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U.S. Code as of:
01/19/04
Section 301e. Multiyear retention bonus: dental officers of the armed forces
(a) Bonus Authorized. - (1) A dental officer described in
subsection (b) who executes a written agreement to remain on active
duty for two, three, or four years after completion of any other
active-duty service commitment may, upon acceptance of the written
agreement by the Secretary of the military department concerned, be
paid a retention bonus as provided in this section.
(2) The amount of a retention bonus under paragraph (1) may not
exceed $50,000 for each year covered by a four-year agreement. The
maximum yearly retention bonus for two-year and three-year
agreements shall be reduced to reflect the shorter service
commitment.
(b) Officers Automatically Eligible. - Subsection (a) applies to
an officer of the armed forces who -
(1) is an officer of the Dental Corps of the Army or the Navy
or an officer of the Air Force designated as a dental officer;
(2) has a dental specialty in oral and maxillofacial surgery;
(3) is in a pay grade below pay grade O-7;
(4) has at least eight years of creditable service (computed as
described in section 302b(g) of this title) or has completed any
active-duty service commitment incurred for dental education and
training; and
(5) has completed initial residency training (or will complete
such training before September 30 of the fiscal year in which the
officer enters into an agreement under subsection (a)).
(c) Extension of Bonus to Other Dental Officers. - At the
discretion of the Secretary of the military department concerned,
the Secretary may enter into a written agreement described in
subsection (a)(1) with a dental officer who does not have the
dental specialty specified in subsection (b)(2), and pay a
retention bonus to such an officer as provided in this section, if
the officer otherwise satisfies the eligibility requirements
specified in subsection (b). The Secretaries shall exercise the
authority provided in this section in a manner consistent with
regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense.
(d) Refunds. - (1) Refunds shall be required, on a pro rata
basis, of sums paid under this section if the officer who has
received the payment fails to complete the total period of active
duty specified in the agreement, as conditions and circumstances
warrant.
(2) An obligation to reimburse the United States imposed under
paragraph (1) is for all purposes a debt owed to the United States.
(3) A discharge in bankruptcy under title 11, United States Code,
that is entered less than five years after the termination of an
agreement under this section does not discharge the member signing
such agreement from a debt arising under such agreement or under
paragraph (1). This paragraph applies to any case commenced under
title 11 after the date of the enactment of the National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1998.
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