10 U.S.C. § 510 (ARMED FORCES)
§ 510. Enlistment incentives for pursuit of skills to facilitate national service
(a) Enlistment Incentive Program.—
The Secretary of Defense shall carry out an enlistment incentive program in accordance with this section under which a person who is a National Call to Service participant shall be entitled to one of the incentives specified in subsection (e). The program shall be carried out during the period ending on December 31, 2007, and may be carried out after that date.
(b) National Call to Service Participant.—
In this section, the term “National Call to Service participant” means a person who has not previously served in the armed forces who enters into an original enlistment pursuant to a written agreement with the Secretary of a military department (in such form and manner as may be prescribed by that Secretary) under which the person agrees to perform a period of national service as specified in subsection (c).
(c) National Service.—
The total period of national service to which a National Call to Service participant is obligated under the agreement under this section shall be specified in the agreement. Under the agreement, the participant shall—
(1) upon completion of initial entry training (as prescribed by the Secretary of Defense), serve on active duty in a military occupational specialty designated by the Secretary of Defense under subsection (d) for a period of 15 months;
(2) upon completion of the period of active duty specified in paragraph (1) and without a break in service, serve either (A) an additional period of active duty as determined by the Secretary of Defense, or (B) a period of 24 months in an active status in the Selected Reserve or the Space Force; and
(3) upon completion of the period of service specified in paragraph (2), and without a break in service, serve the remaining period of obligated service specified in the agreement—
(A) on active duty in the armed forces;
(B) in the Selected Reserve;
(C) in the Individual Ready Reserve;
(D) in the Space Force;
(E) in Americorps or another domestic national service program jointly designated by the Secretary of Defense and the head of such program for purposes of this section; or
(F) in any combination of service referred to in subparagraphs (A) through (E) that is approved by the Secretary of the military department concerned pursuant to regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense and specified in the agreement.
(d) Designated Military Occupational Specialties.—
The Secretary of Defense shall designate military occupational specialties for purposes of subsection (c)(1). Such military occupational specialties shall be military occupational specialties that, as determined by the Secretary, will facilitate pursuit of national service by National Call to Service participants and shall include military occupational specialties for enlistments for officer training and subsequent service as an officer, in cases in which the reason for the enlistment and entry into an agreement under subsection (b) is to enter an officer training program.
(e) Incentives.—
The incentives specified in this subsection are as follows:
(1) Payment of a bonus in the amount of $5,000.
(2) Payment in an amount not to exceed $18,000 of outstanding principal and interest on qualifying student loans of the National Call to Service participant.
(3) Entitlement to an allowance for educational assistance at the monthly rate equal to the monthly rate payable for basic educational assistance allowances under section 3015(a)(1) of title 38 for a total of 12 months.
(4) Entitlement to an allowance for educational assistance at the monthly rate equal to 50 percent of the monthly rate payable for basic educational assistance allowances under section 3015(b)(1) of title 38 for a total of 36 months.
(f) Election of Incentive.—
A National Call to Service participant shall elect in the agreement under subsection (b) which incentive under subsection (e) to receive. An election under this subsection is irrevocable.
(g) Payment of Bonus Amounts.—
(1) Payment to a National Call to Service participant of the bonus elected by the National Call to Service participant under subsection (e)(1) shall be made in such time and manner as the Secretary of Defense shall prescribe.
(2)
(A) Payment of outstanding principal and interest on the qualifying student loans of a National Call to Service participant, as elected under subsection (e)(2), shall be made in such time and manner as the Secretary of Defense shall prescribe.
(B) Payment under this paragraph of the outstanding principal and interest on the qualifying student loans of a National Call to Service participant shall be made to the holder of such student loans, as identified by the National Call to Service participant to the Secretary of the military department concerned for purposes of such payment.
(3) Payment of a bonus or incentive in accordance with this subsection shall be made by the Secretary of the military department concerned.
(h) Coordination With Montgomery GI Bill Benefits.—
(1)
(A) Subject to subparagraph (B), a National Call to Service participant who elects an incentive under paragraph (3) or (4) of subsection (e) is not entitled to additional educational assistance under chapter 1606 of this title or to basic educational assistance under subchapter II of chapter 30 of title 38.
(B) If a National Call to Service participant meets all eligibility requirements specified in chapter 1606 of this title or chapter 30 of title 38 for entitlement to allowances for educational assistance under either such chapter, the participant may become eligible for allowances for educational assistance benefits under either such chapter up to the maximum allowance provided less the total amount of allowance paid under paragraph (3) or (4) of subsection (e).
(2)
(A) Educational assistance under paragraphs (3) or (4) of subsection (e) shall be provided through the Department of Veterans Affairs under an agreement to be entered into by the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. The agreements shall include administrative procedures to ensure the prompt and timely transfer of funds from the Secretary concerned to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for the making of payments under this section.
(B) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the provisions of sections 503, 511, 3470, 3471, 3474, 3476, 3482(g), 3483, and 3485 of title 38 and the provisions of subchapters II and III of chapter 36 of such title (with the exception of sections 3686(a), 3687, and 3692) shall be applicable to the provision of educational assistance under this chapter. The term “eligible veteran” and the term “person”, as used in those provisions, shall be deemed for the purpose of the application of those provisions to this section to refer to a person eligible for educational assistance under paragraph (3) or (4) of subsection (e).
(3)
(A) Except as provided in paragraph (1), nothing in this section shall prohibit a National Call to Service participant who satisfies through service under subsection (c) the eligibility requirements for educational assistance under chapter 1606 of this title or basic educational assistance under chapter 30 of title 38 from an entitlement to such educational assistance under chapter 1606 of this title or basic educational assistance under chapter 30 of title 38, as the case may be.
(B)
(i) A participant who made an election not to receive educational assistance under either such chapter at the applicable time specified under law or who was denied the opportunity to make an election may revoke that election or make an initial election, as the case may be, at such time and in such manner as the Secretary concerned may specify. A revocation or initial election under the preceding sentence is irrevocable.
(ii) The participant making a revocation or initial election under clause (i) shall be eligible for educational assistance under either such chapter at such time as the participant satisfies through service the applicable eligibility requirements under either such chapter.
(i) Repayment.—
If a National Call to Service participant who has entered into an agreement under subsection (b) and received or benefitted from an incentive under paragraph (1) or (2) of subsection (e) fails to complete the total period of service specified in the agreement, the National Call to Service participant shall be subject to the repayment provisions of section 303a(e) or 373 of title 37.
(j) Funding.—
(1) Amounts for the payment of incentives under paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (e) shall be derived from amounts available to the Secretary of the military department concerned for the payment of pay, allowances and other expenses of the members of the armed force concerned.
(2) Amounts for the payment of incentives under paragraphs (3) and (4) of subsection (e) shall be derived from the Department of Defense Education Benefits Fund under section 2006 of this title.
(k) Regulations.—
The Secretary of Defense and the Secretaries of the military departments shall prescribe regulations for purposes of the program under this section.
(l) Definitions.—
In this section:
(1) The term “Americorps” means the Americorps program carried out under subtitle C of title I of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12571 et seq.).
(2) The term “qualifying student loan” means a loan, the proceeds of which were used to pay any part or all of the cost of attendance (as defined in section 472 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087ll) at an institution of higher education (as defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001).
(3) The term “Secretary of a military department” includes, with respect to matters concerning the Coast Guard when it is not operating as a service in the Navy, the Secretary of the Department in which the Coast Guard is operating.
(Added Pub. L. 107–314, div. A, title V, § 531(a)(1), Dec. 2, 2002, 116 Stat. 2541; amended Pub. L. 108–136, div. A, title V, § 535(a), Nov. 24, 2003, 117 Stat. 1474; Pub. L. 109–163, div. A, title V, § 545, title VI, § 687(c)(1), Jan. 6, 2006, 119 Stat. 3254, 3333; Pub. L. 109–364, div. A, title X, § 1071(e)(2), Oct. 17, 2006, 120 Stat. 2401; Pub. L. 115–91, div. A, title VI, § 618(a)(1)(A), Dec. 12, 2017, 131 Stat. 1426; Pub. L. 118–31, div. A, title XVII, § 1717(b)(5), Dec. 22, 2023, 137 Stat. 655; Pub. L. 118–159, div. A, title XVII, § 1701(a)(11), Dec. 23, 2024, 138 Stat. 2203.)
heading: Editorial Notes
heading: References in Text
text: The National and Community Service Act of 1990, referred to in subsec. (l)(1), is Pub. L. 101–610, Nov. 16, 1990, 104 Stat. 3127. Subtitle C of title I of the Act is classified generally to division C (§ 12571 et seq.) of subchapter I of chapter 129 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 12501 of Title 42 and Tables.
heading: Prior Provisions
text: A prior section 510 was renumbered section 12102 of this title.
heading: Amendments
text: 2024—Subsec. (h)(2)(B). Pub. L. 118–159 substituted “subchapters II and III” for “subchapters I and II”.
2023—Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 118–31, § 1717(b)(5)(A), inserted “or the Space Force” after “Selected Reserve”.
Subsec. (c)(3)(D) to (F). Pub. L. 118–31, § 1717(b)(5)(B), added subpar. (D), redesignated former subpars. (D) and (E) as (E) and (F), respectively, and in subpar. (F) substituted “subparagraphs (A) through (E)” for “subparagraphs (A) through (D)”.
2017—Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 115–91 inserted “or 373” before “of title 37”.
2006—Subsec. (c)(3)(D). Pub. L. 109–163, § 545(a), substituted “in Americorps or another domestic national service program” for “in the Peace Corps, Americorps, or another national service program”.
Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 109–163, § 545(b), as amended by Pub. L. 109–364, inserted “and shall include military occupational specialties for enlistments for officer training and subsequent service as an officer, in cases in which the reason for the enlistment and entry into an agreement under subsection (b) is to enter an officer training program” before period at end.
Subsec. (h)(2). Pub. L. 109–163, § 545(c), amended par. (2) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (2) read as follows:
“(2)(A) The Secretary of Defense shall, to the maximum extent practicable, administer the receipt by National Call to Service participants of incentives under paragraph (3) or (4) of subsection (e) as if such National Call to Service participants were, in receiving such incentives, receiving educational assistance for members of the Selected Reserve under chapter 1606 of this title.
“(B) The Secretary of Defense shall, in consultation with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, prescribe regulations for purposes of subparagraph (A). Such regulations shall, to the maximum extent practicable, take into account the administrative provisions of chapters 30 and 36 of title 38 that are specified in section 16136 of this title.”
Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 109–163, § 687(c)(1), amended heading and text of subsec. (i) generally. Prior to amendment, text consisted of pars. (1) to (4) which related to pro rata repayments by failed National Call to Service participants, the nature of the debt owed, waiver and discharge in bankruptcy.
2003—Subsec. (j). Pub. L. 108–136 reenacted heading without change and amended text generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “Amounts for payment of incentives under subsection (e), including payment of allowances for educational assistance under that subsection, shall be derived from amounts available to the Secretary of the military department concerned for payment of pay, allowances, and other expenses of the members of the armed force concerned.”
heading: Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
heading: Effective Date of 2006 Amendment
text: Pub. L. 109–364, div. A, title X, § 1071(e), Oct. 17, 2006, 120 Stat. 2401, provided that the amendment made by section 1071(e)(2) is effective as of Jan. 6, 2006, and as if included in Pub. L. 109–163 as enacted.
heading: Savings Provision
text: Pub. L. 109–163, div. A, title VI, § 687(f), Jan. 6, 2006, 119 Stat. 3336, provided that: “In the case of any bonus, incentive pay, special pay, or similar payment, such as education assistance or a stipend, which the United States became obligated to pay before April 1, 2006, under a provision of law amended by subsection (b), (c), or (d) of this section [amending this section and sections 2005, 2007, 2105, 2123, 2130a, 2173, 2200a, 4348, 6959, 9348, 16135, 16203, 16303, and 16401 of this title, section 182 of Title 14, Coast Guard, and sections 301b, 301d, 301e, 302, 302a, 302b, 302d to 302h, 302j, 307a, 308, 308b, 308c, 308g to 308i, 309, 312, 312b, 314 to 319, and 321 to 327 of Title 37, Pay and Allowances of the Uniformed Services], such provision of law, as in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act [Jan. 6, 2006], shall continue to apply to the payment, or any repayment, of the bonus, incentive pay, special pay, or similar payment under such provision of law.”
heading: Transfer of Functions
text: For transfer of authorities, functions, personnel, and assets of the Coast Guard, including the authorities and functions of the Secretary of Transportation relating thereto, to the Department of Homeland Security, and for treatment of related references, see sections 468(b), 551(d), 552(d), and 557 of Title 6, Domestic Security, and the Department of Homeland Security Reorganization Plan of November 25, 2002, as modified, set out as a note under section 542 of Title 6.
heading: Commencement of Program
text: Pub. L. 107–314, div. A, title V, § 531(b), Dec. 2, 2002, 116 Stat. 2544, directed the Secretary of Defense to prescribe the date, not later than Oct. 1, 2003, on which the program provided for under this section was to commence.
heading: Implementation Report
text: Pub. L. 107–314, div. A, title V, § 531(d), Dec. 2, 2002, 116 Stat. 2544, directed the Secretary of Defense to submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives, no later than Mar. 31, 2003, a report on the Secretary’s plans for implementation of this section.
heading: Effectiveness Reports
text: Pub. L. 107–314, div. A, title V, § 531(e), Dec. 2, 2002, 116 Stat. 2545, directed the Secretary of Defense to submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives, no later than Mar. 31, 2005, and Mar. 31, 2007, reports on the effectiveness of the program under this section in attracting new recruits to national service.