RTTUZYUW RUEWMCS0000 3011654-UUUU--RUCRNAD
ZNR UUUUU
R 271654Z OCT 08
FM CNO WASHINGTON DC//N1//
TO NAVADMIN
INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC//N1//
BT
UNCLAS //N07220//
NAVADMIN 302/08
MSGID/GENADMIN/CNO WASHINGTON DC/N1/OCT//
SUBJ/FY-09 NURSE OFFICER ACCESSION BONUS// 
REF/A/DOC/ASD(HA)/6OCT2008// REF/B/DOC/OPNAV/28DEC2005// NARR/REF A IS 
THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE (HEALTH AFFAIRS POLICY) (ASD(HA)) 
NURSE SPECIAL PAY PLAN FOR FISCAL YEAR 2009.  
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-09 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 DOLLARS FOR A THREE-
YEAR ACTIVE DUTY OBLIGATION (ADO) AND 30,000 DOLLARS FOR A FOUR-YEAR 
ADO.
2.  THIS ACCESSION BONUS ENHANCES NAVY'S ABILITY TO SIZE, SHAPE, AND 
STABILIZE THE FORCE BY USING A MONETARY INCENTIVE TO ENCOURAGE NURSES 
WITH CRITICAL SKILLS AND VALUABLE EXPERIENCE TO JOIN THE NAVY WHILE 
RESPONSIBLY STEWARDING FISCAL RESOURCES IN TIME OF WAR.  
DOING SO GIVES NAVY THE ABILITY TO RECRUIT THE RIGHT MIX OF SKILLED AND 
MOTIVATED SAILORS WHO ARE CRUCIAL TO OUR MISSION SUCCESS TODAY AND 
READINESS TOMORROW. 
3.  ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS ARE:
    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 DOLLAR ACCESSION 
BONUS AND NOT LESS THAN FOUR YEARS FOR THE 30,000 DOLLAR 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.  A FORMER NURSE OFFICER, ACTIVE OR RESERVE, WHO NO LONGER HOLDS 
AN APPOINTMENT, AND IS OTHERWISE ELIGIBLE, MUST HAVE BEEN DISCHARGED 
FROM 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 2008 TO SERVE ON ACTIVE DUTY IN EXCHANGE FOR THE BONUS ARE 
AUTHORIZED TO RECEIVE THE ACCESSION BONUS.
5.  ELIGIBILITY AND ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES ARE AVAILABLE AT 
HTTP://NAVYMEDICINE.MED.NAVY.MIL (CLICK ON BUMED THEN CLICK ON SPECIAL 
PAYS).
6.  POINT OF CONTACT IS CDR L. BATEMAN, BUPERS-316D, AT (901) 874- 
2818/DSN 882 OR EMAIL AT lawrence.bateman@navy.mil.
7.  RELEASED BY VADM M. E. FERGUSON III, N1.// 
BT 
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