((a))

((1)) ** .—** The Secretary of Defense may authorize the appropriate Secretary to pay a bonus under this section to an individual referred to in paragraph (2) who refers to a military recruiter a person who has not previously served in an armed force and, after such referral, takes an oath of enlistment that leads to appointment as a commissioned officer, or accepts an appointment as a commissioned officer, in an armed force in a health profession designated by the appropriate Secretary for purposes of this section.

((2)) ** .—** Subject to subsection (c), the following individuals are eligible for a referral bonus under this section:

((A)) A member of the armed forces in a regular component of the armed forces.

((B)) A member of the armed forces in a reserve component of the armed forces.

((C)) A member of the armed forces in a retired status, including a member under 60 years of age who, but for age, would be eligible for retired or retainer pay.

((D)) A civilian employee of a military department or the Department of Defense.

((b)) ** .—** For purposes of this section, a referral for which a bonus may be paid under subsection (a) occurs—

((1)) when the individual concerned contacts a military recruiter on behalf of a person interested in taking an oath of enlistment that leads to appointment as a commissioned officer, or accepting an appointment as a commissioned officer, as applicable, in an armed force in a health profession; or

((2)) when a person interested in taking an oath of enlistment that leads to appointment as a commissioned officer, or accepting an appointment as a commissioned officer, as applicable, in an armed force in a health profession contacts a military recruiter and informs the recruiter of the role of the individual concerned in initially recruiting the person.

((c))

((1)) ** .—** A member of the armed forces or civilian employee of a military department or the Department of Defense may not be paid a bonus under subsection (a) for the referral of an immediate family member.

((2)) ** .—** A member of the armed forces or civilian employee of a military department or the Department of Defense serving in a recruiting or retention assignment, or assigned to other duties regarding which eligibility for a bonus under subsection (a) could (as determined by the appropriate Secretary) be perceived as creating a conflict of interest, may not be paid a bonus under subsection (a).

((3)) ** .—** A member of the armed forces detailed under subsection (c)(1) of to serve as an administrator or instructor in the Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps program or a retired member of the armed forces employed as an administrator or instructor in the program under subsection (d) of such section may not be paid a bonus under subsection (a).

((d)) ** .—** The amount of the bonus payable for a referral under subsection (a) may not exceed $2,000. The amount shall be payable as provided in subsection (e).

((e)) ** .—** A bonus payable for a referral of a person under subsection (a) shall be paid as follows:

((1)) Not more than $1,000 shall be paid upon the execution by the person of an agreement to serve as an officer in a health profession in an armed force for not less than three years.

((2)) Not more than $1,000 shall be paid upon the completion by the person of the initial period of military training as an officer.

((f)) ** .—** The referral bonus authorized by this section is not a bounty for purposes of .

((g)) ** .—** A bonus paid under this section to a member of the armed forces in a retired status is in addition to any compensation to which the member is entitled under this title, title 37 or 38, or any other provision of law.

((h)) ** .—** In this section, the term “appropriate Secretary” means—

((1)) the Secretary of the Army, with respect to matters concerning the Army;

((2)) the Secretary of the Navy, with respect to matters concerning the Navy, the Marine Corps, and the Coast Guard when it is operating as a service in the Navy;

((3)) the Secretary of the Air Force, with respect to matters concerning the Air Force and the Space Force; and

((4)) the Secretary of Defense, with respect to personnel of the Department of Defense.

((i)) ** .—** A bonus may not be paid under subsection (a) with respect to any referral that occurs after .