Air and Space Forces raise bonus amounts for technically trained cyber troops
A senior airman with five years in cyber warfare is eligible for an $83,610 bonus for re-enlisting for six years, the same amount due airmen in the pararescue, combat control and tactical air control party fields. (J.M. Eddins Jr./U.S. Air Force)
The Air Force and Space Force are prepared to pay a premium to keep their cyber-trained professionals wearing blue, according to the updated list of bonus-eligible career fields.
Released Sept. 8, that list added two cyber-related career specialties for a total of 65 careers eligible for a re-enlistment bonus, including five existing cyber fields whose bonus potentials also increased.
“This [Selective Retention Bonus] addition is an acknowledgement of extreme demand for the advanced skills and talent within the targeted cyber specialties, as well as their criticality to the future force,” Air Force spokeswomen Laurel Falls told Stars and Stripes by email Tuesday.
The largest bonus bumps within the cyber fields went to the cyber warfare and defense specialties. Airmen who re-up in those fields would receive the same amount as those in special tactics jobs, historically the riskiest jobs, whose practitioners were paid the highest bonuses.
A senior airman with five years in cyber warfare is eligible for an $83,610 bonus for re-enlisting for six years, the same amount airmen in the pararescue, combat control and tactical air control party fields.
“For some cyber specialties, cumulative individual training costs reach close to one million dollars and the unique National Defense experiences that further develop these member’s cyber proficiency are nearly incalculable,” Falls said.
The Air Force created cyber warfare operations as a career field in 2010. The career field remains open only to enlisted personnel serving in information technology professions.
Specialists in this field ensure computer networks function properly and remain secure from outside intrusion, according to the Air Force website.
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Air Force adds more jobs to initial enlistment bonus list > Air Force Recruiting Service > Features
JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas —
The Air Force added more opportunities for future Airmen to receive bonuses upon entering active duty in fiscal 2022.
Seven maintenance-related skills, each with four or six-year contracts, were added to the FY22 Initial Enlistment Bonus program July 11, 2022. Bonuses will be offered through Sept. 30, 2022.
This brings the total number of Air Force Specialty bonuses to 22.
“Our Air Force value proposition is about far more than pay or compensation. It’s primarily about opportunity, and joining a community with an unmatched sense of purpose. But in a highly-competitive labor market enlistment incentives can help ensure we get the additional Airmen required to fill our ranks and serve the nation. Today, that job market is at record-high levels of competition and it’s a battle for talent,” said Maj. Gen. Ed Thomas, Air Force Recruiting Service commander.
Another incentive that may help recruiters fill short-notice gaps is a quick-ship bonus which began in April. Quick Ship is when an already fully-qualified applicant fills a short-notice Basic Military Training vacancy, and ships within five days or less.
More than 179 bonuses have been paid to new recruits who entered active duty within a few days of signing their contract. Any member who enters active duty with one of the quick-ship career fields may be eligible to receive an $8,000 bonus.
Special Warfare recruits are eligible for up to $50,000 upon entering active duty.
Certain cyber career fields have bonus pay amounts that are based on an applicant’s highest level of certification, giving the applicant an opportunity to receive up to $20,000.
Recruiting incentives give recruiters additional support and tools to use as they press through all the challenges associated with reaching the Air Force’s FY22 accessions goals. Those challenges include a low youth inclination to join, a national labor shortage and the aggregate effects of recruiting with reduced face to face contact since the outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020.
The following is the complete IEB list effective July 11, 2022:
| AFSC | AFSC Name | 6-year Bonus | 4-year Bonus |
Top 3 Green Dot Phishing Scams 2022: Fake COVID-19 Assistance, Security Alert, and Bonus Benefit Program
Have you received any messages from Green Dot Corporation, the famous prepaid card issuer in the United States? Recently we’ve seen a wave of phishing attempts disguised as Green Dot — don’t fall for them!
How Green Dot Phishing Texts Work
Posing as Green Dot, scammers send you text messages with phishing links and try hard to lure you into clicking them. Their excuses may vary, for example, fake security alerts, bogus gift offering, or a fake COVID-19 benefit program.
No matter which tactics they use, the scammers’ ultimate goal is your personal information. Once you click on the attached phishing link, it will take you to either a fake Green Dot log-in page where you’re asked to enter a user ID and password, or an online form that collects other personal data.
Top 3 Green Dot Phishing Scams
#1 Fake COVID-19 Assistance
Scammers promote a non-existing COVID-19 benefit program and prompt you to apply for it via the phishing link. Don’t get scammed!
- This is from the greendot company, in conjuction with the US Federal Government for the assistance for the COVID-19 benefit. To all qualified GreenDot Bank users to access the free payment of $10,000. This payment requires absolutely no time as it’s free. To claim funds visit and fill the form below; ¬† {URL}
- Hello my name is Janet Laura. Have you being contacted by the GREENDOT BANK for COVID-19 Assistant, I got $5,000 every month as a benefit payment to pay off my bills . You don’t have to pay it back,Mind you this is real and legitimate For more information Visit {URL}
The attached link leads you to a site made by Wixsite, and it’s definitely NOT legitimate! (Note: the genuine web address of a Green Dot website should end in greendot.com.)
#2 Fake Green Dot Benefit Program
Besides the pandemic, a $1,000 bonus also serves as a great hook to entice you:
- Hello Green Dot Bank is giving out a $1,000 bonus to all Green Dot Bank customers and all FDIC bank accounts member users click on the link below to claim your bonus. {URL}
- Hello my name is Trevor Kristen.. Have you being contacted by the GREEN DOT COMPANY?. I got $100,000 in my Green Dot when i apply for it and you don’t have…
GoDaddy sends employees fake Christmas bonus email as security test
Might as well have offered a lump of coal.
Internet domain behemoth GoDaddy sent employees an email promising a Christmas bonus — that turned out to actually be a computer security test.
Some 500 staffers clicked on the Dec. 14 email from the Arizona-based company that offered a $650 holiday bonus and asked them to fill out a form with their personal information.
“Happy Holiday GoDaddy! 2020 has been a record year for GoDaddy, thanks to you!,” said the message, obtained by Phoenix TV-station KPNX.
“Though we cannot celebrate together during our annual Holiday Party, we want to show our appreciation and share a $650 one-time Holiday bonus!”
Two days later, employees got an email from GoDaddy’s security chief that read: “You are receiving this email because you failed our recent phishing test,” the Copper Courier newspaper reported.
Many social media users raked GoDaddy over the coals, calling the test tone-deaf amid the coronavirus pandemic that’s left millions of Americans financially reeling.
The company on Thursday said it apologized to people who felt the email was “insensitive,” adding it “takes the security of our platform extremely seriously.”
“We understand some employees were upset by the phishing attempt and felt it was insensitive, for which we have apologized,” a spokesman said in a statement.
With Post wires