§308g. Special pay: bonus for enlistment in elements of the Ready Reserve other than the Selected Reserve

(a) An eligible person who enlists in a combat or combat support skill of an element (other than the Selected Reserve) of the Ready Reserve of an armed force for a term of enlistment of not less than six years, and who has not previously served in an armed force, may be paid a bonus as provided in subsection (b).

(b) Eligibility for and the amount and method of payment of a bonus under this section shall be determined in accordance with regulations prescribed under subsection (g), except that the amount of such a bonus may not exceed $1,000.

(c) A bonus may not be paid under this section for a term of enlistment to any person who fails to complete satisfactorily initial active duty for training or who, upon completion of initial active duty for training, elects to serve the remainder of the term of enlistment in the Selected Reserve or in an active component of an armed force.

(d) A person who receives a bonus payment under this section and who fails during the period for which the bonus was paid to serve satisfactorily in the element of the Ready Reserve with respect to which the bonus was paid shall refund to the United States an amount which bears the same ratio to the amount of the bonus paid to such person as the period which such person failed to serve satisfactorily bears to the total period for which the bonus was paid.

(e) An obligation to reimburse the United States imposed under subsection (d) is, for all purposes, a debt owed to the United States.

(f) A discharge in bankruptcy under title 11 that is entered less than five years after the termination of an enlistment for which a bonus was paid under this section does not discharge the person receiving such bonus payment from the debt arising under subsection (d). This subsection applies to any case commenced under title 11 after September 24, 1983.

(g) This section shall be administered under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense for the armed forces under his jurisdiction and by the Secretary of Transportation for the Coast Guard when it is not operating as a service in the Navy.

(h) A bonus may not be paid under this section to any person for an enlistment after September 30, 1992.

(Added Pub. L. 98–94, title X, §1011(a), Sept. 24, 1983, 97 Stat. 663 ; amended Pub. L. 99–145, title VI, §646(a)(1), title XIII, §1303(b)(3), Nov. 8, 1985, 99 Stat. 654 , 740; Pub. L. 100–180, div. A, title VI, §626(b), Dec. 4, 1987, 101 Stat. 1104 ; Pub. L. 101–189, div. A, title VI, §613, Nov. 29, 1989, 103 Stat. 1446 ; Pub. L. 102–25, title VII, §702(b)(1), (c), Apr. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 117 .)

Amendments

1991-Pub. L. 102–25 struck out "of this section" wherever appearing in subsecs. (a), (b), (e), and (f).

1989-Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 101–189 substituted "September 30, 1992" for "September 30, 1990".

1987-Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 100–180 substituted "September 30, 1990" for "September 30, 1987".

1985-Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 99–145, §1303(b)(3), substituted "September 24, 1983" for "the date of the enactment of the Department of Defense Authorization Act, 1984".

Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 99–145, §646(a)(1), substituted "September 30, 1987" for "September 30, 1985".

Effective Date of 1985 Amendment

Amendment by section 646(a)(1) of Pub. L. 99–145 effective Oct. 1, 1985, see section 646(d) of Pub. L. 99–145, set out as a note under section 308h of this title.

Effective Date

Section 1011(c) of Pub. L. 98–94 provided that: "The amendments made by subsections (a) and (b) [enacting this section and section 308h of this title and repealing section 308d of this title] shall take effect on October 1, 1983."

Coast Guard; Reserve Forces Readiness Provisions Inapplicable

Reserve Forces Readiness provisions, including amendment of subsec. (b) of this section by Pub. L. 98–525 and Individual Ready Reserve Reenlistment Bonuses note above inapplicable to Coast Guard, see section 552(g) of Pub. L. 98–525, set out as a Reserve Forces Readiness note under section 12001 of Title 10, Armed Forces.