What advice do you have for pursuing a re-enlistment bonus that has not been paid and is now past the 120-day mark?

2020-11-12T01:30:34-05:00

I signed up for a re-enlistment bonus back in June. DFAS states it was paid out in July, and it wasn’t issued out. A CMS case was created on it, closed and resolved September 15. The physical bonus wasn’t touched again until October to push through. I was told it would be pushed through and it would be paid out in the middle of November. It is now past the 120 day mark. Any advice?

Response by MAJ Javier Rivera made Nov 12 at 2020 3:22 AM

2020-11-12T03:22:35-05:00

Get your congressman / congresswoman involved. You’ll see how it get fixed. Had a Soldier (while a company commander) who had a similar issue. After going thru various admin inquires and no results, I suggest him to contact his congressman. He did and the issue, by means of the Holly Spirit, got fix. Of course, I already got my reply letter already written. Like I stated, I recommended to my Soldier to write to his congressman regarding the issue after exhausting all local resources.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 12 at 2020 8:03 AM

2020-11-12T08:03:21-05:00

Use your chain of command and give them a chance to fix it. Once that has been completed and youve given them satisfactory time to action the issue. Go to IG, funfact all IG numbers are just a google search away for any command. They will verify the correct processes have been followed and apply pressure to the appropriate stoppage in the process.

Response by 1SG Brian Adams made Nov 12 at 2020 10:37 AM

2020-11-12T10:37:18-05:00

short answer, call JAG

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 12 at 2020 12:05 PM

2020-11-12T12:05:44-05:00

Many helpful responses are here.

I would also add that you should pull all the transactional statements from your bank account going back from June till now, and have that in hand when confronting Finance. If they say they paid it, ask them when, and where it went.

Since you are already getting paid I presume your whole automatic pay from the Army to your Bank Account should be squared away.

Then the next question is going to be what are the forms and what was the process that the attempts to collect your bonus were conducted under.

I am not finance, I have however had to fix soldiers attempts at getting bonuses, etc..., and the problem usually starts with a new PVT trying to collect an enlistment bonus and they presume it would be automatic.

1) In hand your bank statements from June onward you think your bonus should go to
2) Your new enlistment contract
3) You bonus contract stating the conditions of getting the bonus (like schools if you were reclassing)
4) The copy of the entire process you have attempted so far
4a) What has been given to the Army/Finance to direct them to execute paying out a bonus to you?

I foresee you being in a situation where Finance says, oh you did the whole process wrong and have to start over. Should that be the case, then you are best served by having every possible required document in hand to start from scratch and response to that potential new push back with: OK then, here is everything, lets do it now starting with you.

Response by CSM Danny S. made Nov 12 at 2020 1:12 PM

2020-11-12T13:12:41-05:00

Who have you been working with? Does your 1SG know? If they all know and have not been helping I would contact the BN retention NCO. He/She will know if there is any kind of issues going on with the system that handles bonuses. My BN retention NCO is very good at pointing out problems with bonuses before they became emergencies. If that doesn't work talk to your BN CSM and see if he/she can get it fixed. Once you have gone that far I would keep running it up the chain but then start working things like a Congressman. Bonuses not getting paid on time is pretty common issue (even though it shouldn't be) and pinging the chain of command on a regular basis should help get things fixed. Each situation is different, so printout all of you supporting document and stay diligent. It will take time but everything will work out if you stay engaged.