Air Force Service Roles to Receive Re-enlistment Incentives in 2025 - List Unveiled
The Air Force has expanded its Selective Retention Bonus (SRB) program, as confirmed by a service spokesperson, with the aim of retaining experienced and skilled personnel in critical fields. The move comes as the Air Force plans to increase funding for the program in fiscal 2026, indicating a continued focus on retaining personnel in areas where the cost of replacing personnel is high.
According to the leaked list, the SRB program now includes career fields for aviators such as boom operator for the KC-46, loadmaster for the C-130J, and airborne maintenance technician for the EA-37B. The program also reintroduces warrant officers in the cyber and IT fields, while cyber operations specialists and technicians, human intelligence analysts, and special investigations are also included. Notably, nuclear weapons maintenance is no longer part of the program.
The Air Force expanded the SRB program to 89 Air Force Specialty Codes on Dec 16, 2022, an increase from 73 codes a year ago and 51 the year before that. Most of last year's career fields have carried over, including special operations commandos, explosive ordnance disposal, and military working dog handlers.
However, the specific career fields added in 2025 are not detailed in the provided information. For more precise information, it would be necessary to consult official Air Force documents or announcements from that period. It is worth noting that in recent years, the Air Force has declined to release public lists of career fields eligible for retention bonuses.
The exact amount of bonus funds awarded varies based on factors including Airmen's monthly basic pay, the length of the reenlistment, and experience level. The maximum allowable reenlistment bonus remains at $180,000, with a career cap set at $360,000.
In the past, the program has included over 100 career fields (as recently as 2019). During the depths of the COVID pandemic, the program cut back to just 37 career fields. Airmen whose career fields were removed or reduced have until Feb. 15 to take advantage of last year's standards.
The full list of career fields eligible for the bonus was leaked on social media, sparking discussions among Air Force personnel about the program's expansion and contraction based on broader retention trends in the Air Force. The leaked list includes four "zones" ranging from 17 months of service up to 20 years, suggesting a focus on retaining both new and experienced Airmen.
The SRB program generally targets enlisted Airmen in specialties with low manning or poor retention, where the cost of replacing personnel is high. The program's list of eligible career fields is not specified to expand beyond the current ones in 2025. As the Air Force continues to face staffing challenges, the SRB program will likely play a crucial role in retaining the skilled personnel needed to maintain operational readiness.
- The Air Force Space Force is considering expanding its weapons inventory, focusing on state-of-the-art aircraft and advanced aerospace technology for space warfare.
- As part of its defense strategy, the military is heavily investing in education-and-self-development programs for personnel, with a focus on career-development opportunities in critical fields, such as cyber security and IT.
- The Air Force's Space Force is planning to reintroduce warrant officers in the cyber and IT fields, recognizing the importance of these specialized roles in the defense of national security.
- In an effort to strengthen its defense capabilities, the Air Force is also looking at recruiting and retaining personnel in fields like airborne maintenance technicians for the EA-37B and cyber operations specialists.
- The Air Force's Space Force, in its ongoing efforts to maintain operational readiness, has been offering the Selective Retention Bonus (SRB) program, which includes over 89 Air Force Specialty Codes, including aviators and other critical roles.
- The leaked list of career fields eligible for the SRB program suggests a focus on retaining both new and experienced Airmen, with four "zones" ranging from 17 months of service up to 20 years, potentially indicating a broader approach to retention trends in the Air Force.
