The Bonus Extension and Retraining Program

The Bonus Extension and Retraining (BEAR) program is a segment of the Army Reenlistment Program. It allows qualified Soldiers an opportunity to extend their reenlistment for formal retraining into shortage selective reenlistment bonus (SRB) military occupational specialty (MOS). Upon completion of retraining, a BEAR program participant is awarded the new primary military occupational specialty (PMOS), reenlists, and is paid an SRB in the new PMOS.

BEAR program participants must otherwise be eligible for the SRB in accordance with AR 601-280, Army Retention Program, Chapter 5.

Objectives of the BEAR program are:

• Retrain qualified Soldiers who would otherwise separate from the Army.
• Retrain qualified Soldiers into shortage SRB MOSs that are experiencing non-commissioned officer shortages.

Approved BEAR MOS are announced by MILPER Message 12-195.

AR 601-280, Chapter 6, provides guidance for processing BEAR program applications.

All questions related to the BEAR program should be addressed by the servicing Career Counselor and/or the Career Counselor chain prior to contacting HRC.

For questions forward grade, full name, last four of SSN, and MOS with all e-mail requests to Retention Branch or call DSN 983-5966