AUTHORITY TO DEFER MANDATORY RETIREMENT FOR AGE OF OFFICERS SERVING AS CHAPLAINS.

SEC. 504. AUTHORITY TO DEFER MANDATORY RETIREMENT FOR AGE OF OFFICERS SERVING AS CHAPLAINS. (a) Authority for Deferral of Retirement for Chaplains.—Subsection (c) of section 1251 of title 10, United States Code, is amended— (1) by redesignating paragraphs (2) and (3) as paragraphs (3) and (4), respectively; and (2) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following new paragraph (2): “(2) The Secretary concerned may defer the retirement under subsection (a) of an officer who is appointed or designated as a chaplain if the Secretary determines that such deferral is in the best interest of the military department concerned.”. (b) Authority for Deferral of Retirement for Chief and Deputy Chief of Chaplains.—Such section is further amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: “(d) The Secretary concerned may defer the retirement under subsection (a) of an officer who is the Chief of Chaplains or Deputy Chief of Chaplains of that officer’s armed force. Such a deferment may not extend beyond the first day of the month following the month in which the officer becomes 68 years of age.”. (c) Qualification for Service as Navy Chief of Chaplains or Deputy Chief of Chaplains.—(1) Section 5142(b) of such title is amended by striking out “, who are not on the retired list,”. (2) Section 5142a of such title is amended by striking “, who is not on the retired list,”.111 STAT. 1726