New Nuke Incentives Announced

Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James announced Monday a new program of incentive pay for officers and certain enlisted airmen in the nuclear enterprise. In her speech at AFA’s Air & Space Conference in National Harbor, Md., James said the Air Force would offer $300 a month in assignment incentive pay to “those officers who execute the nuclear mission in our missile fields” and up to $300 monthly in “special-duty assignment pay for certain of our enlisted career field throughout the nuclear enterprise.” Those incentives will become effective Oct. 1. That was among a host of tests James said were part of ensuring “our nuclear mission is first and foremost.” She noted that more than $500 million will be invested in improving nuclear facilities, sustainment, and other force improvements, and steps to “reinvigorate our nuclear manning.” She also praised the initiatives taken by Air Force Global Strike Command boss Lt. Gen. Stephen Wilson that are “targeted at improving the moral of our nuclear airmen.”