Sorry to date myself but when I was looking to get out of the Navy back in
'86 the Navy's bonus was something like 15 to 20 grand for a 4 or 5 year bonus. Can't quite remember all the details. What I do remember was a lump sum option. However adding a $60,000 dollar pop on a LT salary and Uncle Sam taking HALF back in taxes the next year it worked out to be about a $200 dollar a month pay raise for the next 4 years.

Now if the govt wanted to offer the bonus TAX FREE that would be a different animal. But they didn't. So now I fly the rubber dog shi* out of Hong Kong. Jet dose'nt fly as fast and won't dog fight worth a dang but the pay is so much better..............