An SRB is the product of three numbers:
Bonus = basepay × moreservice × multiple
where basepay is your base pay, dependent only on the member's time in service and pay grade; moreservice is the length of additional time the member agrees to obligate; and multiple is a factor specific to rating and re-enlistment zone, generally indicative of demand. Each SRB is capped at a certain dollar amount.
We focus tonight on the category pertaining to myself and my closest comrades - submarine nukes in Zone A (less than six years in service), without supervisory qualification. The award levels - first prior to the new message, and those in effect for the next three months:
| Specialty / (NEC) | Multiple |
| RC / (3353) | 10.5 / 12.0 |
| E / (3354) | 5.0 / 8.0 |
| M / (3355) | 9.0 / 12.0 |
| RL / (3356) | 9.5 / 12.0 |
The new message out calls this "a unique opportunity for our most critical nuclear skills" (no pun intended by the brass, I hope). I call it "a Hail Mary, from a field that is hemorrhaging personnel even in the face of a terrible economic climate." These incentives are only in effect for three months; the multiples drop back to their previous multiples no later than 11 May. But that's beside the point. The relevant factor is that the monetary value is rising - or if you reach the cap, the required time extension is falling - in such a dramatic fashion. On first glance, this does seem to comport with the general Federal mentality these days (and by "these days," I mean "of the Obama administration") - spend, spend, spend. Despite that, there must be something more fundamental at work. And, you know what? I think there is. In fact, I'm fairly certain I've mentioned it here. More than once, to be sure. If you require more evidence, I can provide.
I've made my point clear, I hope. My personal circumstances are completely unaffected by this new message, as my time is so short. Not only that, this increase in the multiple doesn't effect the time I'd need to obligate to get decent shore orders. Irrespective of my personal circumstance, the mere fact that the Navy has taken this action is evidence enough that by separating, I am on the right track...