Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 120.djvu/1611

 120 STAT. 1580

PUBLIC LAW 109–304—OCT. 6, 2006

to make student incentive payments to the individual. An agreement with a student may not be effective for more than 4 academic years. The Secretary shall allocate payments under this section among the various State maritime academies in an equitable manner. ‘‘(b) PAYMENTS.—Payments under an agreement under this section shall be equal to $4,000 each academic year and be paid, as prescribed by the Secretary, while the individual is attending the academy. The payments shall be used for uniforms, books, and subsistence. ‘‘(c) MIDSHIPMAN AND ENLISTED RESERVE STATUS.—An agreement under this section shall require the student to accept midshipman and enlisted reserve status in the Naval Reserve (including the Merchant Marine Reserve, Naval Reserve) before receiving any payments under the agreement. ‘‘(d) AGREEMENT REQUIREMENTS.—An agreement under this section shall require the student to— ‘‘(1) complete the course of instruction at the academy the individual is attending; ‘‘(2) take the examination for a license as an officer in the merchant marine of the United States before graduation from the academy and fulfill the requirements for such a license within 3 months after graduation from the academy; ‘‘(3) maintain a valid license as an officer in the merchant marine of the United States for at least 6 years after graduation from the academy, accompanied by the appropriate national and international endorsements and certification required by the Coast Guard for service aboard vessels on domestic and international voyages; ‘‘(4) accept, if tendered, an appointment as a commissioned officer in the Naval Reserve (including the Merchant Marine Reserve, Naval Reserve), the Coast Guard Reserve, or any other reserve unit of an armed force of the United States, and, if tendered the appointment, to serve for at least 6 years after graduation from the academy; ‘‘(5) serve the foreign and domestic commerce and the national defense of the United States for at least 3 years after graduation from the academy— ‘‘(A) as a merchant marine officer on a documented vessel or a vessel owned and operated by the United States Government or by a State; ‘‘(B) as an employee in a United States maritimerelated industry, profession, or marine science (as determined by the Secretary), if the Secretary determines that service under subparagraph (A) is not available to the individual; ‘‘(C) as a commissioned officer on active duty in an armed force of the United States, as a commissioned officer in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or in other maritime-related Federal employment which serves the national security interests of the United States, as determined by the Secretary; or ‘‘(D) by a combination of the service alternatives referred to in subparagraphs (A)–(C); and ‘‘(6) report to the Secretary on compliance with this subsection. ‘‘(e) FAILURE TO COMPLETE COURSE OF INSTRUCTION.—

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