The fact remains, when it comes to joining any branch of the US Military, people have a variety of reasons to do so. Insofar as the US Navy, the highly attractive ‘enlistment bonuses’ are reason enough to join.

What makes this rewarding, incentive all the more attractive, is that navy enlistment bonuses can be combined, although all bonuses have a cap set at $40,000. Recruits, wishing to qualify for navy bonuses, must agree to a 1-year extension of their 4-year enlistment contracts, or a total of 5 years of active duty enlistment.

While the quantum of different types of bonuses is subject to change, it will be helpful to review the precise amounts in force, by visiting the Navy Recruitment Command’s Enlistment Incentive Web Page.    

Top bonuses for multi-lingual tongues

Given its global presence, especially in areas of conflict or potential threat, there’s a very high demand for people reasonably fluent in one or more foreign languages by the US Navy. Prior to successful completion of basic training, a score of 2.2 in the Defense Language Proficiency Test (DLPT) is the minimum for recruits to be eligible for up to $10,000 as a bonus.

Some critical languages that sailors demonstrate proficiency in, and which is covered under this bonus scheme include – Arabic (inclusive of regional dialects, e.g. Gulf, Algerian, etc.); Chechen; Farsi (Persian Iranian); Kurdish; Punjabi; Hindi; Swahili, Somali; and Tamil.

Special bonuses for special op recruits

Applicants who graduate from basic training with an “advanced” PST (Physical Screening Test) score can receive a $2000 bonus. On successful completion of basic training, sailors could then work hard to be eligible to bigger bonuses – $40,000 as an ordinance disposal specialist or Navy Seal, or $35,000 as a naval diver, among others.

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