Hiring authorities for Defense Civilian Training Corps

(a) In general Section 2200h of title 10, United States Code, is amended— (1) in paragraph (8), by inserting, in accordance with subsection (b) before the period; (2) by striking In establishing and inserting the following: (a) In general In establishing; and (3) by adding at the end the following new subsection: (b) Hiring authority (1) Members The head of an element of the Department of Defense that partners with an institution participating in the program may, without regard to the provisions of subchapter I of chapter 33 of title 5, appoint a member of the program to a position in such element for a term of one year. (2) Graduates (A) In general The head of an element described in paragraph (1) may— (i) renew the appointment a successful graduate of the program serving a one-year term under such paragraph until such graduate is appointed to a permanent position in such element, except that the appointment may not be renewed for more than a total of four one-year terms; and (ii) without regard to the provisions of subchapter I of chapter 33 of title 5, appoint a graduate holding a position under an appointment renewed under clause (i) to a vacant position in the civil service (as such term is defined in section 2101 of title 5, United States Code) in the Department. (B) Level The position of a graduate in a term or permanent position described in subparagraph (A) shall be classified at the level of GS–9 under the General Schedule under subchapter III of chapter 53 of title 5, or an equivalent level for which the participant is qualified, without regard to any minimum time-in-grade or time-based experience requirements. (C) Limit The authority under this section may not be used for more than 60 graduates of the program in any calendar year. (3) Compensation (A) In general The basic pay of an individual appointed under this subsection shall be paid from amounts available in the Department of Defense Acquisition Workforce Development Account established under section 1705 of this title. (B) Limitation Payment under subparagraph (A) may be made only during the term of the appointment of such an individual and may not exceed a total of four years of payments for any one individual, including renewals under paragraph (1) or (2). (C) Relation to other authority Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to affect the authority of the Secretary of Defense to pay compensation from other available appropriations. (4) Sunset The authority under this subsection shall terminate on December 31, 2029.. (b) Reports (1) In general Not later than January 31, 2026, and annually thereafter until January 31, 2030, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the use of the authority under subsection (b) of section 2200h of title 10, United States Code, as added by this section. (2) Elements Each report required by paragraph (1) shall include the following: (A) The number of graduates of the Defense Civilian Training Corps program established under section 2200g of such title for which the authority under such subsection (b) was used for the year covered by the report. (B) An identification of the elements of the Department of Defense that used such authority to appoint graduates of the Defense Civilian Training Corps program under paragraph (2)(ii) of such subsection (b). (3) Appropriate congressional committees defined In this subsection, the term appropriate congressional committees means— (A) the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate; and (B) the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of the House of Representatives.