Collapse to view only § 2121. Establishment
- § 2120. Definitions
- § 2121. Establishment
- § 2122. Eligibility for participation
- § 2123. Members of the program: active duty obligation; failure to complete training; release from program
- § 2124. Members of the program: numbers appointed
- § 2125. Members of the program: exclusion from authorized strengths
- § 2126. Members of the program: service credit
- § 2127. Scholarships and financial assistance: payments
- § 2128. Accession bonus for members of the program
§ 2120. Definitions
In this subchapter:
(1) The term “program” means the Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship and Financial Assistance program provided for in this subchapter.
(2) The term “member of the program” means a person appointed a commissioned officer in a reserve component of the armed forces who is enrolled in the Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship and Financial Assistance program.
(3) The term “course of study” means education received at an accredited college, university, or institution in medicine, dentistry, or other health profession, leading, respectively, to a degree related to the health professions as determined under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense.
(4) The term “specialized training” means advanced training in a health professions specialty received in an accredited program that is beyond the basic education required for appointment as a commissioned officer with a designation as a health professional.
(Added Pub. L. 92–426, § 2(a), Sept. 21, 1972, 86 Stat. 717; amended Pub. L. 98–94, title XII, § 1268(13), Sept. 24, 1983, 97 Stat. 706; Pub. L. 100–26, § 7(k)(2), Apr. 21, 1987, 101 Stat. 284; Pub. L. 100–180, div. A, title VII, § 711(a)(2), Dec. 4, 1987, 101 Stat. 1108; Pub. L. 101–189, div. A, title VII, § 725(a), (h)(1), Nov. 29, 1989, 103 Stat. 1478, 1480.)
§ 2121. Establishment
(a)
(1) For the purpose of obtaining adequate numbers of commissioned officers on active duty who are qualified (A) in the various health professions or (B) as a health professional with specific skills to assist in providing mental health care to members of the armed forces, the Secretary of each military department, under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense, may establish and maintain a health professions scholarship and financial assistance program for his department.
(2) Under the program of a military department, the Secretary of that military department shall allocate a portion of the total number of scholarships to members of the program described in paragraph (1)(B) for the purpose of assisting such members to pursue a degree at the masters and doctoral level in any of the following disciplines:
(A) Social work.
(B) Clinical psychology.
(C) Psychiatry.
(D) Other disciplines that contribute to mental health care programs in that military department.
(b) The program shall consist of courses of study and specialized training in designated health professions, with obligatory periods of military training.
(c)
(1) Persons participating in the program shall be commissioned officers in reserve components of the armed forces. Members pursuing a course of study shall serve on active duty in pay grade O–1 with full pay and allowances of that grade for a period of 45 days during each year of participation in the program. Members pursuing specialized training shall serve on active duty in a pay grade commensurate with their educational level, as determined by appointment under section 12207 of this title, with full pay and allowances of that grade for a period of 14 days during each year of participation in the program. They shall be detailed as students at accredited civilian institutions, located in the United States or Puerto Rico, for the purpose of acquiring knowledge or training in a designated health profession. In addition, members of the program shall, under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense, receive military and professional training and instruction.
(2) If a member of the uniformed services selected to participate in the program as a medical student has prior active service in a pay grade and with years of service credited for pay that would entitle the member, if the member remained in the former grade, to a rate of basic pay in excess of the rate of basic pay for regular officers in the grade of second lieutenant or ensign, the member shall be paid basic pay based on the former grade and years of service credited for pay. The amount of such basic pay for the member shall be increased on January 1 of each year by the percentage by which basic pay is increased on average on that date for that year, and the member shall continue to receive basic pay based on the former grade and years of service until the date, whether occurring before or after the conclusion of such participation, on which the basic pay for the member in the member’s actual grade and years of service credited for pay exceeds the amount of basic pay to which the member is entitled based on the member’s former grade and years of service.
(d) Except when serving on active duty pursuant to subsection (c), a member of the program shall be entitled to a stipend at a monthly rate established by the Secretary of Defense, but not to exceed a total of $50,000 per year. The maximum annual amount of the stipend shall be increased annually by the Secretary of Defense effective on July 1 of each year by an amount (rounded to the next highest multiple of $1) equal to—
(1) the amount of such stipend (as previously adjusted (if at all)), multiplied by
(2) the overall percentage of the adjustment (if such adjustment is an increase) in the rates of basic pay for members of the uniformed services made effective for the fiscal year in which the school year ends.
(Added Pub. L. 92–426, § 2(a), Sept. 21, 1972, 86 Stat. 717; amended Pub. L. 96–107, title VIII, § 804(a), Nov. 9, 1979, 93 Stat. 812; Pub. L. 98–94, title IX, § 935(a), Sept. 24, 1983, 97 Stat. 652; Pub. L. 101–189, div. A, title VII, § 725(b), Nov. 29, 1989, 103 Stat. 1479; Pub. L. 101–510, div. A, title XIV, § 1484(k)(7), Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1719; Pub. L. 104–106, div. A, title XV, § 1501(c)(22), Feb. 10, 1996, 110 Stat. 499; Pub. L. 109–364, div. A, title V, § 538(a), Oct. 17, 2006, 120 Stat. 2209; Pub. L. 110–181, div. A, title V, § 524(b), Jan. 28, 2008, 122 Stat. 103; Pub. L. 111–84, div. A, title V, § 524(a), Oct. 28, 2009, 123 Stat. 2285; Pub. L. 118–31, div. A, title VII, § 712, Dec. 22, 2023, 137 Stat. 302.)
§ 2122. Eligibility for participation
(a) To be eligible for participation as a member of the program, a person must be a citizen of the United States and must—
(1) be accepted for admission to, or enrolled in, an institution in a course of study or selected to receive specialized training;
(2) sign an agreement that unless sooner separated he will—
(A) complete the educational phase of the program;
(B) accept an appropriate reappointment or designation within his military service, if tendered, based upon his health profession, following satisfactory completion of the program;
(C) participate in the intern program of his service if selected for such participation;
(D) participate in the residency program of his service, if selected, or be released from active duty for the period required to undergo civilian residency if selected for such training; and
(E) because of his sincere motivation and dedication to a career in the uniformed services, participate in military training while he is in the program, under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense; and
(3) meet the requirements for appointment as a commissioned officer.
(b) The Secretary of Defense may require, as part of the agreement under subsection (a)(2), that a person must agree to accept, if offered, residency training in a health profession skill which has been designated by the Secretary as a critically needed wartime skill.
(Added Pub. L. 92–426, § 2(a), Sept. 21, 1972, 86 Stat. 717; amended Pub. L. 100–180, div. A, title VII, § 712(a), Dec. 4, 1987, 101 Stat. 1112; Pub. L. 101–189, div. A, title VII, § 725(c), Nov. 29, 1989, 103 Stat. 1479.)
§ 2123. Members of the program: active duty obligation; failure to complete training; release from program
(a) A member of the program incurs an active duty obligation. The amount of his obligation shall be determined under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense, but those regulations may not provide for a period of obligation of less than one year for each year of participation in the program.
(b) A period of time spent in military intern or residency training shall not be creditable in satisfying an active duty obligation imposed by this section.
(c) A member of the program who, under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense, is dropped from the program for deficiency in conduct or studies, or for other reasons, may be required to perform active duty in an appropriate military capacity in accordance with the active duty obligation imposed by this section.
(d) The Secretary of a military department, under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense, may relieve a member of the program who is dropped from the program from an active duty obligation imposed by this section, but such relief shall not relieve him from any military obligation imposed by any other law.
(e)
(1) A member of the program who is relieved of the member’s active duty obligation under this subchapter before the completion of that active duty obligation may be given, with or without the consent of the member, any of the following alternative obligations, as determined by the Secretary of the military department concerned:
(A) A service obligation in another armed force for a period of time not less than the member’s remaining active duty service obligation.
(B) A service obligation in a component of the Selected Reserve for a period not less than twice as long as the member’s remaining active duty service obligation.
(C) Repayment to the Secretary of Defense of a percentage of the total cost incurred by the Secretary under this subchapter on behalf of the member pursuant to the repayment provisions of section 303a(e) or 373 of title 37.
(2) In addition to the alternative obligations specified in paragraph (1), if the member is relieved of an active duty obligation by reason of the separation of the member because of a physical disability, the Secretary of the military department concerned may give the member a service obligation as a civilian employee employed as a health care professional in a facility of the uniformed services for a period of time equal to the member’s remaining active duty service obligation.
(3) The Secretary of Defense shall prescribe regulations describing the manner in which an alternative obligation may be given under this subsection.
(Added Pub. L. 92–426, § 2(a), Sept. 21, 1972, 86 Stat. 718; amended Pub. L. 96–513, title V, § 511(67), Dec. 12, 1980, 94 Stat. 2926; Pub. L. 100–180, div. A, title VII, § 711(a)(2), Dec. 4, 1987, 101 Stat. 1108; Pub. L. 101–597, title IV, § 401(b), Nov. 16, 1990, 104 Stat. 3035; Pub. L. 104–201, div. A, title VII, § 741(a), Sept. 23, 1996, 110 Stat. 2599; Pub. L. 109–163, div. A, title VI, § 687(c)(5), Jan. 6, 2006, 119 Stat. 3334; Pub. L. 115–91, div. A, title VI, § 618(a)(1)(E), Dec. 12, 2017, 131 Stat. 1426.)
§ 2124. Members of the program: numbers appointed
(a)Authorized Number of Members of the Program.—The number of persons who may be designated as members of the program for training in each health profession shall be as prescribed by the Secretary of Defense, except that the total number of persons so designated may not, at any time, exceed 6,300.
(b)Mental Health Professionals.—Of the number of persons designated as members of the program at any time, 300 may be members of the program described in section 2121(a)(1)(B) of this title.
(Added Pub. L. 92–426, § 2(a), Sept. 21, 1972, 86 Stat. 718; amended Pub. L. 99–145, title VI, § 672(i), Nov. 8, 1985, 99 Stat. 664; Pub. L. 100–180, div. A, title VII, §§ 711(a)(2), 712(b)(1), Dec. 4, 1987, 101 Stat. 1108, 1112; Pub. L. 101–189, div. A, title VII, § 725(g), Nov. 29, 1989, 103 Stat. 1480; Pub. L. 102–190, div. A, title VII, § 717, Dec. 5, 1991, 105 Stat. 1404; Pub. L. 111–84, div. A, title V, § 524(b), Oct. 28, 2009, 123 Stat. 2285.)
§ 2125. Members of the program: exclusion from authorized strengths
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, members of the program shall not be counted against any prescribed military strengths.
(Added Pub. L. 92–426, § 2(a), Sept. 21, 1972, 86 Stat. 718.)
§ 2126. Members of the program: service credit
(a)Service Not Creditable.—Except as provided in subsection (b), service performed while a member of the program shall not be counted—
(1) in determining eligibility for retirement other than by reason of a physical disability incurred while on active duty as a member of the program; or
(2) in computing years of service creditable under section 205 of title 37.
(b)Service Creditable for Certain Purposes.—
(1) The Secretary concerned may authorize service performed by a member of the program in pursuit of a course of study under this subchapter to be counted in accordance with this subsection if the member—
(A) completes the course of study;
(B) completes the active duty obligation imposed under section 2123(a) of this title; and
(C) possesses a specialty designated by the Secretary concerned as critically needed in wartime.
(2) Service credited under paragraph (1) counts only for the award of retirement points for computation of years of service under section 12732 of this title and for computation of retired pay under section 12733 of this title.
(3) The number of points credited to a member under paragraph (1) for a year of participation in a course of study is 50. The points shall be credited to the member for one of the years of that participation at the end of each year after the completion of the course of study that the member serves in the Selected Reserve and is credited under section 12732(a)(2) of this title with at least 50 points. The points credited for the participation shall be recorded in the member’s records as having been earned in the year of the participation in the course of study.
(4) Service may not be counted under paragraph (1) for more than four years of participation in a course of study as a member of the program.
(5) A member of the Selected Reserve may be considered to be in an active status while pursuing a course of study under this subchapter only for purposes of sections 12732(a) and 12733(3) of this title.
(6) A member is not entitled to any retroactive award of, or increase in, pay or allowances under title 37 by reason of an award of service credit under paragraph (1).
(Added Pub. L. 92–426, § 2(a), Sept. 21, 1972, 86 Stat. 718; amended Pub. L. 96–513, title V, § 501(22), Dec. 12, 1980, 94 Stat. 2908; Pub. L. 104–201, div. A, title V, § 543(a), Sept. 23, 1996, 110 Stat. 2521; Pub. L. 106–65, div. A, title V, § 544, Oct. 5, 1999, 113 Stat. 608.)
§ 2127. Scholarships and financial assistance: payments
(a) The Secretary of Defense may provide for the payment of all educational expenses incurred by a member of the program, including tuition, fees, books, and laboratory expenses. Such payments, however, shall be limited to those educational expenses normally incurred by students at the institution and in the health profession concerned who are not members of the program.
(b) The Secretary of Defense may contract with an accredited civilian educational institution for the payment of tuition and other educational expenses of members of the program authorized by this subchapter. Payment to such institutions may be made without regard to subsections (a) and (b) of section 3324 of title 31.
(c) Payments made under subsection (b) shall not cover any expenses other than those covered by subsection (a).
(d) When the Secretary of Defense determines, under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, that an accredited civilian educational institution has increased its total enrollment for the sole purpose of accepting members of the program covered by this subchapter, he may provide under a contract with such an institution for additional payments to cover the portion of the increased costs of the additional enrollment which are not covered by the institution’s normal tuition and fees.
(e) A person participating as a member of the program in specialized training shall be paid an annual grant in an amount not to exceed $45,000 in addition to the stipend under section 2121(d) of this title. The maximum amount of the grant shall be increased annually by the Secretary of Defense, effective July 1 of each year, in the same manner as provided for stipends.
(Added Pub. L. 92–426, § 2(a), Sept. 21, 1972, 86 Stat. 718; amended Pub. L. 96–513, title V, § 511(67), Dec. 12, 1980, 94 Stat. 2926; Pub. L. 97–258, § 3(b)(3), Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 1063; Pub. L. 98–525, title XIV, § 1405(56)(A), Oct. 19, 1984, 98 Stat. 2626; Pub. L. 100–180, div. A, title VII, § 711(a)(2), Dec. 4, 1987, 101 Stat. 1108; Pub. L. 101–189, div. A, title VII, § 725(d)(1), (2), Nov. 29, 1989, 103 Stat. 1479; Pub. L. 109–364, div. A, title V, § 538(b), Oct. 17, 2006, 120 Stat. 2209; Pub. L. 111–84, div. A, title X, § 1073(a)(19), Oct. 28, 2009, 123 Stat. 2473.)
§ 2128. Accession bonus for members of the program
(a)Availability of Bonus.—The Secretary of Defense may offer a person who enters into an agreement under section 2122(a)(2) of this title an accession bonus of not more than $20,000 as part of the agreement.
(b)Relation to Other Payments.—An accession bonus paid a person under this section is in addition to any other amounts payable to the person under this subchapter.
(c)Repayment.—A person who receives an accession bonus under this section, but fails to comply with the agreement under section 2122(a)(2) of this title or to commence or complete the active duty obligation imposed by section 2123 of this title, shall be subject to the repayment provisions of section 303a(e) or 373 of title 37.
(Added Pub. L. 110–181, div. A, title VI, § 623(a), Jan. 28, 2008, 122 Stat. 152; amended Pub. L. 115–91, div. A, title VI, § 618(a)(1)(F), Dec. 12, 2017, 131 Stat. 1426.)