National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010/Division A/Title V/Subtitle C

SUBTITLE C — EDUCATION AND TRAINING

Sec. 521. Detail of commissioned officers as students at schools of psychology.

(a) In General.—Chapter 101 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 2004a the following new section:

"§ 2004b. Detail of commissioned officers as students at schools of psychology

"(a) Detail Authorized.—The Secretary of each military department may detail commissioned officers of the armed forces as students at accredited schools of psychology located in the United States for a period of training leading to the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in clinical psychology. No more than 25 officers from each military department may commence such training in any single fiscal year.

"(b) Eligibility for Detail.—To be eligible for detail under subsection (a), an officer must be a citizen of the United States and must—

"(1) have served on active duty for a period of notes than two years nor more than six years and be in the pay grade O-3 or below as of the time the training is to begin; and

"(2) sign an agreement that unless sooner separated the officer will—

"(A) complete the educational course of psychological training;

"(B) accept transfer or detail as a commissioned officer within the military department concerned when the officer's training is completed; and

"(C) agree to serve, following completion of the officer's training, on active duty (or on active duty and in the Selected Reserve) for a period as specified pursuant to subsection (c).

"(c) Service Obligation.—(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the agreement of an officer under subsection (b) shall provide that the officer shall serve on active duty for two years for each year or part thereof of the officer's training under subsection (a).

"(2) The agreement of an officer may authorize the officer to serve a portion of the officer's service obligation on active duty and to complete the service obligation that remains upon separation from active duty in the Selected Reserve. Under any such agreement, an officer shall serve three years in the Selected Reserve for each year or part thereof of the officer's training under subsection (a) for any service obligation that was not completed before separation from active duty.

"(d) Selection of Officers for Detail.—Officers detailed for training under subsection (a) shall be selected on a competitive basis by the Secretary of the military department concerned.

"(e) Relation of Service Obligations to Other Service Obligations.—Any service obligation incurred by an officer under an agreement entered into under subsection (b) shall be in addition to any service obligation incurred by the officer under any other provision of law or agreement.

"(f) Expenses.—Expenses incident to the detail of officers under this section shall be paid from any funds appropriated for the military department concerned.

"(g) Failure to Complete Program.—(1) An officer who is dropped from a program of psychological training to which detailed under subsection (a) for deficiency in conduct or studies, or for other reasons, may be required to perform active duty in an appropriate military capacity in accordance with the active duty obligation imposed on the officer under regulations issued by the Secretary of Defense for purposes of this section.

"(2) In no case shall an officer be required to serve on active duty under paragraph (1) for any period in excess of one year for each year or part thereof the officer participated in the program.

"(h) Limitation on Details.—No agreement detailing an officer of the armed forces to an accredited school of psychology may be entered into during any period in which the President is authorized by law to induct persons into the armed forces involuntarily. Nothing in this subsection shall affect any agreement entered into during any period when the President is not authorized by law to so induct persons into the armed forces.".

(b) Clerical Amendment.—The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 101 of such title is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 2004a the following new item:

"2004b. Detail of commissioned officers as students at schools of psychology.".

Sec. 522. Appointment of persons enrolled in Advanced Course of the Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps at military junior colleges as cadets in Army Reserve or Army National Guard of the United States.

Section 2107a (h) of title 10, United States Code, is amended—

(1) by striking "17 cadets" and inserting "22 cadets";

(2) by striking "17 members" and inserting "22 members"; and

(3) by striking "17 such members" and inserting "22 such members".

Sec. 523. Expansion of criteria for appointment as member of the Board of Regents of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences.

Section 2113a (b)(1) of title 10, United States Code, is amended by striking "health and health education" and inserting "health care, higher education administration, or public policy".

Sec. 524. Use of Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship and Financial Assistance program to increase number of health professionals with skills to assist in providing mental health care.

(a) Additional Element Within Scholarship Program.—Section 2121 (a) of title 10, United States Code, is amended—

(1) by inserting "(1)" after "(a)";

(2) by striking "in the various health professions" and inserting "(A) in the various health professions or (B) as a health professional with specific skills to assist in providing mental health care to members of the armed forces"; and

(3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

"(2) Under the program of a military department, the Secretary of that military department shall allocate a portion of the total number of scholarships to members of the program described in paragraph (1)(B) for the purpose of assisting such members to pursue a degree at the masters and doctoral level in any of the following disciplines:

"(A) Social work.

"(B) Clinical psychology.

"(C) Psychiatry.

"(D) Other disciplines that contribute to mental health care programs in that military department.".

(b) Authorized Number of Members of the Program.—Section 2124 of such title is amended—

(1) by striking "The number" and inserting "(a) Authorized Number of Members of the Program.—The number";

(2) by striking "6,000" and inserting "6,300"; and

(3) by adding at the end the following new subsection:

"(b) Mental Health Professionals.—Of the number of persons designated as members of the program at any time, 300 may be members of the program described in section 2121 (a)(1)(B) of this title.".

Sec. 525. Department of Defense undergraduate nurse training program.

(a) Revision of Current School of Nursing Authorizations.—

(1) Repeal of establishment within uniformed services university of the health sciences.—Section 2117 of title 10, United States Code, is repealed.

(2) Establishment as department of defense school.—Chapter 108 of such title is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

"§ 2169. School of Nursing: establishment

"(a) Establishment Authorized.—The Secretary of Defense may establish a School of Nursing.

"(b) Degree Granting Authority.—The School of Nursing may include a program that awards a bachelor of science in nursing.

"(c) Phased Development.—The Secretary of Defense may develop the School of Nursing in phases as determined appropriate by the Secretary.".

(3) Clerical Amendments.—

(A) Chapter 104.—The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 104 of such title is amended by striking the item relating to section 2117.

(B) Chapter 108.—The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 108 of such title is amended by adding at the end the following new item:

2169. School of Nursing: establishment.".

"(b) Authority to Establish Undergraduate Nurse Training Program.—

"(1) In general.—Chapter 101 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

"§ 2016. Undergraduate nurse training program: establishment through agreement with academic institution

"(a) Establishment Authorized.—(1) To increase the number of nurses in the armed forces, the Secretary of Defense may enter into an agreement with one or more academic institutions to establish and operate an undergraduate program (in this section referred to as a 'undergraduate nurse training program') under which participants will earn a nursing degree and serve as a member of the armed forces.

"(2) The Secretary of Defense may authorize the participation of members of the other uniformed services in the undergraduate nurse training program if the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Health and Human Services jointly determine the participation of such members in the program will facilitate an increase in the number of nurses in the other uniformed services.

"(b) Graduation Rates.—An undergraduate nurse training program shall have the capacity to graduate 25 students with a bachelor of science degree in the first class of the program, 50 in the second class, and 100 annually thereafter.

"(c) Elements.—An undergraduate nurse training program shall have the following elements:

"(1) It shall involve an academic partnership with one or more academic institutions with existing accredited schools of nursing.

"(2) It shall recruit as participants qualified individuals with at least two years of appropriate academic preparation, as determined by the Secretary of Defense.

"(d) Location of Programs.—An academic institution selected to operate an undergraduate nurse training program shall establish the program at or near a military installation. A military installation at or near which an undergraduate nurse training program is established must—

"(1) be one of the ten largest military installations in the United States, in terms of the number of active duty personnel assigned to the installation and family members residing on or in the vicinity of the installations; and

"(2) have a military treatment facility with inpatient capability designated as a medical center located on the installation or within 10 miles of the installation.

"(e) Limitation on Faculty.—An agreement entered into under subsection (a) shall not require members of the armed forces who are nurses to serve as faculty members for an undergraduate nurse training program.

"(f) Military Service Commitment.—The Secretary of Defense shall encourage members of the armed forces to apply to participate in an undergraduate nurse training program. Graduates of the program shall incur a military service obligation in a regular or reserve component, as determined by the Secretary.".

"(2) Clerical Amendment.—The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by adding at the end the following new item:

"2016. Undergraduate nurse training program: establishment through agreement with academic institution.".

(c) Undergraduate Nurse Training Program Plan.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a plan to establish an undergraduate nurse training program in the Department of Defense in accordance with the authority provided by section 2169 of title 10, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), section 2016 of such title, as added by subsection (b), or any other authority available to the Secretary.

(d) Pilot Program.—

(1) Pilot program required.—The plan required by subsection (c) shall provide for the establishment of a pilot program to increase the number of nurses serving in the Armed Forces.

(2) Implementation and duration.—The pilot program shall begin not later than July 1, 2011, and be of not less than five years in duration.

(3) Graduation rates.—The pilot programs shall achieve graduation rates at least equal to the rates required for the undergraduate nurse training program authorized by section 2016 of title 10, United States Code, as added by subsection (b).

(4) Implementation report.—Not later than 270 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives a report on the pilot program, including a description of the program selected to be undertaken, the program's goals, and any additional legal authorities that may be needed to undertake the program.

(5) Progress reports.—Not later than 90 days after the end of each academic year of the pilot program, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report specifying the number of nurses accessed into the Armed Forces through the program and the number of students accepted for the upcoming academic year.

(6) Final report.—Not later than one year before the end of the pilot program, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report specifying the number of nurses accessed through the program, evaluating the overall effectiveness of the program, and containing the Secretary's recommendations regarding whether the program should be extended.

(e) Effect on Other Nursing Programs.—Notwithstanding the development of undergraduate nurse training programs under the amendments made by this section and subsection (d), the Secretary of Defense shall ensure that graduate degree programs in nursing, including advanced practice nursing, continue.

(f) Effect on Other Recruitment Efforts.—Nothing in this section shall be construed as limiting or terminating any current or future program of the Department of Defense related to the recruitment, accession, training, or retention of nurses.

Sec. 526. Increase in number of private sector civilians authorized for admission to National Defense University.

Section 2167 (a) of title 10, United States Code, is amended by striking "10 full-time student positions" and inserting "20 full-time student positions".

Sec. 527. Appointments to military service academies from nominations made by Delegate from the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

(a) United States Military Academy.—Section 4342 (a)(10) of title 10, United States Code, is amended by striking "One cadet" and inserting "Two cadets".

(b) United States Naval Academy.—Section 6954 (a)(10) of such title is amended by striking "One" and inserting "Two".

(c) United States Air Force Academy.—Section 9342 (a)(10) of such title is amended by striking "One cadet" and inserting "Two cadets".

(d) Effective Date.—The amendments made by this section shall apply with respect to appointments to the United States Military Academy, the United States Naval Academy, and the United States Air Force Academy beginning with the first class of candidates nominated for appointment to these military service academies after the date of the enactment of this Act.

Sec. 528. Athletic association for the Air Force Academy.

(a) In General.—Chapter 903 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

"§ 9362. Support of athletic programs

"(a) Corporation for Support Authorized.—(1) The Secretary of the Air Force may, in accordance with the laws of the State of incorporation, establish a corporation (in this section referred to as the 'corporation') to support the athletic programs of the Academy. All stock of the corporation shall be owned by the United States and held in the name of and voted by the Secretary of the Air Force.

"(2) The corporation shall operate exclusively for charitable, educational, and civic purposes to support the athletic programs of the Academy.

"(b) Corporate Organization.—The corporation shall be organized and operated—

"(1) as a nonprofit corporation under section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986;

"(2) in accordance with this section; and

"(3) pursuant to the laws of the State of incorporation, its articles of incorporation, and its bylaws.

"(c) Corporate Board of Directors.—(1) The members of the board of directors of the corporation shall serve without compensation as members of the board, except for reasonable travel and other related expenses for attendance at meetings of the board.

"(2) The Secretary of the Air Force may authorize military and civilian personnel of the Air Force under section 1033 of this title to serve, in their official capacities, as members of the board of directors of the corporation, but such personnel shall not hold more than one-third of the directorships.

"(d) Transfers From Nonappropriated Fund Operation.—The Secretary of the Air Force may, subject to the acceptance of the corporation, transfer to the corporation all title to and ownership of the assets and liabilities of the Air Force nonappropriated fund instrumentality whose functions include providing support for the athletic programs of the Academy, including bank accounts and financial reserves in its accounts, equipment, supplies, and other personal property, but excluding any interest in real property.

"(e) Acceptance of Gifts.—The Secretary of the Air Force may accept from the corporation funds, supplies, and services for the support of cadets and Academy personnel during their participation in Academy or corporate vents related to the athletic programs of the Academy.

"(f) Leases.—The Secretary of the Air Force may, in accordance with section 2667 of this title, lease real and personal property to the corporation for purposes related to the athletic programs of the Academy. Funds received from any such lease may be retained and spent by the Secretary to support athletic programs of the Academy.

"(g) Cooperative Agreements.—The Secretary of the Air Force may enter into cooperative agreements (as described in section 6305 of title 31) with the corporation for purposes related to the athletic programs of the Academy.".

(b) Clerical Amendment.—The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 903 of such title is amended by adding at the end the following new item:

"9362. Support of athletic programs.".

Sec. 529. Language training centers for members of the Armed Forces and civilian employees of the Department of Defense.

(a) Program Authorized.—The Secretary of Defense may carry out a program to establish language training centers at accredited universities, senior military colleges, or other similar institutions of higher education for purposes of accelerating the development of foundational expertise in critical and strategic languages and regional area studies (as defined by the Secretary of Defense for purposes of this section) for members of the Armed Forces, including members of the reserve components and candidates of the Reserve Officers' Training Corps programs, and civilian employees of the Department of Defense.

(b) Elements.—Each language training center established under the program authorized by subsection (a) shall include the following:

(1) Programs to provide that members of the Armed Forces or civilian employees of the Department of Defense who graduate from the institution of higher education concerned include members or employees, as the case may be, who are skilled in the languages and area studies covered by the program from beginning through advanced skill levels.

(2) Programs of language proficiency training for such members and civilian employees at the institution of higher education concerned in critical and strategic languages tailored to meet operational readiness requirements.

(3) Alternative language training delivery systems and modalities to meet language and regional area study requirements for such members and employees whether prior to deployment, during deployment, or post-deployment.

(4) Programs on critical and strategic languages under the program that can be incorporated into Reserve Officers' Training Corps programs to facilitate the development of language skills in such languages among future officers of the Armed Forces.

(5) Training and education programs to expand the pool of qualified instructors and educators on critical and strategic languages and regional area studies under the program for the Armed Forces.

(6) Programs to facilitate and encourage the recruitment of native and heritage speakers of critical and strategic languages under the program into the Armed Forces and the civilian workforce of the Department of Defense and to support the Civilian Linguist Reserve Corps.

(c) Partnerships With Other Schools.—Any language training center established under the program authorized by subsection (a) may enter into a partnership with one or more local educational agencies to facilitate the development of skills in critical and strategic languages under the program among students attending the elementary and secondary schools of such agencies who may pursue a military career.

(d) Coordination.—The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that the language training centers established under the program authorized by subsection (a) are aligned with those of the National Security Education Program, the Defense Language Institute, and other appropriate Department of Defense programs to facilitate and encourage the recruitment of native and heritage speakers of critical and strategic languages under the program into the Armed Forces and the civilian workforce of the Department of Defense and to support the Civilian Linguist Reserve Corps.

(e) Report.—Not later than one year after the date of the establishment of the program authorized by subsection (a), the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the program. The report shall include the following:

(1) A description of each language training center established under the program.

(2) An assessment of the cost-effectiveness of the program in providing foundational expertise in critical and strategic languages and regional area studies in support of the Defense Language Transformation Roadmap.

(3) An assessment of the progress made by each language training center in providing capabilities in critical and strategic languages under the program to members of the Armed Forces and Department of Defense employees.

(4) A recommendation whether the program should be continued and, if so, recommendations as to any modifications of the program that the Secretary considers appropriate.