§302c–1 Special Pay: Accession and Retention Bonuses for Psychologists

Summary

Pays bonuses to psychologists who agree to join or stay on active duty as military officers. New appointees who graduated from an accredited psychology school and hold a State license as a doctoral psychologist can sign a written agreement to accept a commission and serve at least four consecutive years. The military secretary must approve the agreement. The accession bonus cannot be more than $400,000. Someone who got Department of Defense financial help for their psychology training or who is judged not able to be certified as a psychologist cannot get this bonus. Serving officers who are psychologists, below pay grade O-7, who have at least eight years of creditable service (or have finished their psychology-related service commitment), and who have completed residency training and hold a State doctoral license, may sign an agreement to stay up to four more years and get a retention bonus. The retention bonus may not exceed $25,000 for each year of the agreement. The agreement must assign the person to work as a psychologist during the obligated time. If a person is not commissioned, not licensed, or does not finish the agreed service, they must repay the bonus under section 303a(e) of this title. No new agreements could be made after December 31, 2018.