Army Boosts Benefits for Recruits Taking High-Demand Jobs

By Ann Scott Tyson
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, July 22, 2005; Page A09

Active-duty Army recruits can reap an unprecedented benefit of more than $100,000 in bonuses, college funds and extra pay for accepting high-demand jobs in priority units, the Army announced yesterday.

Beginning July 13, the Army offered new incentive pay of as much as $14,400 -- or $400 a month for 36 months -- to soldiers who enlist for three or more years as infantrymen, mechanics, medics and a wide range of other career fields, according to U.S. Army Recruiting Command. The soldiers must also agree to join "priority units," which Army officials said means units that are reorganizing or preparing to deploy overseas.