Army Warrant Officers Bid for Bonuses in Controversial Auction
The Army is introducing a new “Warrant Officer Retention Bonus Auction” in March for senior warrant officers in critical technical fields, excluding aviators. This eBay-style auction will allow these officers to anonymously bid their minimum acceptable bonus for a six-year service commitment. The Army will then determine a “market-clearing” rate to award bonuses to as many qualified warrant officers as possible within the allocated budget, with all recipients receiving the winning bid amount. Those who bid too high will not receive a bonus, aiming to create a flexible, market-driven system that rewards officers for their perceived value.
John Q. Hosedrinker