123STA T . 2 497PUBLIC LA W 111 –8 4 —O CT. 28 , 2 0 09 (3)LIM I TA TI ON ON PER IO D O F PARTI C IPATION IN PRO G RAM .—Themaxi m u m p e r i od o ft ime that a n indi v idua l ma y parti c ipate in the pro g ram i s three years. (c) EL EMENT S OF P ROGRAM.— ( 1 ) C OMPETITI V E ENTR Y .—The selection of individuals for entry into the program shall b e made on the basis of a competi - tion conducted at least t w ice each year. I n each competition , participants in the program shall be selected from among applicants determined by the S ecretary to be the most highly q ualified in terms of academic merit, wor k experience, and demonstrated leadership skills. Each competition shall provide for entry-level participants and midcareer participants in the program. ( 2 ) A LLOCATION OF POSITIONS.—The Secretary shall allocate positions in the program among the components of the D epart- ment of Defense that— (A) offer the most challenging assignments
( B ) provide the greatest level of responsibility; and (C) demonstrate the greatest need for participants in the program. (3) ASSIGNMENTS TO POSITIONS.—Participants in the pro- gram shall be assigned to components of the Department that best match their skills and qualifications. Participants in the program may be rotated among components of the Department of Defense at the discretion of the Secretary. ( 4 ) INITIAL COMPENSATION.—The initial compensation of participants in the program shall be determined by the Sec- retary based on the qualifications of such participants and applicable market conditions. ( 5 )ED U CATION AND TRAINING.—The Secretary shall provide participants in the program with training, mentoring, and edu- cational opportunities that are appropriate to facilitate the development of such participants into effective civilian leaders for the Department of Defense. ( 6 ) OBJ ECTIVE, MERIT-BASED PRINCIPLES FOR PERSONNEL DECISIONS.—The Secretary shall make personnel decisions under the program in accordance with such ob j ective, merit- based criteria as the Secretary shall prescribe in regulations for purposes of the program. Such criteria shall include, but not be limited to, criteria applicable to the following
(A) The selection of individuals for entry into the pro- gram. (B) The assignment of participants in the program to positions in the Department of Defense. (C) The initial compensation of participants in the program. (D) The access of participants in the program to training, mentoring, and educational opportunities under the program. (E) The consideration of participants in the program for selection into the senior management, functional, and technical workforce of the Department. ( 7 ) CONSIDERATION FOR SENIOR MANAGEMENT, FUNCTIONAL, AND TEC H NICAL W OR K FORCE.—Any participant in the program who, as determined by the Secretary, demonstrates outstanding performance shall be afforded priority in consideration for selec- tion into the appropriate element of the senior management, Det e rmina ti o n .R e gul ation s . Determination. Determination.
