The Aviation Command Retention Bonus (ACRB) has been continued, the Navy announced in a message, May 9.

According to NAVADMIN 115/17, the ACRB is designed to retain those officers with the talent and command experience in our primary warfighting missions critical for the future of the Navy.

ACRB applicants must be currently serving as commanding officer (CO) of an eligible operational (OP), operational training (OP-T) or special mission (SM) O-5 command in order to apply. Eligible commands are those OP, OP-T, and SM O-5 commands for which the annual Aviation Command Screen Board selects officers to serve as CO, excluding second-in-grade/sequential/bonus/Fleet Replacement Squadron commands. Eligibility to apply for the ACRB ends on the last day of command.

Post command commanders not on contract who served as CO of an eligible OP, OP-T or special SM O-5 command between Oct. 1, 2016, and fiscal year 2017 ACRB Program NAVADMIN release date are eligible to apply for a limited time. Signed contracts must be received by PERS-435 within 30 days of NAVADMIN release.

COs who take the bonus will be paid in two installments of $18,000 per year and are obligated to serve through their 21st and 22nd years of service - ensuring there are enough O-5s with command experience - encouraging retention until these officers are in zone for promotion to O-6.

Specific details, eligibility, and application procedures can be found on the Navy Personnel Command Aviation Career Continuation Pay web page at www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc/officer/detailing/aviation/ocm/pages/accp.aspx.

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For more news from Navy Personnel Command, visit www.navy.mil/.