The Air Force has continued its practice of paying bonuses (officially known as Aviator Continuation Pay, or ACP) to aviators.

After graduating from training, Air Force aviators (pilots and navigators) incur a commitment to serve; currently, the pilot commitment is 10 years.  When the pilot’s commitment is over, he may be eligible for a monetary bonus in exchange for a commitment to serve for several more years.

Every year the Air Force re-evaluates the need for the bonus, which is intended to encourage aviators in critical career fields to stay in the military.  In previous years, this was intended to compete with the airlines, who paid handsomely for military-trained pilots. 

Currently, the Air Force offers a bonus to pilots of $25,000 a year for a five-year commitment.