Aviation Bonuses and Incentive Pays - S-1 Procedural Page

Role and responsibility

The IPAC pay clerk cuts Aviation Incentive Pay (AvIP) and Aviation Bonus (AvB) transactions per DoDFMR Vol 7ADODFMR Vol 7A Chapter 20 (AvB) and Chapter 22 (AvIP). The S-1 chief validates aviation qualification status and operational flying gates. The S-1 officer signs by direction on the routing. HQMC Aviation (AVN) administers the Aviation Bonus contract program and confirms eligibility. The commanding officer of the aviation unit certifies operational flying status per Chapter 22 for ACIP continuation. The Marine aviator signs the Aviation Bonus contract per Chapter 20 and the current Aviation Bonus MARADMIN.

Source documents flow from the aviator designation (wings of gold), the operational flying record per Chapter 22 operational flying gates, the Aviation Bonus contract per Chapter 20 and the current MARADMIN, the HQMC AVN bonus designation, and the unit aviation duty roster. AvIP and AvB outputs include the AvIP monthly pay transaction at the rate appropriate to years of aviation service, the AvB contract lump sum or annual installment per the contract terms, the documented operational flying gate compliance, the verified LES, and the audit trail.

Per DoDFMR Vol 7A Chapter 20 (Aviation Bonus), AvB applies to Marine Corps aviators who sign a contract committing to continued aviation service in exchange for a lump sum or annual installments. Per Chapter 22 (Aviation Incentive Pays), AvIP applies as a monthly pay to designated aviators meeting operational flying gate requirements. The two pays run distinct. AvIP is monthly, AvB is contractual.

Trigger events

• Aviator designated (wings) triggers AvIP eligibility.
• Marine Aviator signs Aviation Bonus contract per current MARADMIN.
• Aviator meets operational flying gate.
• Aviator fails operational flying gate triggering ACIP reduction or stop.
• Aviation Bonus annual installment due date.
• Aviator transitions to non-flying assignment.
• Aviation Bonus MARADMIN issuance affecting current year rates.

Processing workflow

1. Verify aviation qualification. Per DoDFMR Vol 7ADODFMR Vol 7A Chapter 22, the Marine holds designated aviator status (wings of gold or equivalent).
2. Validate AvIP eligibility. Per Chapter 22, designated aviators receive monthly AvIP at the rate determined by years of aviation service.
3. Apply operational flying gate. Per Chapter 22 ACIP rules, aviators meet operational flying time per fiscal year (typically minimum flight hours and minimum flight months). Failure to meet the gate reduces or terminates ACIP.
4. Process Aviation Bonus contract. Per Chapter 20 and the current Aviation Bonus MARADMIN, eligible aviators sign a contract committing to continued service for a multi-year period. The contract specifies the bonus amount and the payment schedule (lump sum or annual installments).
5. Coordinate with HQMC AVN. The HQMC Aviation Branch confirms AvB eligibility, contract approval, and payment schedule.
6. Build the KSD packet. Stage the aviator designation, the AvIP rate authority, the operational flying record, the AvB contract, and the HQMC AVN approval.
7. Cut the AvIP monthly pay start. Per MCTFSPRIUMMCTFSPRIUM, submit the AvIP transaction in UD-MIPS at the rate code matching years of aviation service.
8. Cut the AvB payment. Per the contract terms, cut the lump sum at contract execution or the annual installment per the schedule.
9. Verify LES. The next LES carries AvIP at the correct rate. AvB installments appear at the scheduled cut.
10. Track flight gate requirements. The S-1 chief and the aviation duty officer track the operational flying time. The unit cuts ACIP reduction or stop when the gate fails.

Systems of record and forms

Systems

• MCTFS. Holds AvIP and AvB pay records.
• UD-MIPS. Cuts AvIP and AvB transactions per Appendix E.
• HQMC Aviation Branch Bonus System. Tracks AvB contracts and approvals.
• Aviation Duty Officer Flight Log. Tracks operational flying time per Chapter 22.
• LES. Validates pay rate and installment.

Forms

• Aviator Designation Record. Wings or equivalent qualification.
• Aviation Bonus Contract. Per Chapter 20 and current MARADMIN.
• Operational Flying Time Record. Per Chapter 22 ACIP rules.
• HQMC AVN Bonus Approval. Per Chapter 20.
• KSD Packet. Local format documenting eligibility.

Common pitfalls

• AvIP cut without aviation qualification verification. Per Chapter 22, only designated aviators draw AvIP.
• AvIP rate misaligned with years of aviation service. Per Chapter 22, the rate ladder ties to service years.
• Operational flying gate not tracked. Per Chapter 22 ACIP rules, the gate drives continued AvIP. The aviation duty officer tracks.
• AvB contract executed without HQMC AVN approval. Per Chapter 20 and the MARADMIN, HQMC AVN approves before contract execution.
• AvB installment cut past the contract schedule. The contract terms drive the schedule.
• ACIP continued past flight gate failure. The unit cuts ACIP reduction or stop when the gate fails.
• AvB rate misaligned with current MARADMIN. The MARADMIN year and the contract year drive the rate.
• LES discrepancy not surfaced. Routine LES review catches errors.

Decision points

• AvIP rate selection. Years of aviation service drive the rate per Chapter 22.
• AvB contract length. The Marine aviator and HQMC AVN agree on the contract length per the current MARADMIN.
• Operational flying gate compliance. The gate compliance drives continued ACIP per Chapter 22.
• Lump sum versus annual installment. Per the contract terms and the MARADMIN, the aviator selects the payment schedule.

Authority

This sub-page sits under DoDFMR Vol 7ADODFMR Vol 7A Chapter 20 (Aviation Bonus) and Chapter 22 (Aviation Incentive Pays). 37 U.S.C. 301a (Incentive Pay for Aviation Service) and 37 U.S.C. 334 (Aviation Bonus) set statutory authority. DODI 7730.67 covers Special and Incentive Pay Programs framework. Aviation Bonus MARADMINs publish the current year contract rates and terms. MCTFSPRIUMMCTFSPRIUM covers MCTFS transactions.

Related references

• DoDFMR Vol 7A Chapters 20 and 22. AvB and AvIP framework.
• 37 U.S.C. 301a and 334. Statutory authority.
• DODI 7730.67. Special and Incentive Pay Programs.
• Aviation Bonus MARADMINs. Current year rates.
• MCTFSPRIUM. MCTFS transactions.