Air National Guard offers $7,500 bonuses for active duty transfers

The Air National Guard is offering $7,500 bonuses to entice active duty airmen to transfer into state units for three years of service, officials announced. Airmen already in guard units who reenlist will also be eligible for the bonus.

The bonuses, which Air National Guard officials said were part of a “summer surge incentive,” are part of new recruiting and retention initiatives across the force, officials said in a release.

The Air National Guard’s recruiting goal for 2026 is to add nearly 11,580 airmen this year to its current force, according to Air Force Maj. Jonathon Ladue, a spokesperson for the National Guard Bureau. The Air Guard is made up of 50 state and 4 territory-based units with over 105,000 airmen, about one-third the number of personnel on active duty.

The Air National Guard fell short of its recruiting goal in 2023, but surpassed its goals by nearly 700 in 2024 and over 1,100 in 2025, Ladue said.

The Air Guard is also implementing a new command structure for recruiting in 54 states and territories with flights for smaller units and squadrons for larger ones. The units will report directly to the “joint force headquarters echelon,” Ladue said.

For the Hawaii Air National Guard’s new flight, the unit will now have 20 full-time Guardsmen dedicated to recruiting new airmen who report to the state headquarters.

The New York Air National Guard, which has more than 5,900 personnel, added a squadron.

Previously, its recruiters worked for separate guard wings. Now, the squadron’s 66 personnel, which has 38 recruiters, will report directly to the commander of the New York Air National Guard.

“This change places emphasis on the importance of the recruiting and retention mission while also empowering the teams to react quickly and effectively to change in the recruitment environment,” Ladue said.

The Air Guard is also updating its marketing strategy with a campaign titled “Guard What Matters,” highlighting the part-time nature of guard service. One commercial in the campaign shows an airman carrying a civilian draped in an emergency space blanket, and then the same guard member off duty, playing basketball.

“I save lives while living my best life. This is how I serve. Serve your state. Serve your nation,” the commercial says.

The Air Guard also has stood up small teams it calls “CoLabs,” made up of 12 airmen who are assigned to recruiting squadrons and flights. These teams develop local digital recruiting strategies and teach local recruiters skills working with AI, content creation, social media strategy, and digital engagement. 

“The focus isn’t building influencers, it’s building digitally proficient recruiters who can authentically connect with today’s applicants while maintaining Air Force standards and compliance,” Ladue said.