Aviation Continuation Pay: Some Bonuses are Inappropriate Because of Prior Service Obligations
Abstract
In 1989, when extending the existing authority for the aviation retention bonuses known as Aviation Continuation Pay (ACP), the House Armed Services Committee expressed concern about the large number of pilots who has testified at hearings that they had accepted the bonus because the obligation they incurred ran concurrently with already existing service commitments. As part of a broader review of the Department of Defense's (DOD) special and incentive pays, the GAO assessed how well the services were complying with the House Armed Services Committee's direction that aviator retention bonuses were not to be given to service members for time that they were already committed to serve. Specifically, the objectives were to determine the (1) extent and amount of overlapping commitments and (2) reasons for preexisting commitments. DOD is paying ACP bonuses for time that service members already have commitments despite direction form the House Armed Services Committee to avoid such payments. These overlapping commitments stemmed from commitments incurred mainly in connection with receipt of additional training or permanent change of station moves. Overlapping commitments averaged 15 months and cost DOD approximately $15 million in fiscal year 1992 and $11 million in fiscal year 1993. Paying bonuses to entice aviators to commit to serve for periods of time for which they are already committed is not only inconsistent with the House Armed Services Committee direction, but is not a prudent use of taxpayer funds.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 1994
- Accession Number
- ADA286286
Entities
People
- Mark E. Gebicke
Organizations
- United States Government Accountability Office