Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 122.djvu/4510

 12 2 STA T .4 4 87PUBLIC LA W 11 0– 417 —O CT. 14 , 2008 SEC.619 . U SE OFN E W S KIL L INCEN T I V E PAY AN D P R OFICIENCY B ONUS AUT H ORITIES TO ENCOURA G E TRAINING IN CRIT - ICAL FOREIGN LANGUAGES AND FOREIGN CULTURAL STUDIES AND AUTHORI Z ATION OF INCENTIVE PAY FOR M EMBERS OF PRECOMMISSIONING PROGRAMS PURSUING FOREIGN LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY. (a)ELIG I B ILI TYFORSK ILL P ROFI C I EN CY B ON US.— ( 1 ) ELIGIBILITY.—S ubsection (b) o f section 35 3oftit l e3 7,U nite d States C ode, is a m ended to r ead as follo w s

‘(b) SKILL PROFICIENCY BONUS.— ‘‘(1) AVA ILABILITY ELIGIBLE P ERSONS.— Th e Secretar y con - cerned may p ay a proficiency bonus to a member of a re g ular or reser v e component of the uniformed services who— ‘‘(A) is entitled to basic pay under section 204 of this title or compensation under section 20 6 of this title or is enrolled in an officer training program; and ‘‘(B) is determined to have, and maintains, certified proficiency under subsection (d) in a s k ill designated as critical by the Secretary concerned or is in training to ac q uire proficiency in a critical foreign language or e x per- tise in foreign cultural studies or a related skill designated as critical by the Secretary concerned. ‘‘(2) I NCLUSION OF CERTAIN SENIOR ROTC M EMBERS.—A pro- ficiency bonus may be paid under this subsection to a student who is enrolled in the Senior R eserve O fficers ’ Training Corps program even though the student is in the first year of the four-year course under the program. D uring the period covered by the proficiency bonus, the student shall also be entitled to a monthly subsistence allowance under section 20 9 (c) of this title even though the student has not entered into an agreement under section 2103a of title 10. H owever, if the student receives incentive pay under subsection (g)(2) for the same period, the student may receive only a single monthly subsistence allowance under section 209(c) of this title.’’. (2) AVAILABILITY OF INCENTIVE PAY FOR PARTICIPATION IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE E D UCATION OR TRAINING PROGRAMS.—Such section is further amended— (A) by redesignating subsections (g), (h), and (i) as subsections (h), (i), and ( j ), respectively; and (B) by inserting after subsection (f) the following new subsection (g): ‘‘(g) F OREIGN L ANGUAGE STUDIES IN OFFICER TRAINING PRO- GRAMS.— ‘‘(1) AVAILABILITY OF INCENTIVE PAY.—The Secretary con- cerned may pay incentive pay to a person enrolled in an officer training program to also participate in an education or training program to acquire proficiency in a critical foreign language or expertise in foreign cultural studies or a related skill des- ignated as critical by the Secretary concerned. ‘‘(2) INCLUSION OF CERTAIN SENIOR ROTC MEMBERS.—Incen- tive pay may be paid under this subsection to a student who is enrolled in the Senior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps pro- gram even though the student is in the first year of the four- year course under the program. W hile the student receives the incentive pay, the student shall also be entitled to a monthly subsistence allowance under section 209(c) of this title even though the student has not entered into an agreement under

�