CONSTRUCTIVE SERVICE CREDIT UPON ORIGINAL APPOINTMENT OF RESERVE OFFICERS IN CERTAIN HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONS.

SEC. 512. CONSTRUCTIVE SERVICE CREDIT UPON ORIGINAL APPOINTMENT OF RESERVE OFFICERS IN CERTAIN HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONS.(a) Inclusion of Additional Health Care Professions.—Paragraph (2) of section 12207(b) of title 10, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:“(2)(A) If the Secretary of Defense determines that the number of officers in a health profession described in subparagraph (B) who are serving in an active status in a reserve component of the Army, Navy, or Air Force in grades below major or lieutenant commander is critically below the number needed in such health profession by such reserve component in such grades, the Secretary of Defense may authorize the Secretary of the military department concerned to credit any person who is receiving an original appointment as an officer for service in such health profession with a period of constructive credit in such amount (in addition to any amount credited such person under paragraph (1)) as will result in the grade of such person being that of captain or, in the case of the Navy Reserve, lieutenant.“(B) The types of health professions referred to in subparagraph (A) include the following:“(i) Any health profession performed by officers in the Medical Corps of the Army or the Navy or by officers of the Air Force designated as a medical officer.“(ii) Any health profession performed by officers in the Dental Corps of the Army or the Navy or by officers of the Air Force designated as a dental officer.122 STAT. 99“(iii) Any health profession performed by officers in the Medical Service Corps of the Army or the Navy or by officers of the Air Force designated as a medical service officer or biomedical sciences officer.“(iv) Any health profession performed by officers in the Army Medical Specialist Corps.“(v) Any health profession performed by officers of the Nurse Corps of the Army or the Navy or by officers of the Air Force designated as a nurse.“(vi) Any health profession performed by officers in the Veterinary Corps of the Army or by officers designated as a veterinary officer.”.(b) Conforming Amendment.—Paragraph (3) of such section is amended by striking “a medical or dental officer” and inserting “officers covered by paragraph (2)”.