There's a big payoff for flying in the Marine Corps Reserve.
The Selective Marine Corps Reserve has expanded its retention pay program to include pilots from more communities. The Fiscal Year 2015 Next year's pay program is open to pilots who are willing to fly CH-46E Sea Knights and as well as F/A-18 Hornetspilot. Eligible pilots in Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 774 and Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 112 weren't included in last year's retention pay program, but now they could receive $15,000 annually for three years.
The FY 2015 Fiscal year 2015's program was extended to the two Reserve squadrons in order to help keep them appropriately manned, said Maj. Alan Dinsdale from the Reserve Officer Plans Section, Reserve Affairs Division, Manpower and Reserve Affairs.
The pay program "is a force shaping tool designed to incentivize staffing shortfalls where they either currently exist, or are projected to exist in SMCR tactical squadrons. The FY '15 [aviation retention pay] program includes more squadrons than were included in FY '14 based on projected departures from these additional squadrons that were not projected last year," Dinsdale said in a statement.
Eligible pilots in these and other Reserve squadrons will be paid a $15,000 retention bonus as they were in the current fiscal year. In addition to Besides HMM-744 and VMFA-112, the retention pay is also available to Marines in Marine Heavy Lift Helicopter Squadron 772, Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 773, Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadrons 234 and 452, and Marine Medium Lift Helicopter Squadron 764.
There are several criteria that pilots must meet to qualify for the pay.
First, t They Only captains and majors are eligible, with specific parameters: must be either a captain or a major. O-3s who are in the Reserve but were passed over for O-4 are not eligible. Bor are O-4s who have spent more than 36 months in their rank.
Second, they must be qualified to fly as a reserve pilot in the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing.
Third, they must also be entitled to Aviation Career Incentive Pay, another force-shaping tool that offers money to encourage Marines to continue flying.
Also, at the time of submitting their application for the pay, officers Marines must have spent less than 15 years in service as an officer.
Applicants must agree to fly in any of the following seven squadrons, and if they're already in the Reservea reservist, they must have spent less than 16 months in any of these squadrons:
- HMH-772, a unit that flies the CH-52E Super Stallion.
- HMLA-773, a unit that flies AH-1 Cobra and UH-1N Twin Huey.
- HMM-774, a unit that flies both the CH-46E Sea Knight and the V-22 Osprey.
- VMFA-112, a unit that flies the F/A-18 Hornet
- VMGR-234, a unit that flies the KC-130T
- VMGR-452, a unit that flies the KC-130T
- VMM-764, a unit that flies the V-22 Osprey.
Other requirements can be found in MARADMIN 596/14. Reserve Affairs reviews applications to determine who receives the pay. and lLast fiscal year, 14 aviators applied and 12 were fully qualified and received the retention pay, Dinsdale said.
But being eligible for the pay doesn't guarantee that a Marine will receive it.
"Based on MOS, and available billets at the tactical SMCR squadrons, it is possible that not all eligible applicants will receive the incentive," he said.
Pilots from some aviation communities are more eager to join the Reserve than others, Dinsdale said.
"Currently we are actively seeking H-1 pilots for service in the reserve component. Of the aviation communities across the SMCR, it seems as though there is a ready supply of F/A-18 pilots from the active component looking to affiliate as able," he said.
The FY 2015Fiscal 2015's program is expected to cost $315,000 per year for the next three years. This is in addition to payments made to aviators who signed up for the program in the previous two years. Combined annual payments will not exceed $1 million, Dinsdale said.
There are two deadlines to apply. One window ends Jan. 31 and the other on July 31. Late applications will not be retained for the next application period and will be returned, Dinsdale said.
