118 STAT. 1913 PUBLIC LAW 108–375—OCT. 28, 2004 2007(c) of title 10, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: ‘‘(1) Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), the Secretary of the Army may pay the charges of an educational institution for the tuition or expenses of an officer in the Selected Reserve of the Army National Guard or the Army Reserve for education or training of such officer.’’. (c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by subsection (a) may, at the discretion of the Secretary concerned, be applied to a service obligation incurred by an officer serving on active duty as of the date of the enactment of this Act. SEC. 554. INCREASED MAXIMUM PERIOD FOR LEAVE OF ABSENCE FOR PURSUIT OF A PROGRAM OF EDUCATION IN A HEALTH CARE PROFESSION. Section 708(a) of title 10, United States Code, is amended— (1) by striking ‘‘for a period not to exceed two years’’; and (2) by adding at the end the following: ‘‘The period of a leave of absence granted under this section may not exceed two years, except that the period may exceed two years but may not exceed three years in the case of an eligible member pursuing a program of education in a health care profession.’’. SEC. 555. ELIGIBILITY OF CADETS AND MIDSHIPMEN FOR MEDICAL AND DENTAL CARE AND DISABILITY BENEFITS. (a) MEDICAL AND DENTAL CARE.—(1) Chapter 55 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 1074a the following new section: ‘‘§ 1074b. Medical and dental care: Academy cadets and mid shipmen; members of, and designated applicants for membership in, Senior ROTC ‘‘(a) ELIGIBILITY.—Under joint regulations prescribed by the administering Secretaries, the following persons are, except as pro vided in subsection (c), entitled to the benefits described in sub section (b): ‘‘(1) A cadet at the United States Military Academy, the United States Air Force Academy, or the Coast Guard Academy, and a midshipman at the United States Naval Academy, who incurs or aggravates an injury, illness, or disease in the line of duty. ‘‘(2) A member of, and a designated applicant for member ship in, the Senior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps who incurs or aggravates an injury, illness, or disease— ‘‘(A) in the line of duty while performing duties under section 2109 of this title; ‘‘(B) while traveling directly to or from the place at which that member or applicant is to perform or has per formed duties pursuant to section 2109 of this title; or ‘‘(C) in the line of duty while remaining overnight immediately before the commencement of duties performed pursuant to section 2109 of this title or, while remaining overnight, between successive periods of performing duties pursuant to section 2109 of this title, at or in the vicinity of the site of the duties performed pursuant to section 10 USC 2007 note.
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