ELIGIBILITY FOR RESERVE COMPONENT PRIOR SERVICE ENLISTMENT BONUS UPON ATTAINING A CRITICAL SKILL.

SEC. 623. ELIGIBILITY FOR RESERVE COMPONENT PRIOR SERVICE ENLISTMENT BONUS UPON ATTAINING A CRITICAL SKILL. (a) Revised Eligibility Requirements for Bonus.—Section 308i(a) of title 37, United States Code, is amended by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following new paragraph:113 STAT. 654 “(2) A bonus may only be paid under this section to a person who meets each of the following requirements: “(A) The person has completed a military service obligation, but has less than 14 years of total military service, and received an honorable discharge at the conclusion of that military service obligation. “(B) The person was not released, or is not being released, from active service for the purpose of enlistment in a reserve component. “(C) The person is projected to occupy, or is occupying, a position as a member of the Selected Reserve in a specialty in which the person— “(i) successfully served while a member on active duty and attained a level of qualification while on active duty commensurate with the grade and years of service of the member; or “(ii) has completed training or retraining in the specialty skill that is designated as critically short and attained a level of qualification in the specialty skill that is commensurate with the grade and years of service of the member. “(D) The person has not previously been paid a bonus (except under this section) for enlistment, reenlistment, or extension of enlistment in a reserve component.”. (b) Effective Date.—The amendment made by subsection (a) shall take effect on October 1, 1999, and shall apply to enlistments beginning on or after that date.