Summary

Creates a DoD-led effort to help military medics move into civilian health-care jobs. It requires DoD (and the Coast Guard when applicable) to work with federal agencies and states to identify barriers, recommend fixes, and report recommendations within 180 days. It also establishes a DoD pilot grant program to pay eligible nonprofit or public health providers in medically underserved areas to hire, train, and retain separating or recently separated service members with medic-related credentials. The pilot provides up to $5 million per year for FY2026–FY2030, awards up to $600,000 for an initial three-year grant (with $200,000 annual renewal caps), prioritizes rural representation, coordinates with VA education benefits when applicable, and requires periodic reporting and an evaluation to Congress.

Key Points

• Requires DoD (and Coast Guard matters when applicable) to produce recommendations within 180 days to ease military medics' transition to civilian health jobs.
• Creates a DoD pilot grant program to fund hiring, training, and retention of separating/recently separated medics by eligible public or nonprofit providers in medically underserved areas.
• Authorizes $5 million per year for FY2026–FY2030 for the pilot, with up to 10% for administration.
• Grants normally cover a three-year project (max $600,000) with up to two one-year renewals (max $200,000 per renewal year).
• Requires coordination with VA education benefits when training qualifies under VA rules to avoid duplicative grant funding.
• Applications must include sustainability and access-to-care justifications; DoD must ensure rural provider representation among awardees.
• Requires VA and DOL tracking/reporting on whether separated members with health-care military credentials enter civilian health employment.
• Pilot replaces and updates the existing statutory provision at 10 U.S.C. §1153 and mandates periodic program reporting to Congress.

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