Why are army sign on bonuses more than reenlistment bonuses?

Question

I don't understand why they are paying untrained, inexperienced men and women more than their very experienced, highly trained counterparts!! Can someone explain?

Answer 1

They have to lure you in first.  Once you are in, they assume that it takes less to get you to reenlist.

When I was in the service, we said, "Don't be pissed, re-enlist."

Answer 2

the army is all backwards

i know the marines give way more for reenlistment than just joining

Answer 3

Heres the most basic answer.

They offer most of the sign on bonuses for some critical MOS's. For example, Network Switching.. I would say that 50-60% of the people that go through this course do not make it. Therefore they have just lost their bonus because they could not complete the MOS Q school. Now the military has free reign of what they want to do with this new recruit.

Time to make him an 88M truck driver.

Answer 4

1.  They don't need as many highly, trained, expensive NCOs to supervise the first termers.

2.  You need fewer NCOs than you do junior enlisted.

3.  By the time, people are considering reenlisting, they have taken on a car payment, a mortgage, kids, so they are more of a "sure thing" than young people who might go in the Air Force or to college.