Title 37 — Pay and Allowances of the Uniformed Services
Chapter 5 — Special and Incentive Pays
§ 308j. Special pay: affiliation bonus for officers in the Selected Reserve
Statutory text
Affiliation Bonus.—
The Secretary concerned may pay an affiliation bonus under this section to an eligible officer in any of the armed forces who enters into an agreement with the Secretary to serve, for the period specified in the agreement, in the Selected Reserve of the Ready Reserve of an armed force under the Secretary’s jurisdiction—
in a critical officer skill designated under paragraph (3); or
to meet a manpower shortage in—
a unit of that Selected Reserve; or
a particular pay grade in that armed force.
An officer is eligible for an affiliation bonus under this section if the officer—
either—
is serving on active duty for a period of more than 30 days; or
is a member of a reserve component not on active duty and, if the member formerly served on active duty, was released from active duty under honorable conditions; and
is not entitled to receive retired or retainer pay.
The Secretary concerned shall designate for an armed force under the Secretary’s jurisdiction the critical officer skills to which the bonus authority under this subsection is to be applied.
A skill may be designated as a critical officer skill for an armed force under subparagraph (A) if, to meet requirements of that armed force, it is critical for that armed force to have a sufficient number of officers who are qualified in that skill.
An affiliation bonus payable pursuant to an agreement under this section to an eligible officer accrues on the date on which the person is assigned to a unit or position in the Selected Reserve pursuant to such agreement.
Accession Bonus.—
The Secretary concerned may pay an accession bonus under this section to an eligible person who enters into an agreement with the Secretary—
to accept an appointment as an officer in the armed forces; and
to serve in the Selected Reserve of the Ready Reserve in a skill designated under paragraph (2) for a period specified in the agreement.
The Secretary concerned shall designate for an armed force under the Secretary’s jurisdiction the officer skills to which the authority under this subsection is to be applied.
A skill may be designated for an armed force under subparagraph (A) if, to mitigate a current or projected significant shortage of personnel in that armed force who are qualified in that skill, it is critical to increase the number of persons accessed into that armed force who are qualified in that skill or are to be trained in that skill.
An accession bonus payable to a person pursuant to an agreement under this section accrues on the date on which that agreement is accepted by the Secretary concerned.
Period of Obligated Service.—
An agreement entered into with the Secretary concerned under this section shall require the person entering into that agreement to serve in the Selected Reserve for a specified period. The period specified in the agreement shall be any period not less than three years that the Secretary concerned determines appropriate to meet the needs of the reserve component in which the service is to be performed.
Amount.—
The amount of a bonus under this section may be any amount not in excess of $20,000 that the Secretary concerned determines appropriate.
Payment.—
Upon acceptance of a written agreement by the Secretary concerned under this section, the total amount of the bonus payable under the agreement becomes fixed. The agreement shall specify whether the bonus is to be paid in one lump sum or in installments.
A person entitled to a bonus under this section who is called or ordered to active duty shall be paid, during that period of active duty, any amount of the bonus that becomes payable to the member during that period of active duty.
Relation to Other Accession Bonus Authority.—
A person may not receive an affiliation bonus or accession bonus under this section and financial assistance under chapter 1608, 1609, or 1611 of title 10, or under section 302g of this title, for the same period of service.
Repayment.—
A person who enters into an agreement under this section and receives all or part of the bonus under the agreement, but who does not accept a commission or an appointment as an officer or does not commence to participate or does not satisfactorily participate in the Selected Reserve for the total period of service specified in the agreement, shall be subject to the repayment provisions of section 303a(e) of this title.
Legislative history
Reconstructed from this section’s Code source credit and amendment notes, resolved against the local Statutes at Large. Editorial notes are evidence, not the law that made the change.
Ronald W. Reagan National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005
Pub. L. 108–375 div. A title VI § 619(a) · 118 Stat. 1811
Enacted · 37 U.S.C. § 308j
Added Pub. L. 108–375, div. A, title VI, § 619(a), Oct. 28, 2004, 118 Stat. 1950
Source evidence
Code source credit
Added Pub. L. 108–375, div. A, title VI, § 619(a), Oct. 28, 2004, 118 Stat. 1950Enacted provision · exact public law section
(a) Authority.— Chapter 5 of title 37, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 308i the following new section: “§ 308j. Special pay: bonus for certain initial service of officers in the Selected Reserve “(a) Affiliation Bonus.— (1) The Secretary concerned may pay an affiliation bonus under this section to an eligible officer in any of the armed forces who enters into an agreement with the Secretary to serve, for the period specified in the agreement, in the Selected Reserve of the Ready Reserve of an armed force under the Secretary’s jurisdiction— “(A) in a critical officer skill designated under paragraph (3); or “(B) to meet a manpower shortage in— “(i) a unit of that Selected Reserve; or “(ii) a particular pay grade in that armed force. “(2) An officer is eligible for an affiliation bonus under this section if the officer— “(A) either— “(i) is serving on active duty for a period of more than 30 days; or “(ii) is a member of a reserve component not on active duty and, if the member formerly served on active duty, was released from active duty under honorable conditions; “(B) has not previously served in the Selected Reserve of the Ready Reserve; and “(C) is not entitled to receive retired or retainer pay. “(3) (A) The Secretary concerned shall designate for an armed force under the Secretary’s jurisdiction the critical officer skills to which the bonus authority under this subsection is to be applied. “(B) A skill may be designated as a critical officer skill for an armed force under subparagraph (A) if, to meet requirements of that armed force, it is critical for that armed force to have a sufficient number of officers who are qualified in that skill. “(4) An affiliation bonus payable pursuant to an agreement under this section to an eligible officer accrues on the date on which the person is assigned to a unit or position in the Selected Reserve pursuant to such agreement. “(b) Accession Bonus.— (1) The Secretary concerned may pay an accession bonus under this section to an eligible person who enters into an agreement with the Secretary— “(A) to accept an appointment as an officer in the armed forces; and “(B) to serve in the Selected Reserve of the Ready Reserve in a skill designated under paragraph (2) for a period specified in the agreement. “(2) (A) The Secretary concerned shall designate for an armed force under the Secretary’s jurisdiction the officer skills to which the authority under this subsection is to be applied. “(B) A skill may be designated for an armed force under subparagraph (A) if, to mitigate a current or projected significant shortage of personnel in that armed force who are qualified in that skill, it is critical to increase the number of persons accessed into that armed force who are qualified in that skill or are to be trained in that skill. “(3) An accession bonus payable to a person pursuant to an agreement under this section accrues on the date on which that agreement is accepted by the Secretary concerned. “(c) Period of Obligated Service.— An agreement entered into with the Secretary concerned under this section shall require the person entering into that agreement to serve in the Selected Reserve for a specified period. The period specified in the agreement shall be any period not less than three years that the Secretary concerned determines appropriate to meet the needs of the reserve component in which the service is to be performed. “(d) Amount.— The amount of a bonus under this section may be any amount not in excess of $6,000 that the Secretary concerned determines appropriate. “(e) Payment.— (1) Upon acceptance of a written agreement by the Secretary concerned under this section, the total amount of the bonus payable under the agreement becomes fixed. The agreement shall specify whether the bonus is to be paid in one lump sum or in installments. “(2) A person entitled to a bonus under this section who is called or ordered to active duty shall be paid, during that period of active duty, any amount of the bonus that becomes payable to the member during that period of active duty. “(f) Relation to Other Accession Bonus Authority.— A person may not receive an affiliation bonus or accession bonus under this section and financial assistance under chapter 1608, 1609, or 1611 of title 10, or under section 302g of this title, for the same period of service. “(g) Repayment for Failure To Commence or Complete Obligated Service.— (1) A person who, after receiving all or part of the bonus under an agreement entered into by that person under this section, does not accept a commission or an appointment as an officer or does not commence to participate or does not satisfactorily participate in the Selected Reserve for the total period of service specified in the agreement shall repay to the United States such compensation or benefit, except under conditions prescribed by the Secretary concerned. “(2) The Secretary concerned shall include in each agreement entered into by the Secretary under this section the requirements that apply for any repayment under this subsection, including the method for computing the amount of the repayment and any exceptions. “(3) An obligation to repay the United States imposed under paragraph (1) is for all purposes a debt owed to the United States. A discharge in bankruptcy under title 11 that is entered less than five years after the termination of an agreement entered into under this section does not discharge a person from a debt arising under an agreement entered into under this subsection or a debt arising under paragraph (1).” .National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006
Pub. L. 109–163 § 634(c)(1) · 119 Stat. 3136
Substituted · 37 U.S.C. § 308j
Pub. L. 109–163, § 634(c)(1), substituted “Special pay: affiliation bonus for officers in the Selected Reserve” for “Special pay: bonus for certain initial service of officers in the Selected Reserve”
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Pub. L. 109–163, § 634(c)(1), substituted “Special pay: affiliation bonus for officers in the Selected Reserve” for “Special pay: bonus for certain initial service of officers in the Selected Reserve”.Enacted provision · exact public law section
(1) Conforming amendment.— The heading of such section is amended to read as follows: “§ 308j. Special pay: affiliation bonus for officers in the Selected Reserve” .National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006
Pub. L. 109–163 § 634(a) · 119 Stat. 3136
Redesignated · 37 U.S.C. § 308j(a)(2)(B); 37 U.S.C. § 308j(a)(2)(C)
Pub. L. 109–163, § 634(a), redesignated subpar. (C) as (B)
Struck · 37 U.S.C. § 308j(a)(2)(B); 37 U.S.C. § 308j(a)(2)(C)
Pub. L. 109–163, § 634(a), struck out former subpar. (B) which read as follows: “has not previously served in the Selected Reserve of the Ready Reserve; and”
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Subsec. (a)(2)(B), (C). Pub. L. 109–163, § 634(a), redesignated subpar. (C) as (B) and struck out former subpar. (B) which read as follows: “has not previously served in the Selected Reserve of the Ready Reserve; and”.Enacted provision · exact public law section
(a) Repeal of Prohibition on Eligibility for Prior Reserve Service.— Subsection (a)(2) of section 308j of title 37, United States Code, is amended— (1) in subparagraph (A), by adding “and” at the end; (2) by striking subparagraph (B); and (3) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as subparagraph (B).National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006
Pub. L. 109–163 § 634(b) · 119 Stat. 3136
Substituted · 37 U.S.C. § 308j(d)
Pub. L. 109–163, § 634(b), substituted “$10,000” for “$6,000”
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 109–163, § 634(b), substituted “$10,000” for “$6,000”.Enacted provision · exact public law section
(b) Increase in Maximum Amount.— Subsection (d) of such section is amended by striking “$6,000” and inserting “$10,000”.John Warner National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007
Pub. L. 109–364 div. A title X § 1071(c)(4) · 120 Stat. 2083
Added · 37 U.S.C. § 308j(g)
Pub. L. 109–364 added subsec. (g)
Struck · 37 U.S.C. § 308j(g)
Pub. L. 109–364 struck out former subsec. (g) which related to requirement to repay bonus upon failure to commence or complete obligated service, inclusion of repayment requirements in each agreement, and characterization of obligation to repay as a debt owed to the United States
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 109–364 added subsec. (g) and struck out former subsec. (g) which related to requirement to repay bonus upon failure to commence or complete obligated service, inclusion of repayment requirements in each agreement, and characterization of obligation to repay as a debt owed to the United States.Enacted provision · exact public law section
(4) Section 308j is amended by striking subsection (g) and inserting the following new subsection: “(g) Repayment.— A person who enters into an agreement under this section and receives all or part of the bonus under the agreement, but who does not accept a commission or an appointment as an officer or does not commence to participate or does not satisfactorily participate in the Selected Reserve for the total period of service specified in the agreement, shall be subject to the repayment provisions of section 303a(e) of this title.” .National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013
Pub. L. 112–239 div. A title VI § 616 · 126 Stat. 1632
Substituted · 37 U.S.C. § 308j(d)
Pub. L. 112–239 substituted “$20,000” for “$10,000”
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 112–239 substituted “$20,000” for “$10,000”.Enacted provision · exact public law section
SEC. 616. INCREASE IN MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF OFFICER AFFILIATION BONUS FOR OFFICERS IN THE SELECTED RESERVE. Section 308j(d) of title 37, United States Code, is amended by striking “$10,000” and inserting “$20,000”.
8 of 8 references resolved to an enrolled provision
Editorial Notes
Amendments2006–2013 · 2 rounds
2013
Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 112–239 substituted “$20,000” for “$10,000”.
2006
Pub. L. 109–163, § 634(c)(1), substituted “Special pay: affiliation bonus for officers in the Selected Reserve” for “Special pay: bonus for certain initial service of officers in the Selected Reserve”.
Subsec. (a)(2)(B), (C). Pub. L. 109–163, § 634(a), redesignated subpar. (C) as (B) and struck out former subpar. (B) which read as follows: “has not previously served in the Selected Reserve of the Ready Reserve; and”.
Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 109–163, § 634(b), substituted “$10,000” for “$6,000”.
Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 109–364 added subsec. (g) and struck out former subsec. (g) which related to requirement to repay bonus upon failure to commence or complete obligated service, inclusion of repayment requirements in each agreement, and characterization of obligation to repay as a debt owed to the United States.
Credits
2004–2013 · 4 acts
- 2004Added Pub. L. 108–375, div. A, title VI, § 619(a), , 118 Stat. 1950
- 2006amended Pub. L. 109–163, div. A, title VI, § 634(a)–(c)(1), , 119 Stat. 3300
- 2006Pub. L. 109–364, div. A, title X, § 1071(c)(4), , 120 Stat. 2401
- 2013Pub. L. 112–239, div. A, title VI, § 616, , 126 Stat. 1777.
Show as published
(Added Pub. L. 108–375, div. A, title VI, § 619(a), , 118 Stat. 1950; amended Pub. L. 109–163, div. A, title VI, § 634(a)–(c)(1), , 119 Stat. 3300; Pub. L. 109–364, div. A, title X, § 1071(c)(4), , 120 Stat. 2401; Pub. L. 112–239, div. A, title VI, § 616, , 126 Stat. 1777.)