10 U.S.C. § 16201 — Financial assistance: health-care professionals in reserve components

(a) Establishment of Program. To get enough qualified reserve officers in health professions, the Secretary of each military department may establish a program that pays a financial stipend to people training toward a medical or dental degree or a critically-needed wartime health-professions specialty. In exchange, the person commits to later serve in the Selected Reserve of the Ready Reserve. (b) Medical and Dental School Students. (1) The Secretary of the military department concerned may enter an agreement with a person who (A) is eligible to be appointed as a reserve officer, (B) is enrolled or accepted for enrollment in a course of study leading to a medical or dental degree, (C) signs an agreement that, unless separated sooner, the person will (i) complete the educational phase of the program, (ii) accept a reappointment or redesignation within their reserve component, if offered, after satisfactorily completing the educational and intern programs, and (iii) take part in a residency program, and (D) if required by Secretary of Defense regulations, agrees to apply for and accept, if offered, residency training in a health-profession skill designated as critically needed in wartime. (2) Under the agreement: (A) the Secretary agrees to pay the participant a stipend, in the amount set under (g), while the student satisfactorily progresses toward a medical or dental degree at an accredited school; (B) the participant may not receive the stipend before being appointed, designated, or assigned as an officer for service in the Ready Reserve; (C) the participant is subject to active-duty requirements stated in the agreement, and to active duty in time of war or national emergency as the law requires for Ready Reserve members; and (D) the participant agrees to serve in the Selected Reserve, after successfully completing the program, for the period set under (3). (3) (A) Subject to (B), that required service period is one year for each six months, or part of six months, the participant received a stipend. (B) But if the participant enters a further agreement under (c) and successfully completes residency training in a specialty the Secretary of Defense designates as critically needed in wartime, the required service may be reduced to one year for each year, or part of a year, the stipend was provided while enrolled in medical or dental school. (c) Physicians and Dentists in Critical Wartime Specialties. (1) The Secretary of the military department concerned may enter an agreement with a person who (A) has graduated from a medical or dental school, (B) is eligible for, or already holds, appointment as a medical or dental officer in the Reserve of the relevant armed force, and (C) is enrolled or accepted for enrollment in a residency in a specialty the Secretary designates as critically needed by that military department in wartime. (2) Under the agreement: (A) the Secretary agrees to pay a stipend, in an amount set under (g), for the residency period; (B) the participant may not receive the stipend before being appointed, designated, or assigned as a medical or dental officer for service in the Ready Reserve; (C) the participant is subject to active-duty requirements in the agreement and to active duty in war or national emergency; and (D) the participant agrees to serve, after successfully completing the program, one year in the Selected Reserve for each six months, or part thereof, the stipend was provided. (d) Registered Nurses in Critical Specialties. (1) The Secretary of the military department concerned may enter an agreement with a person who (A) is a registered nurse, (B) is eligible for appointment as a reserve officer in a Nurse Corps or as a nurse, and (C) is enrolled or accepted for enrollment in an accredited nursing program in a specialty the Secretary designates as critically needed in wartime. (2) Under the agreement: (A) the Secretary agrees to pay a stipend, in an amount set under (g), for the nursing program's period; (B) the participant may not receive the stipend before being appointed as a reserve officer in a Nurse Corps or as a nurse for service in the Ready Reserve; (C) the participant is subject to active-duty requirements in the agreement and to active duty in war or national emergency; and (D) the participant agrees to serve, after successfully completing the program, one year in the Selected Reserve for each six months, or part thereof, the stipend was provided. (e) Baccalaureate Students in Nursing or Other Health Professions. (1) The Secretary of the military department concerned may enter an agreement with a person who (A) will, upon completing the program, be eligible to be appointed, designated, or assigned as a reserve officer to serve as a nurse or other health professional, and (B) is enrolled, or accepted for enrollment, in the third or fourth year of (i) an accredited baccalaureate nursing program, or (ii) any other accredited baccalaureate program leading to a degree in a health-care profession the Secretary designates as critically needed in wartime. (2) Under the agreement: (A) the Secretary agrees to pay a monthly stipend, capped at the rate in effect under section 2121(d), for the baccalaureate program's period; (B) the participant may not receive the stipend before enlisting in the Ready Reserve; (C) the participant is subject to active-duty requirements in the agreement and to active duty in war or national emergency; and (D) the participant agrees to serve, upon graduating, one year in the Selected Reserve for each year, or part thereof, the stipend was paid. (f) Mental Health Professionals in Critical Wartime Specialties. (1) The Secretary of the military department concerned may enter an agreement with a person who (A) is eligible to be appointed as a reserve officer, (B) is enrolled or accepted for enrollment in a course of study leading to a degree in clinical psychology or social work, (C) signs an agreement that, unless separated sooner, the person will (i) complete the educational phase of the program, (ii) accept a reappointment or redesignation within their reserve component, if offered, after satisfactorily completing the educational and intern programs, and (iii) take part in a residency program if one is required for clinical licensure in a mental-health profession, and (D) if required by Secretary of Defense regulations, agrees to apply for and accept, if offered, residency training in a mental-health profession skill designated as critically needed in wartime. (2) Under the agreement: (A) the Secretary agrees to pay a stipend, in the amount set under (g), while the student satisfactorily progresses toward a degree in clinical psychology or social work at a school accredited in that discipline; (B) the participant may not receive the stipend before being appointed, designated, or assigned as an officer for service in the Selected Reserve; (C) the participant is subject to active-duty requirements in the agreement and to active duty in war or national emergency, as the law requires for Selected Reserve members; and (D) the participant agrees to serve, after successfully completing the program, one year in the Selected Reserve for each six months, or part thereof, the stipend was provided. (g) Amount of Stipend. The stipend under an agreement under (b), (c), (d), or (f) equals the stipend rate in effect for participants in the Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship Program under section 2121(d).