Originally Posted by Mox Nix

$25k/yr is the same pilot bonus the AF has been offering since around 1999-2000 or so, when they upped it from $14k/yr.

The only thing new in this case is that Big Blue is offering the fighter guys a 9-year contract which would take someone all the way to 20yrs of service. The previous standard was a 5-year contract (which non-fighter pilots are still being offered).