§15-1B-25. Readiness Enhancement and Commissioning Bonus.

(a) The Adjutant General may establish, within the limitations of this section, a program to provide enlistment bonuses to eligible prospects who become members of the West Virginia National Guard.

(1) Eligibility for the bonus is limited to a candidate who: (A) Joins the National Guard as an enlisted member; (B) Serves satisfactorily during the period of, and completes, the person's initial entry training, if applicable; and (C) Has expertise, qualifications, or potential for military service deemed by the Adjutant General as sufficiently important to the readiness of the National Guard or a unit of the National Guard. The Adjutant General may, within the limitations of this subsection and other applicable laws, determine additional eligibility criteria for the bonus.

(2) The enlistment bonus payments are to be in an amount to generally encourage the candidate's enlistment in the National Guard, subject to available appropriations, and on a schedule that is determined and published in department regulations by the Adjutant General.

(3) If a member fails to complete a term of enlistment for which a bonus was paid, the Adjutant General may seek to recoup a prorated amount of the bonus as determined by the Adjutant General.

(b) The Adjutant General may establish a program to provide a reenlistment or commissioning bonus to eligible members of the West Virginia National Guard who extend their term of service in the National Guard within the limitations of this subsection. Eligibility for the bonus is limited to a member of the National Guard who: (1) Is serving satisfactorily as determined by the Adjutant General and (2) has military training and expertise deemed by the Adjutant General as sufficiently important to the readiness of the National Guard or a unit of the National Guard, or has accepted a commission as an officer in the National Guard. The Adjutant General may, within the limitations of this subsection and other applicable laws, determine additional eligibility criteria for the bonus.

(1) The enlistment bonus payments are to be in an amount to generally encourage the member's reenlistment or commissioning in the National Guard, subject to available appropriations, and on a schedule that is determined and published in department regulations by the Adjutant General.

(2) If a member fails to complete a term of reenlistment or an obligated term of commissioned service for which a bonus was paid, the Adjutant General may seek to recoup a prorated amount of the bonus as determined by the Adjutant General.

(c) Upon graduation from the officer candidate school conducted at the regional training institute, Camp Dawson, each member of the West Virginia Army National Guard who accepts a commission shall be entitled to a commissioning bonus of $2,000.