Title 10 — Armed ForcesRelease 119-73
§16302 Education loan repayment program: health professions officers serving in Selected Reserve with wartime critical medical skill shortages
Title 10 › Subtitle Subtitle E— - Reserve Components › Part PART IV— - TRAINING FOR RESERVE COMPONENTS AND EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS › Chapter CHAPTER 1609— - EDUCATION LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAMS › § 16302
Summary
Under rules set by the Secretary of Defense, a military service secretary can repay certain education loans for Selected Reserve officers who fill critical wartime medical roles. Covered loans include federal student loans made under parts B, D, and part E (part E only if made after October 1, 1975), health-professions loans under parts of the Public Health Service Act, and other recognized loans used for qualifying basic or graduate health degrees that the Secretary of Defense says are critically needed. Loan repayment is only for officers who serve satisfactorily in the Selected Reserve and who have, or are training for, the approved health qualifications. Repayment is based on each full year of service after the loan was made. The yearly limit equals the maximum used in 10 U.S.C. 2173(e)(2). This benefit applies only to officers first commissioned on or before December 31, 2026.
Full Legal Text
Title 10, §16302
Armed Forces — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense and subject to the other provisions of this section, the Secretary concerned may repay—
(1)a loan made, insured, or guaranteed under part B of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1071 et seq.);
(2)any loan made under part D of such title (the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program, 20 U.S.C. 1087a et seq.); or
(3)a loan made under part E of such title (20 U.S.C. 1087aa et seq.) after October 1, 1975;
(4)a health professions education loan made or insured under part A of title VII of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 292 et seq.) or under part B of title VIII of such Act (42 U.S.C. 297 et seq.); and
(5)a loan made, insured, or guaranteed through a recognized financial or educational institution if that loan was used to finance education regarding a basic professional qualifying degree (as determined under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense) or graduate education in a health profession that the Secretary of Defense determines to be critically needed in order to meet identified wartime combat medical skill shortages.
(b)The Secretary concerned may repay loans described in subsection (a) only in the case of a person who—
(1)performs satisfactory service as an officer in the Selected Reserve of an armed force; and
(2)possesses professional qualifications, or is enrolled in a program of education leading to professional qualifications, in a health profession that the Secretary of Defense has determined to be needed critically in order to meet identified wartime combat medical skill shortages.
(c)(1)The amount of any repayment of a loan made under this section on behalf of any person shall be determined on the basis of each complete year of service that is described in subsection (b)(1) and performed by the person after the date on which the loan was made.
(2)The annual maximum amount of a loan that may be repaid under this section shall be the same as the maximum amount in effect for the same year under subsection (e)(2) of section 2173 of this title for the education loan repayment program under such section.
(d)The authority provided in this section shall apply only in the case of a person first appointed as a commissioned officer on or before December 31, 2026.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
References in Text
The Higher Education Act of 1965, referred to in subsec. (a)(1) to (3), is Pub. L. 89–329, Nov. 8, 1965, 79 Stat. 1219. Parts B, D, and E of title IV of the Act are classified to parts B (§ 1071 et seq.), D (§ 1087a et seq.), and E (§ 1087aa et seq.), respectively, of subchapter IV of chapter 28 of Title 20, Education. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see
Short Title
note set out under section 1001 of Title 20 and Tables. The Public Health Service Act, referred to in subsec. (a)(4), is act July 1, 1944, ch. 373, 58 Stat. 682, as amended. Part A of title VII of the Act is classified generally to part A (§ 292 et seq.) of subchapter V of chapter 6A of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare. Part B of title VIII of the Act is classified generally to part B (§ 297 et seq.) of subchapter VI of chapter 6A of Title 42. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see
Short Title
note set out under section 201 of Title 42 and Tables.
Amendments
2025—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 119–60 substituted “
December 31, 2026” for “
December 31, 2025”. 2024—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 118–159 substituted “
December 31, 2025” for “
December 31, 2024”. 2023—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 118–31 substituted “
December 31, 2024” for “
December 31, 2023”. 2022—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 117–263 substituted “
December 31, 2023” for “
December 31, 2022”. 2021—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 117–81 substituted “
December 31, 2022” for “
December 31, 2021”. Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 116–283 substituted “
December 31, 2021” for “
December 31, 2020”. 2019—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 116–92 substituted “
December 31, 2020” for “
December 31, 2019”. 2018—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 115–232 substituted “
December 31, 2019” for “
December 31, 2018”. 2017—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 115–91 substituted “
December 31, 2018” for “
December 31, 2017”. 2016—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 114–328 substituted “
December 31, 2017” for “
December 31, 2016”. 2015—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 114–92 substituted “
December 31, 2016” for “
December 31, 2015”. 2014—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 113–291 substituted “
December 31, 2015” for “
December 31, 2014”. 2013—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 113–66 substituted “
December 31, 2014” for “
December 31, 2013”. Pub. L. 112–239 substituted “
December 31, 2013” for “
December 31, 2012”. 2011—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 112–81 substituted “
December 31, 2012” for “
December 31, 2011”. Pub. L. 111–383 substituted “
December 31, 2011” for “
December 31, 2010”. 2009—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 111–84 substituted “
December 31, 2010” for “
December 31, 2009”. 2008—Subsec. (c)(2), (3). Pub. L. 110–417, § 547, added par. (2) and struck out former pars. (2) and (3) which read as follows: “(2) Subject to paragraph (3), the amount of a loan that may be repaid under this section on behalf of any person may not exceed $20,000 for each year of service described in paragraph (1). “(3) The total amount that may be repaid on behalf of any person under this section may not exceed $50,000.” Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 110–417, § 612(b), substituted “on or before
December 31, 2009” for “before
January 1, 2009”. Pub. L. 110–181 substituted “
January 1, 2009” for “
January 1, 2008”. 2006—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 109–364 substituted “
January 1, 2008” for “
January 1, 2007”. Pub. L. 109–163 substituted “
January 1, 2007” for “
January 1, 2006”. 2004—Subsec. (a)(5). Pub. L. 108–375, § 662, inserted “a basic professional qualifying degree (as determined under
Regulations
prescribed by the Secretary of Defense) or graduate education in” after “regarding”. Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 108–375, § 612(b), substituted “
January 1, 2006” for “
January 1, 2005”. 2003—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 108–136 substituted “
January 1, 2005” for “
January 1, 2004”. 2002—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 107–314 substituted “
January 1, 2004” for “
January 1, 2003”. 2001—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 107–107 substituted “
January 1, 2003” for “
January 1, 2002”. 2000—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 106–398 substituted “
January 1, 2002” for “
January 1, 2001”. 1999—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 106–65 substituted “
January 1, 2001” for “
January 1, 2000”. 1998—Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 105–261, § 654(a), inserted “, or is enrolled in a program of education leading to professional qualifications,” after “possesses professional qualifications”. Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 105–261, § 654(b)(1), substituted “$20,000” for “$3,000”. Subsec. (c)(3). Pub. L. 105–261, § 654(b)(2), substituted “$50,000” for “$20,000”. Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 105–261, § 611(h), substituted “
January 1, 2000” for “
October 1, 1999”. 1997—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 105–85 substituted “
October 1, 1999” for “
October 1, 1998”. 1996—Subsec. (a)(2) to (5). Pub. L. 104–106, § 1079(c), added par. (2) and redesignated former pars. (2) to (4) as (3) to (5), respectively. Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 104–201 substituted “
October 1, 1998” for “
October 1, 1997”. Pub. L. 104–106, § 613(h), substituted “
October 1, 1997” for “
October 1, 1996”. 1994—Pub. L. 103–337, § 1663(d)(2), renumbered section 2172 of this title as this section and substituted “Education loan repayment program: health professions officers serving in Selected Reserve with wartime critical medical skill shortages” for “Education loans for certain health professionals who serve in the Selected Reserve” as section catchline. Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 103–337, § 1070(a)(9), substituted “health professions education loan” for “health education assistance loan”, “part A” for “part C”, and “42 U.S.C. 292” for “42 U.S.C. 294”. Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 103–337, § 613(e), substituted “
October 1, 1996” for “
October 1, 1995”. 1993—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 103–160 substituted “
October 1, 1995” for “
October 1, 1993”. 1992—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 102–484 substituted “
October 1, 1993” for “
October 1, 1992”. 1989—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 101–189, § 701(c)(1), struck out “a portion of” before “a loan made”. Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 101–189, § 701(a), added par. (4). Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 101–189, § 701(c)(2), substituted “amount of” for “portion of”. Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 101–189, § 701(b), substituted “
October 1, 1992” for “
October 1, 1990”. 1987—Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 100–180, § 713(a), inserted “or under part B of title VIII of such Act (42 U.S.C. 297 et seq.)”. Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 100–180, § 713(b), substituted “
October 1, 1990” for “
October 1, 1988”.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 2008 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 110–181 effective as of Dec. 31, 2007, and subject to various special provisions, see section 610 of Pub. L. 110–181, set out as a Correction of Lapsed Authorities for Payment of Bonuses, Special Pays, and Similar Benefits for Members of the Uniformed Services note under section 2130a of this title.
Effective Date
of 1994 AmendmentAmendment by section 1663(d)(2) of Pub. L. 103–337 effective Dec. 1, 1994, except as otherwise provided, see section 1691 of Pub. L. 103–337, set out as an
Effective Date
note under section 10001 of this title.
Effective Date
Pub. L. 99–145, title VI, § 671(b)(2), Nov. 8, 1985, 99 Stat. 663, provided that: “The authority provided under section 2172 [now 16302] of title 10, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), shall apply only— “(A) in the case of a person who is first appointed as a commissioned officer of an Armed Force after September 30, 1985; and “(B) with respect to service performed after that date.”
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
10 U.S.C. § 16302
Title 10 — Armed Forces
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73