Incentive and Special Pay

AVIATION CAREER PAY and AVIATION CONTINUATION PAY

Aviation Continuation Pay (ACP)

Pilots who have completed their Active Duty Service Obligation (ADSO) and choose to serve past their initial commitment for a stated time period are eligible to receive Aviation Continuation Pay. This discretionary pay, also known as Aviator Career Continuation Pay or Aviation Retention Bonus, is determined by the number of years the pilot serves, and the service’s needs. No officer above the O-6 pay grade may receive a bonus.

For 2017, the maximum bonuses by service are:

• Air Force: up to $35,000 per year.
• Navy: up to $18,000 per year.
• Marine Corps: up to $15,000 per year.
• Army (for certain warrant officer pilots only): up to $25,000 per year.
• In some cases, UAV/RPA Pilots may also receive up to $35,000 per year.

Contact your Financial Officer to find out whether or not you are eligible for ACP.

Aviation Career Incentive Pay (ACIP)

Aviation Career Incentive Pay is limited to active duty and reserve officers who hold, or are in training leading to, an aeronautical rating or designation and who engage and remain in aviation service on a career basis. ACIP is a financial incentive for officers who make a military career as aviators. This entitlement pay is determined by the years of service as an aviation officer.

For officers above O-6 with less than 25 years of aviation service:

• An officer in pay grade O-7 may not be paid at a rate greater than $200 a month.
• An officer in pay grade O-8 or above may not be paid at a rate greater than $206 a month.
• Warrant officers with over 22 years of aviation service are paid at the rate for officers with over 14 years of aviation service.

* Entitlement to continuous Aviation Career Incentive Pay (ACIP) ceases for an officer upon completion of 25 years of aviation service. A qualified officer in a pay grade below O-7 remains entitled to monthly (conditional) ACIP when required by competent orders to perform operations.