UNCLASSIFIED// ROUTINE R 061551Z NOV 20 MID200000334433U FM CNO WASHINGTON DC TO NAVADMIN INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC BT UNCLAS NAVADMIN 301/20 PASS TO OFFICE CODES: FM CNO WASHINGTON DC//N1// INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC//N1// MSGID/GENADMIN/CNO WASHINGTON DC/N1/NOV// SUBJ/NAVAL SPECIAL WARFARE OFFICER RETENTION BONUS PROGRAM// REF/A/MSG/CNO WASHINGTON DC/N1/301456ZMAY18// REF/B/DOC/U.S.C.//20DEC19// REF/C/DOC/DOD/JUL16// NARR/REF A IS NAVADMIN 137/18, NAVAL SPECIAL WARFARE OFFICER RETENTION BONUS PROGRAM UPDATE. REF B IS TITLE 37, U.S. CODE, PAY AND ALLOWANCES OF THE UNIFORMED SERVICES. REF C IS DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT REGULATION 7000.14, VOLUME 7A, CHAPTER 2, REPAYMENT OF UNEARNED PORTION OF BONUSES AND OTHER BENEFITS.// RMKS/1. This NAVADMIN announces the modification of the Naval Special Warfare Officer Retention Bonus (NSWRB) for qualified Naval Special Warfare (NSW) officers. This NAVADMIN cancels reference (a). Retaining NSW officers is a priority for the Navy. The NSWRB is a flexible retention incentive that focuses on improving retention of NSW control grade officers. NSW officers who meet the eligibility criteria in this NAVADMIN and hold an 1130 or 1137 designator may apply for this incentive. 2. Program Overview. This bonus is authorized under reference (b), section 332. As of 22 September 2020, eligible officers will be offered the opportunity to commit to a 5-year or a 3-year agreement for bonus amounts listed in paragraph 5. NSW Program Management (OPNAV-N137) is designated as the NSWRB Program Manager. All applications for this bonus will be submitted to the program manager for approval, payment processing and tracking. The eligibility criteria stated in this NAVADMIN can be changed at any time by the program manager if a bonus reduction is warranted based on the needs of the NSW community. 3. Eligibility. NSW officers with designators 1130 or 1137, who have completed at least 15 years of Active-Duty commissioned service (ADCS), may be eligible to receive the NSWRB. Applicants must receive written endorsement from their commanding officer (CO) recommending bonus approval. COs must ensure applications are accurate and verify applicants meet eligibility requirements. 4. Program Execution a. Officers must submit their request letter to the NSWRB program manager via their chain of command. b. Upon acceptance of a bonus agreement by the program manager, the amount of the bonus becomes fixed and the officer incurs a firm service obligation. c. Officers may elect one of the following payment options: (1) To receive an initial lump sum payment of half the total bonus amount followed by equally divided annual installments through the term of the agreement. (2) To receive bonus payments in equal annual installments through the term of the agreement. d. NSWRB requests for personnel who are being processed for officer designation removal or additional qualification designation removal will be held in abeyance pending final resolution of the action in question. 5. Contract Terms. NSWRB contract lengths and payments are outlined below. a. The NSWRB will be offered in two phases. Officers will be paid a fixed amount per year of service. (1) Phase 1 NSWRB. Applicant must be a NSW officer with 1130 or 1137 designator to apply for a Phase 1 bonus. Phase 1 contracts encompass 15 years of ADCS for 1130 and 1137 designators. Command eligible officers (officers that screened positive at a NSW CO/executive officer (XO) Administrative Screening Board (ASB) for XO) will have the opportunity to receive up to $125,000 (1130) and $60,000 (1137) in retention bonuses for Phase 1 contracts. Non-command eligible officers (officers that did not screen positive at an NSW CO/XO ASB for XO) will have the opportunity to receive up to $75,000 (1130) in retention bonuses for Phase 1 contract. Non- command screened 1137 SEAL officers are not eligible for a bonus. (a) Command eligible NSW officers (designator 1130) with 15 years ADCS: 5-year agreement: $25,000 per year 3-year agreement: $15,000 per year (b) Non-Command eligible NSW officers (designator 1130) with 15 years ADCS: 5-year agreement: $15,000 per year 3-year agreement: $5,000 per year (c) Command eligible NSW officers (designator 1137) with 15 years ADCS: 5-year agreement: $12,000 per year 3-year agreement: $7,500 per year (2) Phase 2 NSWRB. Applicant must be an NSW officer with 1130 or 1137 designator to apply for a Phase 2 bonus. Phase 2 contracts encompass 20 to 22 years of ADCS. Command eligible officers (officers that screened positive at an NSW CO/XO ASB for CO) will have the opportunity to receive up to $75,000 (1130) and $36,000 (1137) in retention bonuses for Phase 2 contracts. Non-command eligible officers (officers that did not screen positive at an NSW CO/XO ASB for CO) will have the opportunity to receive up to $45,000 (1130) in retention bonuses for a Phase 2 contract. Non-command screened 1137 SEAL officers are not eligible for a bonus. (a) Command eligible NSW officers (designator 1130) with 20-22 years ADCS: 3-year agreement: $25,000 per year. (b) Non-Command eligible NSW officers (designator 1130) with 20- 22 years ADCS: 3-year agreement: $15,000 per year. (c) Command eligible NSW officers (designator 1137) with 20-22 years ADCS: 3-year agreement: $12,000 per year. b. NSWRB agreement obligations will run concurrently with any obligated service the officer has incurred for education or fellowships such as postgraduate education. c. Officers in receipt of NSWRB, who have transferred their Post/911 GI Bill benefits to their dependents, will serve their obligations for NSWRB and GI Bill transfer concurrently. 6. Application Process. a. Eligible officers may apply for NSWRB via their CO to OPNAV- N137 via the NSW Officer Community Manager (BUPERS-311D). b. Officers must submit their applications to the NSWRB Program Manager prior to their requested start date and should confirm receipt. Applications received after the requested start date will not be accepted and payments will not be processed until all eligibility criteria are met. The first payment normally occurs 2 to 3 weeks after all eligibility criteria are met. 7. Recoupment and Repayment Policy. Repayment policy is governed by reference (b), Sections 332 and 373 and reference (c). A Service Member of the uniformed services who enters into a written agreement with specified service conditions for receipt of a bonus is entitled to the full amount of the bonus if the Service Member fulfills the conditions of that written agreement. If the Service Member fails to fulfill the service conditions specified in the written agreement for the pay, then the pay may be terminated and the Service Member shall be required to repay an amount equal to the unearned portion of the pay. 8. Point of contact is the Naval Special Warfare Officer Community Manager at (703) 604-5008/DSN 664 or via e-mail at SEAL_OCM(at)navy.mil. 9. Released by Vice Admiral John B. Nowell, Jr, N1.// BT #0001 NNNN UNCLASSIFIED//