R 151610Z MAY 06 ZUI ASN-A00135000009 ZYB 
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//CG-1// 
TO ALCOAST 
BT 
UNCLAS //N07220// 
ALCOAST 284/06 
COMDTNOTE 7220 
SUBJ: CRITICAL SKILLS TRAINING BONUS (CSTB) PROGRAM 
A. PERSONNEL MANUAL, COMDTINST M1000.6 (SERIES), CHAPTER 3 
1. THIS ALCOAST ANNOUNCES THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CSTB PROGRAM, 
WHICH AUTHORIZES INCENTIVE PAYMENTS TO NON-RATED MBRS IN THE FIELD 
WHO AFFILIATE WITH CRITICAL RATINGS BY ATTENDING CLASS A SCHOOL 
TRAINING OR ENROLLING IN A STRIKER PROGRAM. A CSTB IS SIMILAR TO AN 
ENLISTMENT BONUS (EB), BUT IS INTENDED FOR CURRENT ACTIVE DUTY MBRS 
RATHER THAN RECRUITS. 
2. ALTHOUGH THE LAW AUTHORIZES CSTBS FOR ALL CRITICAL RATINGS, 
SINCE THE ET RATING HAS THE MOST SIGNIFICANT ENTRY LEVEL GAP, THIS 
YEAR CSTBS WILL BE OFFERED ONLY TO ET A SCHOOL CANDIDATES. 
THEREFORE, EFFECTIVE 1 JULY 2006, QUALIFIED NON-RATED MBRS IN THE 
FIELD WHO AGREE TO ATTEND ET A SCHOOL MAY BE AWARDED A CSTB. IN 
ORDER TO QUALIFY FOR THE CSTB, A MBR MUST: 
  A. GRADUATE FROM ET A SCHOOL. 
  B. RECEIVE A DESIGNATOR OR ADVANCE TO ET3. 
  C. AGREE TO OBLIGATE A MINIMUM OF 4 YEARS ACTIVE SERVICE UPON 
GRADUATION. 
3. THE AUTHORIZED MAXIMUM BONUS AMOUNT IS $8,000, PAYABLE IN LUMP 
SUM UPON GRADUATION FROM ET A SCHOOL. 
4. THE COMPLETE POLICY, INCLUDING THE CSTB AGREEMENT FORM THAT MUST 
BE SIGNED BY THE PARTICIPATING MBR, WILL BE INCORPORATED IN CHANGE 
41 TO REF A. FOR QUESTIONS, A DESIGNATED ADMIN SUPPORT 
REPRESENTATIVE FOR EACH UNIT MAY CONTACT CG-1221, YNCM LORI 
MCNAUGHT, AT 202-267-1636. 
5. COS AND OICS SHALL BRING THE CONTENTS OF THIS ALCOAST TO THE 
ATTENTION OF ALL PERSONNEL. 
6. INTERNET RELEASE IS AUTHORIZED. 
7. RADM KENNETH T. VENUTO, ASSISTANT COMMANDANT FOR HUMAN 
RESOURCES, SENDS. 
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