Aviation Continuation Pay (ACP - The Bonus)

[Guardian]

My unit didn't stop my orders in '13 when I went to school. Overpaid me 6 weeks ADOS and didn't catch it until the end of the FY. It took me until last year to pay it back 

That’s awesome. Half tempted to sign another bonus and hit retirement then pay it back slowly. Would help with first year pay anyways.

[SocialD]

3 hours ago, billy pilgrim said:

I didn't previously know this, but AGR 11Fs get the $35k/year bonus as well.  Some guys are paying it back to get their seniority started at a major.

To get the $35k bonus in the ANG, you need to sign a 2 year commitment.  You're also at the whim of state leadership to sign an orders curtailment, but I have yet to see a curtailment denied.  My understanding is in AFRC you can get the $35k bonus down to a 1 year commitment.  

[FLEA]

4 hours ago, billy pilgrim said:

I didn't previously know this, but AGR 11Fs get the $35k/year bonus as well.  Some guys are paying it back to get their seniority started at a major.

Anyone know where these programs are posted? I heard 18X had the same bonus on the guard side as well. I'm going to need to make some informed decisions soon....

[Guardian]

Should all be posted on MyPers. For all Guard, active, and reserves.

[GoodSplash9]

On 11/29/2019 at 10:42 AM, billy pilgrim said:

I didn't previously know this, but AGR 11Fs get the $35k/year bonus as well.  Some guys are paying it back to get their seniority started at a major.

I haven't referenced official sources, but hallway/bar talk has sounded like all AGR bonuses match AD if you haven't previously taken an active duty bonus. If you have taken an active duty bonus, it's a huge cut down to like $12 or $18K. Does that check with anyone in the know...mypers is the place to verify? So definitely some gamesmanship for AD guys to consider at the end of their initial ADSC.

Another question...is it at all possible to receive the ACP bonus tax free while deployed? I'm planning to take 3 years of blood money next year in March-April, but I'll definitely delay until later in the year when I deploy for an extra $6-8K if I can.

[ThreeHoler]

ACP is considered monthly pay in the month you get it. So at most you will get $700-1100 back depending on your pay grade. It isn’t like enlisted bonuses.


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[FLEA]

6 hours ago, ThreeHoler said:

ACP is considered monthly pay in the month you get it. So at most you will get $700-1100 back depending on your pay grade. It isn’t like enlisted bonuses.


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Yes but I had heard if you sign it overseas, every iteration it pays will be tax excluded until it runs out. Any truth to that? 

[Hunter Rose]

1 hour ago, FLEA said:

Yes but I had heard if you sign it overseas, every iteration it pays will be tax excluded until it runs out. Any truth to that? 

No. 

You have to be in a tax free location the month your bonus processes on your LES and bonus pay hits your bank account. You’d again have to be in a tax free locale when your bonus hit in year 2 to get a portion of it tax free.

As mentioned it is considered monthly pay by the finance folk, so you only get tax free (regular pay + ACP) up to the pay rate of the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force. 
 

No huge benefit to delaying signing. Especially if it adds to your time in. 

Edited December 1, 2019 by Hunter Rose

[jazzdude]

No. 
You have to be in a tax free location the month your bonus processes on your LES and bonus pay hits your bank account. You’d again have to be in a tax free locale when your bonus hit in year 2 to get a portion of it tax free.
As mentioned it is considered monthly pay by the finance folk, so you only get tax free (regular pay + ACP) up to the pay rate of the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force. 
 
No huge benefit to delaying signing. Especially if it adds to your time in. 

Recently received my first bonus check while deployed, and that is how it paid out.

That being said, being deployed raises your annual TSP contribution limit to $55K, so I directed a good portion of my bonus payment to my traditional TSP.

[SFG]

I hear some new AF research project told them that there wasn’t a significant difference in take rates from $20K to $35K... their conclusion is that ->the bonus amount has no effect on take rate<- 😂

We never leveled off. They’re looking at the wrong indicators. We just steadied our decent. They should continue to lower the nose with QOL/QOS initiatives, BUT realize they’re in the region of reverse command. Add more power. I bet you $70K would move the needle, but don’t expect to see any bonus increases. I wouldn’t be surprised to see a decrease after that turd of a third grade report.

Edited December 5, 2019 by K_O
Science

[Karl Hungus]

10 hours ago, K_O said:

I hear some new AF research project told them that there wasn’t a significant difference in take rates from $20K to $35K... their conclusion is that ->the bonus amount has no effect on take rate<- 😂

We never leveled off. They’re looking at the wrong indicators. We just steadied our decent. They should continue to lower the nose with QOL/QOS initiatives, BUT realize they’re in the region of reverse command. Add more power. I bet you $70K would move the needle, but don’t expect to see any bonus increases. I wouldn’t be surprised to see a decrease after that turd of a third grade report.

Eliminating the bonus completely would actually be pretty smart.  Since they’re unwilling to raise it to a level at which it would actually change someone’s mind from leaving to staying on a large scale, might as well get rid of it completely.  The only people (for the most part) who take it were going to stay anyway... free money for them.  Might as well waste that money on other Defense Industrial Complex garbage.

[SFG]

4 hours ago, Karl Hungus said:

...might as well get rid of it completely.  The only people (for the most part) who take it were going to stay anyway... free money for them.  Might as well waste that money on other Defense Industrial Complex garbage.

It’s not enough money to pay for any Defense Industrial Complex garbage. No, it will just go to another RAND study.

[osulax05]

FY20 AvB is out on MyPers. As expected, dollar amounts and options appear to be the same as last year.

 

 

 

[di1630]

I guess they are good with a little bloodletting for another year.




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[FourFans]

Just for some kids that don’t know math:  

1999 bonus and cap were introduced: $25,000, which it’s been in some form or fashion for a while, though it took far too long for big blue to realize that not just fighter pilots are important enough to offer a big bonus to...

2019...it’s now $35,000

Inflation says that 1999 $25k should be >$38k in 2019.  Apparently flyers were more important in 1999 than they are today.  Let that sink in.

Edited January 29, 2020 by FourFans130

[Homestar]

2 hours ago, FourFans130 said:

.it’s now $35,000

for some of you....

[FourFans]

1 hour ago, Homestar said:

for some of you....

The defense rests.  
 

Don’t take the bonus.

[brabus]

The guard has the same bonus. Just putting that out there for anyone who’s AD leadership has told them the AD bonus is a reason to not go guard. 

[Magnum]

1 hour ago, brabus said:

The guard has the same bonus. Just putting that out there for anyone who’s AD leadership has told them the AD bonus is a reason to not go guard. 

False!  The Guard has much better and more plentiful bonuses like being able to spend time with your family, being able to purchase a house that you won't move from just as you get comfortable with it, no 365s, etc, etc, etc. The same pay is only the beginning!

But I know what you meant.

[the g-man]

Just for some kids that don’t know math:  
1999 bonus and cap were introduced: $25,000, which it’s been in some form or fashion for a while, though it took far too long for big blue to realize that not just fighter pilots are important enough to offer a big bonus to...
2019...it’s now $35,000
Inflation says that 1999 $25k should be >$38k in 2019.  Apparently flyers were more important in 1999 than they are today.  Let that sink in.

Same problem with flight pay except $700 in 1989 should be ~$1800 now


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[SocialD]

I noticed they put in a change to the fine print.  If you curtail an order/bonus early you'll be penalized for a few years before you can sign another bonus. I can't remember the exact details, but I see what you did there HAF 🤣.

 

Still no one year big bonus.  

Edited January 31, 2020 by SocialD

[Magellan]

So the announcement came out on Tuesday. I got the signed paperwork turned in the same day, because my UPT ADSC expired already and I have another ADSC that is 7.5 years long for just starting a PhD program.  So I was all about signing up for free money.  The email said give DFAS 6-8 weeks, but I had the money deposited on Friday.  They withheld 22% FYSA.

YMMV

[KWings06j]

I think mine got screwed up (big surprise). They withheld just over 33% of mine. 

Correction. They actually did pay me correctly. Somehow they honored my change to TSP allotments even though they hadn't taken effect yet. 

Edited February 23, 2020 by KWings06j

[BADFNZ]

Prayers to both of you

[WheelsOff]

There was a post about this year’s bonus on the MAF FB page, but it got deleted. Too many cynical responses/GIFs I think. 
 

Bummer...it was some good bathroom reading material.