator to apply for a Phase 1 bonus.  Phase 1 contracts encompass 15 
years of ADCS for 1130 and 1137 designators.  Command eligible officers 
(officers that screened positive at a NSW CO/executive officer (XO) 
Administrative Screening Board (ASB) for XO) will have the opportunity to 
receive up to $125,000 (1130) and $60,000 (1137) in retention bonuses for 
Phase 1 contracts.  Non-command eligible officers (officers that did not 
screen positive at an NSW CO/XO ASB for XO) will have the opportunity to 
receive up to $75,000 (1130) in retention bonuses for Phase 1 contract.  Non-
command screened 1137 SEAL officers are not eligible for a bonus.
            (a) Command eligible NSW officers (designator 1130) with 15 years 
ADCS:
                5-year agreement:  $25,000 per year
                3-year agreement:  $15,000 per year
             (b) Non-Command eligible NSW officers (designator 1130) with 15 
years ADCS:
                5-year agreement:  $15,000 per year
                3-year agreement:  $5,000 per year
            (c) Command eligible NSW officers (designator 1137) with 15 years 
ADCS:
                5-year agreement:  $12,000 per year
                3-year agreement:  $7,500 per year
        (2) Phase 2 NSWRB.  Applicant must be an NSW officer with 1130 or 
1137 designator to apply for a Phase 2 bonus.  Phase 2 contracts encompass 20 
to 22 years of ADCS.  Command eligible officers (officers that screened 
positive at an NSW CO/XO ASB for CO) will have the opportunity to receive up 
to $75,000 (1130) and $36,000 (1137) in retention bonuses for Phase 2 
contracts.  Non-command eligible officers (officers that did not screen 
positive at an NSW CO/XO ASB for CO) will have the opportunity to receive up 
to $45,000 (1130) in retention bonuses for a Phase 2 contract.  Non-command 
screened 1137 SEAL officers are not eligible for a bonus.
            (a) Command eligible NSW officers (designator 1130) with
20-22 years ADCS:
                3-year agreement:  $25,000 per year.
            (b) Non-Command eligible NSW officers (designator 1130) with 20-
22 years ADCS:
                3-year agreement:  $15,000 per year.
            (c) Command eligible NSW officers (designator 1137) with
20-22 years ADCS:
                3-year agreement:  $12,000 per year.
    b.  NSWRB agreement obligations will run concurrently with any obligated 
service the officer has incurred for education or fellowships such as 
postgraduate education.
    c.  Officers in receipt of NSWRB, who have transferred their
Post/911 GI Bill benefits to their dependents, will serve their obligations 
for NSWRB and GI Bill transfer concurrently.

6.  Application Process.
    a.  Eligible officers may apply for NSWRB via their CO to OPNAV-
N137 via the NSW Officer Community Manager (BUPERS-311D).
    b.  Officers must submit their applications to the NSWRB Program Manager 
prior to their requested start date and should confirm receipt.
Applications received after the requested start date will not be accepted and 
payments will not be processed until all eligibility criteria are met.  The 
first payment normally occurs 2 to 3 weeks after all eligibility criteria are 
met.

7.  Recoupment and Repayment Policy.  Repayment policy is governed by 
reference (b), Sections 332 and 373 and reference (c).  A Service Member of 
the uniformed services who enters into a written agreement with specified 
service conditions for receipt of a bonus is entitled to the full amount of 
the bonus if the Service Member fulfills the conditions of that written 
agreement.  If the Service Member fails to fulfill the service conditions 
specified in the written agreement for the pay, then the pay may be 
terminated and the Service Member shall be required to repay an amount equal 
to the unearned portion of the pay.

8.  Point of contact is the Naval Special Warfare Officer Community Manager 
at (703) 604-5008/DSN 664 or via e-mail at seal_ocm@navy.mil.

9.  Released by Vice Admiral John B. Nowell, Jr, N1.//

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