
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 2, 2001]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 2, 2001 and January 28, 2002]
[CITE: 10USC2173]

 
                         TITLE 10--ARMED FORCES
 
                    Subtitle A--General Military Law
 
                    PART III--TRAINING AND EDUCATION
 
            CHAPTER 109--EDUCATIONAL LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAMS
 
Sec. 2173. Education loan repayment program: commissioned 
        officers in specified health professions
        
    (a) Authority To Repay Education Loans.--For the purpose of 
maintaining adequate numbers of commissioned officers of the armed 
forces on active duty who are qualified in the various health 
professions, the Secretary of a military department may repay, in the 
case of a person described in subsection (b), a loan that--
        (1) was used by the person to finance education regarding a 
    health profession; and
        (2) was obtained from a governmental entity, private financial 
    institution, school, or other authorized entity.

    (b) Eligible Persons.--To be eligible to obtain a loan repayment 
under this section, a person must--
        (1) satisfy one of the requirements specified in subsection (c);
        (2) be fully qualified for, or hold, an appointment as a 
    commissioned officer in one of the health professions; and
        (3) sign a written agreement to serve on active duty, or, if on 
    active duty, to remain on active duty for a period in addition to 
    any other incurred active duty obligation.

    (c) Academic and Professional Requirements.--One of the following 
academic requirements must be satisfied for purposes of determining the 
eligibility of a person for a loan repayment under this section:
        (1) The person is fully qualified in a health care profession 
    that the Secretary of the military department concerned has 
    determined to be necessary to meet identified skill shortages.
        (2) The person is enrolled as a full-time student in the final 
    year of a course of study at an accredited educational institution 
    leading to a degree in a health profession other than medicine or 
    osteopathic medicine.
        (3) The person is enrolled in the final year of an approved 
    graduate program leading to specialty qualification in medicine, 
    dentistry, osteopathic medicine, or other health profession.

    (d) Certain Persons Ineligible.--Participants of the Armed Forces 
Health Professions Scholarship and Financial Assistance program under 
subchapter I of chapter 105 of this title and students of the Uniformed 
Services University of the Health Sciences established under section 
2112 of this title are not eligible for the repayment of an education 
loan under this section.
    (e) Loan Repayments.--(1) Subject to the limits established by 
paragraph (2), a loan repayment under this section may consist of 
payment of the principal, interest, and related expenses of a loan 
obtained by a person described in subsection (b) for--
        (A) all educational expenses, comparable to all educational 
    expenses recognized under section 2127(a) of this title for 
    participants in the Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship and 
    Financial Assistance program; and
        (B) reasonable living expenses, not to exceed expenses 
    comparable to the stipend paid under section 2121(d) of this title 
    for participants in the Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship 
    and Financial Assistance program.

    (2) For each year of obligated service that a person agrees to serve 
in an agreement described in subsection (b)(3), the Secretary of the 
military department concerned may pay not more than $22,000 on behalf of 
the person. This maximum amount shall be increased annually by the 
Secretary of Defense effective October 1 of each year by the percentage 
equal to the percent increase in the average annual cost of educational 
expenses and stipend costs of a single scholarship under the Armed 
Forces Health Professions Scholarship and Financial Assistance program. 
The total amount that may be repaid on behalf of any person may not 
exceed an amount determined on the basis of a four-year active duty 
service obligation.
    (f) Active Duty Service Obligation.--(1) A person entering into an 
agreement described in subsection (b)(3) incurs an active duty service 
obligation. The length of this obligation shall be determined under 
regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense, but those 
regulations may not provide for a period of obligation of less than one 
year for each maximum annual amount, or portion thereof, paid on behalf 
of the person for qualified loans.
    (2) For persons on active duty before entering into the agreement, 
the active duty service obligation shall be served consecutively to any 
other obligation incurred under the agreement.
    (g) Effect of Failure To Complete Obligation.--A commissioned 
officer who is relieved of the officer's active duty obligation under 
this section before the completion of that obligation may be given, with 
or without the consent of the officer, any alternative obligation 
comparable to any of the alternative obligations authorized by section 
2123(e) of this title for participants in the Armed Forces Health 
Professions Scholarship and Financial Assistance program.
    (h) Regulations.--The Secretary of Defense shall prescribe 
regulations to carry out this section, including standards for qualified 
loans and authorized payees and other terms and conditions for the 
making of loan repayments.

(Added Pub. L. 105-85, div. A, title VI, Sec. 651(a), Nov. 18, 1997, 111 
Stat. 1802.)
