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Title 37 — Pay and Allowances of the Uniformed ServicesRelease 119-73not60

§302l Special Pay: Accession Bonus for Dental Specialist Officers in Critically Short Wartime Specialties

Title 37 › Chapter 5— SPECIAL AND INCENTIVE PAYS › Subchapter I— EXISTING SPECIAL PAY, INCENTIVE PAY, AND BONUS AUTHORITIES › § 302l

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

Offers a signing bonus to dentists who graduated from an accredited dental school in a specialty the military has labeled "critically short wartime specialty." To get the bonus, the dentist must sign a written agreement to accept a commission as an officer and serve at least four continuous years on active duty. The service secretary must approve the agreement and decide the bonus amount. The bonus cannot be more than $400,000. A dentist cannot get the bonus if they already got DoD money to study dentistry in exchange for an appointment, or if the secretary finds they are not qualified to become and remain certified in that specialty. The agreement must assign the person to the Army or Navy Dental Corps or to the Air Force as a dental officer in that specialty for the agreed service time. If the person is not commissioned, does not become licensed, or does not finish the service, they must repay the bonus under section 303a(e). If eligible under both this rule and section 302h, the person must choose one. No new agreements can be made after December 31, 2018.

Full Legal Text

Title 37, §302l

Pay and Allowances of the Uniformed Services — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)A person who is a graduate of an accredited dental school in a specialty designated by regulations as a critically short wartime specialty and who executes a written agreement described in subsection (d) to accept a commission as an officer of the armed forces and remain on active duty for a period of not less than four consecutive years may, upon the acceptance of the agreement by the Secretary concerned, be paid an accession bonus in the amount determined by the Secretary concerned.
(b)The amount of an accession bonus under subsection (a) may not exceed $400,000.
(c)A person may not be paid a bonus under subsection (a) if—
(1)the person, in exchange for an agreement to accept an appointment as an officer, received financial assistance from the Department of Defense to pursue a course of study in dentistry; or
(2)the Secretary concerned determines that the person is not qualified to become and remain certified as a dentist in a specialty designated by regulations as a critically short wartime specialty.
(d)The agreement referred to in subsection (a) shall provide that, consistent with the needs of the armed force concerned, the person executing the agreement will be assigned to duty, for the period of obligated service covered by the agreement, as an officer of the Dental Corps of the Army or the Navy or as an officer of the Air Force designated as a dental officer in a specialty designated by regulations as a critically short wartime specialty.
(e)A person who, after executing an agreement under subsection (a) is not commissioned as an officer of the armed forces, does not become licensed as a dentist, or does not complete the period of active duty in a specialty specified in the agreement, shall be subject to the repayment provisions of section 303a(e) of this title.
(f)A person eligible to execute an agreement under both subsection (a) and section 302h of this title shall elect which authority to execute the agreement under. A person may not execute an agreement under both subsection (a) and such section 302h.
(g)No agreement under this section may be entered into after December 31, 2018.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2017—Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 115–91 substituted “
December 31, 2018” for “
December 31, 2017”. 2016—Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 114–328 substituted “
December 31, 2017” for “
December 31, 2016”. 2015—Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 114–92 substituted “
December 31, 2016” for “
December 31, 2015”. 2014—Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 113–291 substituted “
December 31, 2015” for “
December 31, 2014”. 2013—Subsec. (g). 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. (g). 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. (g). Pub. L. 111–84 substituted “
December 31, 2010” for “
December 31, 2009”. 2008—Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 110–417 substituted “
December 31, 2009” for “
December 31, 2008”. Pub. L. 110–181 substituted “
December 31, 2008” for “
December 31, 2007”.

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 Title 10, Armed Forces.

Effective Date

Section effective Oct. 1, 2006, and applicable to agreements entered into on or after that date, see section 617(e) of Pub. L. 109–364, set out as an

Effective Date

of 2006 Amendment note under section 302h of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

37 U.S.C. § 302l

Title 37 — Pay and Allowances of the Uniformed Services

Last Updated

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60