This entitlement is authorized for members accepting a commission to serve as a dental officer in the military for at least four years. A dental officer who separates from the military service for at least two years is authorized an Accession Bonus upon signing an agreement to return to active duty. Dental officers must be graduates of a dental school accredited by the American Dental Association (ADA).
Individuals who accepted financial assistance from the DoD to study dentistry are not authorized an Accession Bonus.
Additional Special Dental Officers Special Pay:
Dental officers are entitled to Additional Special Pay if they are entitled to Variable Special Pay, are not serving in an initial internship or initial residency training, and they sign an agreement to remain on active duty for at least one additional year. The following dental officers on active duty for less than one year, other than active duty for training, are eligible for Additional Special Pay:
- Reservists ordered to active duty, other than training, for more than 30 days but less than a year.
- Active duty dental officers involuntarily retained under 10 USC 12305
- Active duty dental officers who voluntarily remain when some are involuntarily retained
- Retirees recalled to active duty for more than 30 days under 10 USC 688.
Rates payable are:
- $4,000.00 per 12 month period for dental officers with less than three years creditable service:
- $6,000.00 per 12 month period for those between three and 10 years of creditable service; and
- $15,000.00 per 12-month period for those over 10 years of creditable service.
Dental Officers Board Certified Pay:
Dental officers are entitled to Board Certified Pay for active duty if they are board certified and entitled to Variable Special Pay . A dental officer is considered board certified if certified by an American Dental Specialty Examining Board recognized by the ADA or awarded a Board Certification Equivalency Certificate issued by DoD.
The rates payable to dental officers range from $208.33 to $500.00 per month, depending on the number of years of creditable service. When a dental officer has between 10 and 18 years of creditable service, they are paid on a tiered system that increases every two years.
Multiyear Retention Bonus (MRB) Special Pay:
Entitlement to the Multiyear Retention Bonus (MRB) exists for dental officers who sign an agreement to remain on active duty following all other active duty service commitments. The agreement may be for two, three, or four years, and the officer must be in pay grade 0-6 or below when signing the agreement.
MRB is only available to dental officers who have the following:
- A specialty in oral and maxillofacial surgery
- Eight or more years creditable service or have completed any active duty service commitment resulting from
- dental education and training
- Completed initial residency training.
Rates payable are determined by the length of the agreement and level, which is determined by eligible specialties. Payments range from $6,000 to $14,000 depending on the length of agreement signed and the eligible specialty.
Reserve Dental Officer Special Pay:
Reserve dental officers on active duty for less than one year are entitled to Special Pay for Reserve Dental Officers. This includes active duty for annual training, active duty for training and active duty for special work. The rate payable is $350.00 per month and prorated for any portions thereof.
This $350.00 Special Pay for Reserve Dental Officers cannot be paid when the officer accepts special pay described in the paragraph below.
Reserve dental officers on active duty other than for training lasting more than 30 days, but less than one year, are entitled to Variable Special Pay , Additional Special Pay , and Board Certified Pay . Reserve dental officers receiving Additional Special Pay under 37 USC (b) are not required to sign an agreement to remain on active duty for at least one year.
This special pay was established to ensure that dental officers did not lose money with a change in laws and regulation. Transition (Savings) Provisions provide that a dental officer’s pay on October 1, 1985, was no less than it was on September 30, 1985, in as far as special pay is concerned.
Entitlement is authorized for dental officers on active duty for at least one year. These dental officers, serving less than a year, are eligible:
- Reservists ordered to active duty, other than training, for more than 30 days but less than a year
- Active duty dental officers involuntarily retained under 10 USC 12305
- Active duty dental officers who voluntarily remain when some are involuntarily retained
- Retirees recalled to active duty for more than 30 days under 10 USC 688.