§2121. Establishment

(a) For the purpose of obtaining adequate numbers of commissioned officers on active duty who are qualified in the various health professions, 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.

(b) The program shall consist of courses of study and specialized training in designated health professions, with obligatory periods of military training.

(c) 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 3353, 5600, or 8353 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.

(d) Except when serving on active duty pursuant to subsection (c), a member of the program shall be entitled to a stipend at the rate of $579 per month. That rate 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 .)

Amendments

1990-Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 101–510 substituted "section" for "sections" in third sentence.

1989-Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 101–189, §725(b)(1), substituted "scholarship and financial assistance program" for "scholarship program".

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 101–189, §725(b)(2), substituted "study and specialized training" for "study".

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 101–189, §725(b)(3), substituted "pursuing a course of study" for "of the program" and inserted after second sentence "Members pursuing specialized training shall serve on active duty in a pay grade commensurate with their educational level, as determined by appointment under sections 3353, 5600, or 8353 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."

1983-Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 98–94 amended subsec. (d) generally, substituting "a stipend at the rate of $579 per month" for "a stipend at the rate in effect under paragraph (1)(B) of section 751(g) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 294t(g)) for students in the National Health Service Corps Scholarship program" and inserting provision relating to an annual increase in the rate by the Secretary of Defense effective on July 1 of each year.

1979-Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 96–107 substituted provisions relating to entitlement to a stipend at the rate in effect for students in the National Health Services Corps Scholarship program, for provisions authorizing a stipend at the rate of $400 per month.

Effective Date of 1983 Amendment

Section 935(b) of Pub. L. 98–94 provided that: "The amendment made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall take effect on October 1, 1983."

Effective Date of 1979 Amendment

Section 804(c) of Pub. L. 96–107 provided that: "The amendments made by this section [amending this section and section 313 of Title 37, Pay and Allowances of the Uniformed Services] shall take effect on October 1, 1979."

Members of Reserve Components; Specialized Training Assistance in the Health Professions

Pub. L. 99–145, title VI, §672(a)–(h), (j), Nov. 8, 1985, 99 Stat. 663 , 664, effective Oct. 1, 1985, which related to establishment and maintenance of program to provide financial assistance to persons engaged in specialized training in health professions who agree to incur Selective Reserve obligation of 3 years for each year for which financial assistance is provided, was repealed by Pub. L. 100–180, div. A, title VII, §711(c)(1), (e)(1), Dec. 4, 1987, 101 Stat. 1111 , effective Dec. 4, 1987, subject to a savings provision, see below.

Pub. L. 100–180, div. A, title VII, §711(c)(2), Dec. 4, 1987, 101 Stat. 1111 , provided that: "The repeal of section 672 of the Department of Defense Authorization Act, 1986 [section 672 of Pub. L. 99–145, see above], by paragraph (1) does not affect an agreement entered into under that section before such repeal, and the provisions of such section as in effect before such repeal shall continue to apply with respect to such agreement."

Section Referred to in Other Sections

This section is referred to in sections 2005, 2127, 16201 of this title; title 37 sections 415, 1006.