Originally Posted by Mox Nix

To my knowledge (going back to mid-90s), the AF has always offered the 50% lump sum option with the bonus. In this case, a 9-year contract is worth a total of $225,000, so the 50% option lets you take 112,500 just for signing.

The previous (standard) 5-year contracts were/are worth $125,000, so the 50% lump sum is/was $67,500.