37 U.S.C. § 324 | Special pay: accession bonus for new officers in critical skills

(a)

Accession Bonus Authorized .—

Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary concerned, a person who executes a written agreement to accept a commission or an appointment as an officer of the armed forces and serve on active duty in a designated critical officer skill for the period specified in the agreement may, upon acceptance of the agreement by the Secretary concerned, be paid an accession bonus in an amount determined by the Secretary concerned.

(b)

Designation of Critical Officer Skills .—

The Secretary concerned shall designate the critical officer skills for the purposes of this section. A skill may be designated as a critical officer skill for an armed force under this subsection if—

(1)

in order to meet requirements of the armed force, it is critical for the armed force to have a sufficient number of officers who are qualified in that skill; and

(2)

in order to mitigate a current or projected significant shortage of personnel in the armed force who are qualified in that skill, it is critical to access into that armed force in sufficient numbers persons who are qualified in that skill or are to be trained in that skill.

(c)

Limitation on Amount of Bonus .—

The amount of an accession bonus under subsection (a) may not exceed $60,000.

(d)

Payment Method .—

Upon acceptance of a written agreement under subsection (a) by the Secretary concerned, the total amount of the accession bonus payable under the agreement becomes fixed. The agreement shall specify whether the accession bonus will be paid by the Secretary in a lump sum or installments.

(e)

Relation to Other Accession Bonus Authority .—

An individual may not receive an accession bonus under this section and section 302d, 302h, 302j, or 312b of this title for the same period of service.

(f)

Repayment .—

section 303a(e) of this titleAn individual who, having received all or part of the bonus under an agreement referred to in subsection (a), is not thereafter commissioned as an officer or does not commence or complete the total period of active duty service specified in the agreement shall be subject to the repayment provisions of .

(g)

Termination of Authority .—

December 31, 2018No agreement under this section may be entered into after .

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Pub. L. 115–91December 31, 2018December 31, 20172017—Subsec. (g). substituted “” for “”.

Pub. L. 114–328December 31, 2017December 31, 20162016—Subsec. (g). substituted “” for “”.

Pub. L. 114–92December 31, 2016December 31, 20152015—Subsec. (g). substituted “” for “”.

Pub. L. 113–291December 31, 2015December 31, 20142014—Subsec. (g). substituted “” for “”.

Pub. L. 113–66December 31, 2014December 31, 20132013—Subsec. (g). substituted “” for “”.

Pub. L. 112–239December 31, 2013December 31, 2012 substituted “” for “”.

Pub. L. 112–81December 31, 2012December 31, 20112011—Subsec. (g). substituted “” for “”.

Pub. L. 111–383December 31, 2011December 31, 2010 substituted “” for “”.

Pub. L. 111–84December 31, 2010December 31, 20092009—Subsec. (g). substituted “” for “”.

Pub. L. 110–417December 31, 2009December 31, 20082008—Subsec. (g). substituted “” for “”.

Pub. L. 110–181December 31, 2008December 31, 2007 substituted “” for “”.

Pub. L. 109–163, § 687(b)(32)2006—Subsec. (f). , amended heading and text of subsec. (f) generally, substituting provisions referring to repayment provisions of section 303a(e) for specific provisions relating to repayment required when individual receives accession bonus payment but fails to accept commission or appointment as officer or to commence or complete agreed upon period of active duty.

Pub. L. 109–364December 31, 2007December 31, 2006Subsec. (g). substituted “” for “”.

Pub. L. 109–163, § 624(f)December 31, 2006December 31, 2005, substituted “” for “”.

Pub. L. 108–375December 31, 2005December 31, 20042004—Subsec. (g). substituted “” for “”.

Pub. L. 108–136, § 6232003—Subsecs. (a), (f)(1). , inserted “or an appointment” after “commission”.

Pub. L. 108–136, § 614(e)December 31, 2004December 31, 2003Subsec. (g). , substituted “” for “”.

Pub. L. 107–314, § 1062(c)(2)2002—Subsec. (b). , struck out par. (1) designation before “The Secretary”.

Pub. L. 107–314, § 614(e)December 31, 2003December 31, 2002Subsec. (g). , substituted “” for “”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2008 Amendment

Pub. L. 110–181Dec. 31, 2007section 610 of Pub. L. 110–181 section 2130a of Title 10Amendment by effective as of , and subject to various special provisions, see , set out as a Correction of Lapsed Authorities for Payment of Bonuses, Special Pays, and Similar Benefits for Members of the Uniformed Services note under , Armed Forces.

Savings Provision

Apr. 1, 2006section 687(b) of Pub. L. 109–163 section 687(f) of Pub. L. 109–163 section 510 of Title 10For savings provision relating to payment or repayment of any bonus, incentive pay, special pay, or similar pay obligated to be paid before , under a provision of this section amended by , see , set out as a note under , Armed Forces.