PILOT PROGRAM TO TEST EXPANSION OF ROTC PROGRAM TO INCLUDE GRADUATE STUDENTS.

SEC. 553. PILOT PROGRAM TO TEST EXPANSION OF ROTC PROGRAM TO INCLUDE GRADUATE STUDENTS. (a) Test Program.— Section 2107(c) of title 10, United States Code, is amended— (1) by inserting “(1)” after “(c)”; and (2) by adding at the end the following: “(2) The Secretary of Defense shall authorize the Secretaries of the military departments to carry out a test program to determine the desirability of enabling graduate students to participate in the financial assistance program under this section. As part of such test program, the Secretary of a military department may provide financial assistance, as described in paragraph (1), to a student enrolled in an advanced education program beyond the baccalaureate degree level if the student also is a cadet or midshipman in an advanced training program. Not more than 15 percent of the total number of scholarships awarded under this section in any year may be awarded under the test program. No scholarship may be awarded under the test program after September 30, 1999.”. (b) Authority To Enroll in Advanced Training Program.— Paragraph (3) of section 2101 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by inserting “students enrolled in an advanced education program beyond the baccalaureate degree level or to” after “instruction offered in the Senior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps to”. (c) Report to Congress.— Not later than December 31, 1998, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to Congress a report on the experience to that date under the test program authorized under the amendment made by subsection (a)(2). The report shall include the Secretary’s assessment of the effect of the test program 110 STAT. 2527on the Senior ROTC program and the Secretary’s recommendation as to whether the authority under the test program should be made permanent.