Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 58 Part 1.djvu/345

 58 STAT.] 78TH CONG. , 2D SESS.-CH. 272-JUNE 22, 1944 appointed and assigned shall have authority in and about military hospitals as regards medical and sanitary matters and all other work within the scope of their professional duties next after other officers of the Medical Department and, except as above provided, shall exer- cise command only over those members of the Army of the United States specifically placed under their command. Members of the Army Nurse Corps so appointed and assigned shall not by acceptance of their appointments vacate their appointments in the Army Nurse Corps. SEC. 2. All persons appointed and assigned as officers in the Army of the United States under the provisions of section 1 of this Act and their dependents and beneficiaries shall have all the rights, privi- leges, and benefits accorded in like cases to other persons appointed under the joint resolution of September 22, 1941 (55 Stat. 728), as amended, except where otherwise expressly provided in this or any subsequent Act. SEC. 3. In addition to members of the Army Nurse Corps, any person appointed and assigned as an officer in the Army of the United States under the provisions of section 1 of this Act shall be eligible to be retired under any law providing for the retirement of members of the Army Nurse Corps, and any such person, including members of the Army Nurse Corps, who, while serving under such appoint- ment and assignment, is so retired for disability shall receive retired pay at the rate of 75 per centum of the active duty base and longevity pay received by her while serving in the highest grade in which she served under any such appointment and assignment, and, notwith- standing any other provision of law, shall be placed upon the Army Nurse Corps retired list in such highest grade. Any member of the Army Nurse Corps retired between December 7, 1941, and the date of enactment of this Act for disability and any female dietitian or physical-therapy aide so retired between January 12, 1943, and the date of enactment of this Act shall receive, effective on the first day of the first month next following the date of enactment of this Act, retired pay at the rate of 75 per centum of the highest active duty base and longevity pay received by her while serving in the Army Nurse Corps or Medical Department of the Army, as the case may be, during the above-cited applicable period: Provided,That nothing contained in this section shall operate to reduce the retired pay pres- ently received by any nurse, female dietitian, or physical-therapy aide. SEC. 4. In computing years of service for all purposes of members of the Army Nurse Corps appointed and assigned under the provi- sions of section 1 of this Act there shall be credited active service in the Army Nurse Corps and in the Navy Nurse Corps, active service as a contract nurse prior to February 2, 1901, and service rendered pursuant to an appointment under this Act. SEC. 5. In computing years of service for all purposes of female dietetic and physical-therapy personnel appointed and assigned under the provisions of section 1 of this Act there shall be credited all active full-time service (except as a student or apprentice) in the dietetic or physical-therapy categories rendered subsequent to April 6, 1917, as a civilian employee of the War Department, service rendered pur- suant to an appointment as a female dietitian or physical-therapy aide under the provisions of the Act of December 22, 1942 (56 Stat. 1072), and service rendered pursuant to an appointment under this Act. SEC. 6. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no woman appointed and assigned under the provisions of section 1 of this Act who is a member of the Army Nurse Corps or who has previously held an appointment as a female dietitian or physical-therapy aide 325 Exercise of com- mand. Army Nurse Corps- Rights, privileges, and benefits. 10 U. 8. C., Supp. III, I 484 note. Eligibility for re- tirement. Disability rate. Retroactive provi- sion. Retired pay pres- ently received. Service credits for Army Nurse Corps. Service credits for dietetic and physical- therapy personnel. 10 U. S. C., Supp. mI, 81 note. Uniform allowanm.

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