An eligible member will need to be in one of the following cohorts.

1. They meet both of the following.

   1. They need to be completing their 4 years of continuous effective service from initial entry into the Permanent Force between 1 July 2023 and 30 June 2025, 

   2. They have already completed their initial service obligation (for those with an obligation of less than 4 years).

2. They have completed 4 years of continuous effective service from initial entry and will be completing their service obligation imposed on initial entry into the Permanent Forces between 01 July 2023 and 30 June 2025.

_{Note: The 4 years of continuous effective service may include a period of continuous full-time service as a member of the Reserves provided there is no break in service.}

The approved form for paragraph 3.4.3.a is the following.

1. AF213 - ADF Continuation Bonus Election.

2. The form of the same name available through SharePoint.

The approved form for paragraph 3.4.4.b is the following.

1. AF213 - ADF Continuation Bonus Election.

2. The form of the same name available through SharePoint.

Example 1: ABML-C SM Briggs joined the Navy on the 5 Jul 2019 and is a fully qualified submariner in receipt of the Submarine Capability Payment (SM-CAP). He will complete his IMPS 4 Jul 2023, meaning he is eligible for the continuation bonus. The SM-CAP is considered a capability payment for retaining ABML-C Briggs within the submariner environment. The continuation bonus is being paid to keep a member in the ADF, therefore ABML-C SM Briggs will be eligible for both the SM-CAP and continuation bonus at the same time, meaning the agreed period of service associated with both payments may be serviced concurrently.

Example 2: LSMT Timms joined the Navy on the 5 Jul 2017 with an Initial Minimum Period of Service (IMPS) of 6 years. She will complete her IMPS on the 4 Jul 2023, meaning she is eligible for the continuation bonus. LSMT Timms will reach a service milestone associated with the NRI at the 7-year mark on the 4 Jul 2024. She will therefore be eligible for the continuation bonus, however the agreed period of service associated with the bonus will not commence until the day after the service milestone associated with the NRI.

Example 3: LAC Bloggs joined the Air Force on 10 Sep 2017 with an Initial Minimum Period of Service of six years. LAC Bloggs will complete his IMS on the 10 Sep 2023, meaning he is eligible for the continuation bonus. However, LAC Bloggs was also panelled on a 12 month overseas training course in 2021 and was given a 2 year Return of Service Obligation (ROSO) as a result. This 2 year ROSO was added to the end of his IMPS, which would then extend his obligation to serve out to 10 Sep 2025.  LAC Bloggs will still be eligible for the continuation bonus on 10 Sep 2023, however the additional 3 years will be added to existing obligations, therefore extending his obligation to serve to 10 Sep 2028.

Lateral recruits are not considered as the targeted cohort to be eligible for the continuation bonus as generally laterals are recruited a middle manager ranks, and come with having already served an initial service obligation in a foreign military.