The Marines Know All Too Well... Good Pilots Are Hard To Find... And Keep

It may be good to be a Marine... especially if you're a pilot looking to re-up and stick around for the foreseeable future. A Marine Admin notice (MARADMIN) is offering SERIOUS bucks to keep their valued flying personnel on the job through the initiation of a Marine Corps Aviation Bonus (AvB) Program for FY21.

The MARADMIN documentation states that, "The AvB is a special pay utilized to increase the inventory stability of the aviation officer population. The program provides a proactive, short-term incentive for aviation officers in certain grades and communities with current or forecasted inventory shortfalls. Contract lengths and monetary amounts are set based on current and projected aviation officer inventories.  The AvB will be offered to Marine aviation officers who meet eligibility requirements..."

The document then breaks down the eligibility standards and requirements to qualify under the AvB and the details are rather specific... Rotorcraft jocks flying the MV-22, UH-1, AH-1 and CH-53 must have been officers in the USMC for less than 14 years, and will have had to complete active duty commitments by Sep. 30, 2021.

Transport pilots, specifically, KC-130 pilots and co-pilots have to either be eligible for promotion to lieutenant colonel or junior to the promotion requirements for lieutenant colonel while also completing active duty commitments by Sep. 30, 2021.

The Fighter gang may also be eligible... as pilots of the AV-8, F-35 and F/A-18 will be required 'in zone' or below, for lieutenant colonel, though their active duty commitments may end as late as Sept. 30 2022.

So... how much can they get? The bonuses are broken down into three categories: one for fixed wing pilots, one for the MV-22 jocks, and another for conventional rotorcraft pilots -- and while the amounts offered will be paid out over the length of the contract the pilots agree to, the amounts comprise some serious money.

FW pilots are eligible for as much as $210K with an additional promise of six years of service, though a $100K bonus is available for a lesser four year commitment. Osprey pilots have been offered $125K for five more years of service or $80K if they hang in for four more years. And, the helo Marines have been offered $75K for five more years or $40K fur four more.

FMI: www.marines.mil, www.marines.mil/News/Messages/Messages-Display/Article/2339630/fy21-aviation-bonus/