AUTHORITY FOR REDUCED MANDATORY SERVICE OBLIGATION FOR INITIAL APPOINTMENTS OF OFFICERS IN CRITICALLY SHORT HEALTH PROFESSIONAL SPECIALTIES.

SEC. 505. AUTHORITY FOR REDUCED MANDATORY SERVICE OBLIGATION FOR INITIAL APPOINTMENTS OF OFFICERS IN CRITICALLY SHORT HEALTH PROFESSIONAL SPECIALTIES. Section 651 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:“(c)(1) For the armed forces under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary may waive the initial period of required service otherwise established pursuant to subsection (a) in the case of the initial appointment of a commissioned officer in a critically short health professional specialty specified by the Secretary for purposes of this subsection.“(2) The minimum period of obligated service for an officer under a waiver under this subsection shall be the greater of—“(A) two years; or“(B) in the case of an officer who has accepted an accession bonus or executed a contract or agreement for the multiyear receipt of special pay for service in the armed forces, the period of obligated service specified in such contract or agreement.”.