Title: To provide a process by which certain wounded warriors who face medical discharge from the Armed Forces may instead continue to serve in the Armed Forces as remotely piloted aircraft pilots or remotely piloted aircraft sensor operators in the Air Force.
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
This bill requires the Department of the Air Force to establish a program under which a qualified wounded warrior who faces retirement or separation from the Armed Forces for physical disability may continue, in lieu of such retirement or separation, to serve as a remotely piloted aircraft pilot or remotely piloted aircraft sensor operator.

[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4453 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 4453

To provide a process by which certain wounded warriors who face medical 
 discharge from the Armed Forces may instead continue to serve in the 
 Armed Forces as remotely piloted aircraft pilots or remotely piloted 
              aircraft sensor operators in the Air Force.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           November 17, 2017

  Mr. Pearce introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                      Committee on Armed Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To provide a process by which certain wounded warriors who face medical 
 discharge from the Armed Forces may instead continue to serve in the 
 Armed Forces as remotely piloted aircraft pilots or remotely piloted 
              aircraft sensor operators in the Air Force.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SERVICE OF WOUNDED WARRIORS AS REMOTELY PILOTED AIRCRAFT 
              PILOTS OR REMOTELY PILOTED AIRCRAFT SENSOR OPERATORS IN 
              THE AIR FORCE.

    (a) Program Required.--The Secretary of the Air Force shall 
establish a program under which a qualified wounded warrior who faces 
retirement or separation from the Armed Forces for physical disability 
may continue, in lieu of such retirement or separation, to serve in the 
Armed Forces as a remotely piloted aircraft pilot or remotely piloted 
aircraft sensor operator in the Air Force.
    (b) Eligibility Qualifications.--
            (1) Modification of physical requirements.--In the case of 
        wounded warriors only, the Secretary of the Air Force shall 
        modify the physical fitness requirements applicable to a 
        wounded warrior who is seeking to serve, or is serving, as a 
        remotely piloted aircraft pilot or remotely piloted aircraft 
        sensor operator if the wounded warrior is incapable of meeting 
        such requirements, such as completing an annual physical 
        training test, due to the service-related disability, but 
        otherwise satisfies the remotely piloted aircraft medical 
        standard.
            (2) Medical waivers.--The restriction on medical waivers 
        contained in section 6.4.5.1 of Air Force Instruction 48-123 
        shall not apply to the program required by this section.
            (3) Continued applicability of other requirements.--To 
        serve as a remotely piloted aircraft pilot or remotely piloted 
        aircraft sensor operator, a wounded warrior applicant would 
        still have to pass--
                    (A) the applicable Air Force Officer Qualifying 
                Test or Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery; and
                    (B) the applicable security and mental health 
                requirements.
            (4) Automatic disqualification.--A wounded warrior may not 
        be selected to serve, or continue to serve, as a remotely 
        piloted aircraft pilot or remotely piloted aircraft sensor 
        operator if the Secretary of the Air Force determines that--
                    (A) the wounded warrior presents a hazard to flying 
                safety or mission completion;
                    (B) performance of the duty would be hazardous to 
                the health of the wounded warrior; or
                    (C) the wounded warrior is diagnosed with post-
                traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, or 
                any other mental disorder that could hinder mission 
                performance.
    (c) Priority for Certain Wounded Warriors.--In selecting wounded 
warriors to serve as a remotely piloted aircraft pilot or remotely 
piloted aircraft sensor operator, the Secretary of the Air Force shall 
give priority to wounded warriors whose disability was incurred--
            (1) in the line of duty in a combat zone designated by the 
        Secretary of Defense; or
            (2) during the performance of duty in combat-related 
        operations as designated by the Secretary of Defense.
    (d) Transfer Authority.--In the case of a wounded warrior who is 
not a member of the Air Force, the Secretary of the Air Force shall 
cooperate with the Secretary concerned having jurisdiction over the 
wounded warrior to transfer the wounded warrior from the other Armed 
Force to the Air Force to permit the wounded warrior to be selected for 
the program under this section.
    (e) Wounded Warrior Defined.--In this section, the term ``wounded 
warrior'' means a member of the Armed Forces who--
            (1) is unfit to perform the duties of the member's office, 
        grade, rank, or rating because of physical disability incurred 
        in the line of duty; and
            (2) is under consideration for retirement or separation 
        under chapter 61 of title 10, United States Code, or has been 
        placed on the temporary disability retired list.
                                 <all>