---
kind: "section"
citation: "37 U.S.C. § 334a"
title: "37"
title_heading: "Pay and Allowances of the Uniformed Services"
number: "334a"
heading: "Special aviation incentive pay and bonus authorities: enlisted members who operate remotely piloted aircraft"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/37/334a"
units:
  - "Chapter 5 — Special and Incentive Pays"
  - "Subchapter II — Consolidation of Special Pay, Incentive Pay, and Bonus Authorities"
---

# §334a. Special aviation incentive pay and bonus authorities: enlisted members who operate remotely piloted aircraft

- (a) **Aviation Incentive Pay.—**
  - (1) **Incentive pay authorized.—** The [Secretary concerned](/usc/37/101.md?p=5) may [pay](/usc/37/101.md?p=21) aviation incentive [pay](/usc/37/101.md?p=21) under this section to an [enlisted member](/usc/37/101.md?p=14) in a regular or [reserve component](/usc/37/101.md?p=24) of a uniformed service who—
    - (A) is entitled to basic [pay](/usc/37/101.md?p=21) under [section 204 of this title](/usc/37/204.md) or compensation under [206](/usc/37/206.md) of this title;
    - (B) is designated as a remotely piloted aircraft pilot, or is in training leading to such a designation;
    - (C) engages in, or is in training leading to, frequent and regular performance of operational flying duty or proficiency flying duty;
    - (D) engages in or remains in aviation service for a specified period; and
    - (E) meets such other criteria as the [Secretary concerned](/usc/37/101.md?p=5) determines appropriate.
  - (2) **Enlisted members not currently engaged in flying duty.—** The [Secretary concerned](/usc/37/101.md?p=5) may [pay](/usc/37/101.md?p=21) aviation incentive [pay](/usc/37/101.md?p=21) under this section to an [enlisted member](/usc/37/101.md?p=14) who is otherwise qualified for such [pay](/usc/37/101.md?p=21) but who is not currently engaged in the performance of operational flying duty or proficiency flying duty if the Secretary determines, under regulations prescribed under [section 374 of this title](/usc/37/374.md), that payment of aviation [pay](/usc/37/101.md?p=21) to that [enlisted member](/usc/37/101.md?p=14) is in the best interests of the service.
- (b) **Aviation Bonus.—** The [Secretary concerned](/usc/37/101.md?p=5) may [pay](/usc/37/101.md?p=21) an aviation bonus under this section to an [enlisted member](/usc/37/101.md?p=14) in a regular or [reserve component](/usc/37/101.md?p=24) of a uniformed service who—
  - (1) is entitled to aviation incentive [pay](/usc/37/101.md?p=21) under [subsection (a)](#a);
  - (2) is within one year of completing the enlistment of the [member](/usc/37/101.md?p=23);
  - (3) reenlists or voluntarily extends the enlistment of the [member](/usc/37/101.md?p=23)—
    - (A) for a period of at least one year; or
    - (B) in the case of an [enlisted member](/usc/37/101.md?p=14) serving pursuant to an indefinite reenlistment, executes a written agreement—
      - (i) to remain on [active duty](/usc/37/101.md?p=18) for a period of at least one year; or
      - (ii) to remain in an active status in a [reserve component](/usc/37/101.md?p=24) for a period of at least one year; and
  - (4) meets such other criteria as the [Secretary concerned](/usc/37/101.md?p=5) determines appropriate.
- (c) **Maximum Amount and Method of Payment.—**
  - (1) **Maximum amount.—** The [Secretary concerned](/usc/37/101.md?p=5) shall determine the amount of a bonus or incentive [pay](/usc/37/101.md?p=21) to be paid under this section, except that—
    - (A) aviation incentive [pay](/usc/37/101.md?p=21) under [subsection (a)](#a) shall be paid at a monthly rate not to exceed $1,000 per month; and
    - (B) an aviation bonus under [subsection (b)](#b) may not exceed $35,000 for each 12-month period of obligated service agreed to under [subsection (d)](#d).
  - (2) **Lump sum or installments.—** A bonus under this section may be paid in a lump sum or in periodic installments, as determined by the [Secretary concerned](/usc/37/101.md?p=5).
  - (3) **Fixing bonus amount.—** Upon acceptance by the [Secretary concerned](/usc/37/101.md?p=5) of the written agreement required by [subsection (d)](#d), the total amount of the bonus to be paid under the agreement shall be fixed.
- (d) **Written Agreement for Bonus.—** To receive an aviation bonus under this section, an [enlisted member](/usc/37/101.md?p=14) determined to be eligible for the bonus shall enter into a written agreement with the [Secretary concerned](/usc/37/101.md?p=5) that specifies—
  - (1) the amount of the bonus;
  - (2) the method of payment of the bonus under [subsection (c)(2)](#c-2);
  - (3) the period of obligated service; and
  - (4) the type or conditions of the service.
- (e) **Reserve Component Enlisted Members Performing Inactive Duty Training.—** An [enlisted member](/usc/37/101.md?p=14) of [reserve component](/usc/37/101.md?p=24) who is entitled to compensation under [section 206 of this title](/usc/37/206.md) and who is authorized aviation incentive [pay](/usc/37/101.md?p=21) under this section may be paid an amount of incentive [pay](/usc/37/101.md?p=21) that is proportionate to the compensation received under [section 206 of this title](/usc/37/206.md) for [inactive-duty training](/usc/37/101.md?p=22).
- (f) **Relationship to Other Pay and Allowances.—**
  - (1) **Aviation incentive pay.—** Aviation incentive [pay](/usc/37/101.md?p=21) paid to an [enlisted member](/usc/37/101.md?p=14) under [subsection (a)](#a) shall be in addition to any other [pay](/usc/37/101.md?p=21) and allowance to which the [enlisted member](/usc/37/101.md?p=14) is entitled, except that an [enlisted member](/usc/37/101.md?p=14) may not receive a payment under such subsection and section [351(a)(2)](/usc/37/351.md?p=a-2) or [353(a)](/usc/37/353.md?p=a) of this title for the same skill and period of service.
  - (2) **Aviation bonus.—** An aviation bonus paid to an [enlisted member](/usc/37/101.md?p=14) under [subsection (b)](#b) shall be in addition to any other [pay](/usc/37/101.md?p=21) and allowance to which the [enlisted member](/usc/37/101.md?p=14) is entitled, except that an [enlisted member](/usc/37/101.md?p=14) may not receive a bonus payment under such subsection and section [331](/usc/37/331.md) or [353(b)](/usc/37/353.md?p=b) of this title for the same skill and period of service.
- (g) **Repayment.—** An [enlisted member](/usc/37/101.md?p=14) who receives aviation incentive [pay](/usc/37/101.md?p=21) or an aviation bonus under this section and who fails to fulfill the eligibility requirements for the receipt of the incentive [pay](/usc/37/101.md?p=21) or bonus or complete the period of service for which the incentive [pay](/usc/37/101.md?p=21) or bonus is paid, as specified in the written agreement under [subsection (d)](#d) in the case of a bonus, shall be subject to the repayment provisions of [section 373 of this title](/usc/37/373.md).
- (h) **Definitions.—** In this section:
  - (1) **Aviation service.—** The term “aviation service” means participation in aerial flight performed, under regulations prescribed by the [Secretary concerned](/usc/37/101.md?p=5), by an eligible [enlisted member](/usc/37/101.md?p=14) who is a remotely piloted aircraft pilot.
  - (2) **Operational flying duty.—** The term “operational flying duty” means flying performed under competent orders by [enlisted members](/usc/37/101.md?p=14) of the regular or [reserve components](/usc/37/101.md?p=24) while serving in assignments in which basic flying skills are normally maintained in the performance of assigned duties as determined by the [Secretary concerned](/usc/37/101.md?p=5), and flying duty performed by [members](/usc/37/101.md?p=23) in training that leads to designation as a remotely piloted aircraft pilot by the [Secretary concerned](/usc/37/101.md?p=5).
  - (3) **Proficiency flying duty.—** The term “proficiency flying duty” means flying performed under competent orders by [enlisted members](/usc/37/101.md?p=14) of the regular or [reserve components](/usc/37/101.md?p=24) while serving in assignments in which such skills would normally not be maintained in the performance of assigned duties.
- (i) **Termination of Authority.—** No agreement may be entered into under this section after December 31, 2018.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 115–91, div. A, title VI, § 617(a), Dec. 12, 2017, 131 Stat. 1424.)