Marines offering big bonuses to keep certain aviators from leaving for commercial airliners

WASHINGTON — The Marine Corps is offering some of its aviators bonuses of up to $280,000 to remain in the service as the service looks to improve pilot retention, an issue the military has struggled with in recent years.

The Marine Corps’ fiscal year 2020 aviation retention bonuses target Marine captains and majors who fly certain fighter jets, tilt-rotor aircraft, cargo planes and helicopters in an effort to offer incentive to keep pilots from moving into commercial aviation. The bonuses are available for pilots of the F-35 Lightning II, the F/A-18 Hornet, the AV-8 Harrier, the MV-22 Osprey, the C-130 Hercules, the UH-1 Huey, the AH-1 Cobra and the CH-53 Stallion, said Maj. Craig Thomas, a Marine spokesman.

It marks the third consecutive year that the Corps has issued aviation bonuses. The fiscal year 2020 bonuses offer longer contracts and eligibility for more pilots, including ones with more than 14 years of service as a commissioned officer, Thomas said Monday. They no longer include an option for a lump sum payment, and weapons system officers will no longer be eligible for the bonuses, he said.

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