1
Department of Defense
INSTRUCTION
NUMBER 1304.29
December 15, 2004
Incorporating Change 1, July 11, 2016
PDUSD(P&R)
SUBJECT: Administration of Enlistment Bonuses, Accession Bonuses for New Officers in
Critical Skills, Selective Reenlistment Bonuses, and Critical Skills Retention
Bonuses for Active Members
References: (a) DoD Directive 1304.21, “Policy on Enlistment Bonuses, Accession Bonuses for
New Officers in Critical Skills, Selective Reenlistment Bonuses, and Critical
Skills Retention Bonuses for Active Members,” January 31, 2005
(b) Sections 205, 301c, 308, 309, 323, and 324 of title 37, United States Code
(c) Sections 101(d)(6), 651, and 1171 of title 10, United States Code
(d) DoD 7000.14-R, Volume 7A, “Department of Defense Financial Management
Regulation,” “Military Pay Policy and Procedures - Active Duty and Reserve
Pay,” February 2002
(e) DoD 7000.14-R, Volume 5, “Department of Defense Financial Management
Regulation,” “Disbursing Policy and Procedures,” December 2001
1. PURPOSE
This Instruction implements policies, assigns responsibilities, and prescribes procedures under
reference (a) with regard to the administration of the enlistment and Selective Reenlistment
Bonuses (SRBs) for active enlisted Service members, Critical Skills Retention Bonuses (CSRBs)
for active enlisted Service members and officers, and the accession bonus for new officers in
critical skills.
2. APPLICABILITY
This Instruction applies to the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Military Departments, the
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Combatant Commands, the Office of the Inspector
General of the Department of Defense, the Defense Agencies, the DoD Field Activities, and all
other organizational entities in the Department of Defense (hereafter referred to collectively as
the “DoD Components”). The term “Military Services,” as used herein, refers to the Army, the
Navy, the Air Force, and the Marine Corps.
