Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 120.djvu/1613

 120 STAT. 1582

PUBLIC LAW 109–304—OCT. 6, 2006

2 years if the individual is engaged in a graduate course of study approved by the Secretary. However, deferment of service as a commissioned officer on active duty must be approved by the Secretary of the affected military department (or the Secretary of Commerce, for service with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). ‘‘§ 51511. Midshipman status in the Naval Reserve ‘‘A citizen of the United States attending a State maritime academy may be appointed by the Secretary of the Navy as a midshipman in the Naval Reserve (including the Merchant Marine Reserve, Naval Reserve). ‘‘CHAPTER 517—OTHER SUPPORT FOR MERCHANT MARINE TRAINING ‘‘Sec. ‘‘51701. ‘‘51702. ‘‘51703. ‘‘51704.

United States Maritime Service. Civilian nautical schools. Additional training. Training for maritime oil pollution prevention, response, and clean-up.

‘‘§ 51701. United States Maritime Service ‘‘(a) GENERAL AUTHORITY.—The Secretary of Transportation may establish and maintain a voluntary organization, to be known as the United States Maritime Service, for the training of citizens of the United States to serve on merchant vessels of the United States. ‘‘(b) SPECIFIC AUTHORITY.—The Secretary may— ‘‘(1) determine the number of individuals to be enrolled for training and reserve purposes in the Service; ‘‘(2) fix the rates of pay and allowances of the individuals without regard to chapter 51 or subchapter III of chapter 53 of title 5; ‘‘(3) prescribe the course of study and the periods of training for the Service; and ‘‘(4) prescribe the uniform of the Service and the rules on providing and wearing the uniform. ‘‘(c) RANKS, GRADES, AND RATINGS.—The ranks, grades, and ratings for personnel of the Service shall be the same as those prescribed for personnel of the Coast Guard. ‘‘(d) MEDALS AND AWARDS.—The Secretary may establish and maintain a medals and awards program to recognize distinguished service, superior achievement, professional performance, and other commendable achievement by personnel of the Service. ‘‘§ 51702. Civilian nautical schools ‘‘(a) DEFINITION.—In this section, the term ‘civilian nautical school’ means a school operated in the United States (except the United States Merchant Marine Academy, a State maritime academy, or another school operated by the United States Government) that offers instruction to individuals quartered on a vessel primarily to train them for service in the merchant marine. ‘‘(b) INSPECTION.—Each civilian nautical school is subject to inspection by the Secretary of Transportation. ‘‘(c) RATING AND CERTIFICATION.—The Secretary may, under regulations the Secretary may prescribe, provide for the rating and certification of civilian nautical schools as to the adequacy

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