INCREASE IN RESERVE COMPONENT MONTGOMERY GI BILL EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE ALLOWANCE WITH RESPECT TO SKILLS OR SPECIALTIES FOR WHICH THERE IS A CRITICAL SHORTAGE OF PERSONNEL.

SEC. 1076. INCREASE IN RESERVE COMPONENT MONTGOMERY GI BILL EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE ALLOWANCE WITH RESPECT TO SKILLS OR SPECIALTIES FOR WHICH THERE IS A CRITICAL SHORTAGE OF PERSONNEL. Section 16131 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: 110 STAT. 451 “(j) (1) In the case of a person who has a skill or specialty designated by the Secretary concerned as a skill or specialty in which there is a critical shortage of personnel or for which it is difficult to recruit or, in the case of critical units, retain personnel, the Secretary concerned may increase the rate of the educational assistance allowance applicable to that person to such rate in excess of the rate prescribed under subparagraphs (A) through (D) of subsection (b)(1) as the Secretary of Defense considers appropriate, but the amount of any such increase may not exceed $350 per month. “(2) In the case of a person who has a skill or specialty designated by the Secretary concerned as a skill or specialty in which there is a critical shortage of personnel or for which it is difficult to recruit or, in the case of critical units, retain personnel, who is eligible for educational benefits under chapter 30 (other than section 3012) of title 38 and who meets the eligibility criteria specified in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of section 16132(a)(1) of this title, the Secretary concerned may increase the rate of the educational assistance allowance applicable to that person to such rate in excess of the rate prescribed under section 3015 of title 38 as the Secretary of Defense considers appropriate, but the amount of any such increase may not exceed $350 per month. “(3) The authority provided by paragraphs (1) and (2) shall be exercised by the Secretaries concerned under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense.”.