Air Force offers retention bonus to contracting officers

By Staff Sgt. Steve Grever
Air Force Personnel Center Public Affairs

June 14, 2010 - Select Air Force contracting officers are eligible to receive a retention bonus as part of the service’s fiscal year 2010 Critical Skills Retention Bonus Program.

Eligible officers will receive $20,000 per year if they sign a four-year CSRB agreement. This is the second year a retention bonus has been offered to eligible contracting officers who are in high demand at stateside and deployed locations around the world.

According to Clohessy, the intent of the contracting CSRB is to retain senior company grade officers who possess extensive contracting experience.

“Our focus for this year’s retention bonus is journeyman-level contracting officers with six commissioned years of service,” said Maj. Thomas Clohessy, the Air Force Personnel Center’s contracting officer assignment team chief. “This is another vital tool at the disposal of Air Force leaders to manage the force and meet mission needs.”

In a joint, deployed environment, Air Force contracting officers account for more than 75 percent of the contingency contracting support assigned to the Joint Contracting Command-Iraq/Afghanistan.

“These officers work numerous contracts for services, supplies, construction and other requirements that directly support the warfighter.” Maj. Clohessy said.

Eligible officers will be notified by AFPC if their Total Active Federal Commissioned Service Date falls between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2004. After meeting the initial TAFCSD requirements, officers can go to the 64P career field assignments page on the AFPC personnel services website to read more about the CSRB program and download the program application form. The deadline for application submissions to AFPC’s contracting assignment team is July 30.

For more information about the CSRB for 64P contracting officers, visit the AFPC personnel services website at http://gum.afpc.randolph.af.mil or call the Total Force Service Center at DSN 665-5000 or commercial (800) 525-0102.