Modification of service obligations for cadets obtaining employment as professional athletes

(a) Authority (1) United States Military Academy Section 7448 of title 10, United States Code, is amended— (A) in subsection (a), by amending paragraph (5) to read as follows: (5) (A) That the cadet may not obtain employment as a professional athlete under this paragraph until 2 years after graduating from the Academy, except as otherwise authorized by the Secretary under subparagraph (B). (B) The Secretary may authorize not more than 10 cadets during any academic year to obtain employment as a professional athlete before completing the active-duty service obligation otherwise required under this subsection. (C) The Secretary may waive the numerical limitation under subparagraph (B) and authorize participation for more than 10 graduates in a fiscal year if the Secretary determines that— (i) such a waiver is in the national interest; and (ii) participation by additional graduates will provide significant recruiting, retention, public affairs, or strategic benefit to the Armed Forces. (D) A cadet authorized under subparagraph (B) shall— (i) accept an appointment as a commissioned officer in an appropriate reserve component, as determined by the Secretary; (ii) serve in the Selected Reserve in an appropriate status, grade, and assignment, as determined by the Secretary; and (iii) participate in recruiting, retention, public affairs or other activities that strategically benefit the armed forces, as determined by the Secretary. (E) The Secretary shall prescribe the period of obligated service required under this paragraph, except that such obligated service shall be served in the Selected Reserve for a period of not more than 10 years. (F) Upon completion of employment as a professional athlete, or upon termination of authorization under this paragraph, the Secretary may require the officer to serve on active duty for such period as the Secretary determines appropriate, except that the combined period of service required under subparagraph (E) and this subparagraph may not exceed 10 years. (G) If an officer authorized under this paragraph is unable or unwilling to satisfy the service obligations required under this paragraph, and is determined by the Secretary concerned to be ineligible for further military service, the Secretary may require the officer to reimburse the United States for all or a portion of the cost of the education provided by the Academy, under such terms and conditions as the Secretary may prescribe.; (B) in subsection (b)— (i) in paragraph (1), by striking Subject to paragraph (4), the Secretary and inserting The Secretary; and (ii) by striking paragraph (4); and (C) in subsection (c)— (i) by striking paragraph (2); and (ii) by redesignating paragraphs (3) and (4) as paragraphs (2) and (3), respectively. (2) United States Naval Academy Section 8459 of title 10, United States Code, is amended— (A) in subsection (a), by amending paragraph (5) to read as follows: (5) (A) That the midshipman may not obtain employment as a professional athlete under this paragraph until 2 years after graduating from the Academy, except as otherwise authorized by the Secretary under subparagraph (B). (B) The Secretary may authorize not more than 10 midshipmen during any academic year to obtain employment as a professional athlete before completing the active-duty service obligation otherwise required under this subsection. (C) The Secretary may waive the numerical limitation under subparagraph (B) and authorize participation for more than 10 graduates in a fiscal year if the Secretary determines that— (i) such a waiver is in the national interest; and (ii) participation by additional graduates will provide significant recruiting, retention, public affairs, or strategic benefit to the Armed Forces. (D) A midshipman authorized under subparagraph (B) shall— (i) accept an appointment as a commissioned officer in an appropriate reserve component, as determined by the Secretary; (ii) serve in the Selected Reserve in an appropriate status, grade, and assignment, as determined by the Secretary; and (iii) participate in recruiting, retention, public affairs or other activities that strategically benefit the armed forces, as determined by the Secretary. (E) The Secretary shall prescribe the period of obligated service required under this paragraph, except that such obligated service shall be served in the Selected Reserve for a period of not more than 10 years. (F) Upon completion of employment as a professional athlete, or upon termination of authorization under this paragraph, the Secretary may require the officer to serve on active duty for such period as the Secretary determines appropriate, except that the combined period of service required under subparagraph (E) and this subparagraph may not exceed 10 years. (G) If an officer authorized under this paragraph is unable or unwilling to satisfy the service obligations required under this paragraph, and is determined by the Secretary concerned to be ineligible for further military service, the Secretary may require the officer to reimburse the United States for all or a portion of the cost of the education provided by the Academy, under such terms and conditions as the Secretary may prescribe.; (B) in subsection (b)— (i) in paragraph (1), by striking Subject to paragraph (4), the Secretary and inserting The Secretary; and (ii) by striking paragraph (4); and (C) in subsection (c)— (i) by striking paragraph (2); and (ii) by redesignating paragraphs (3) and (4) as paragraphs (2) and (3), respectively. (3) United States Air Force Academy Section 9448 of title 10, United States Code, is amended— (A) in subsection (a), by amending paragraph (5) to read as follows: (5) (A) That the cadet may not obtain employment as a professional athlete under this paragraph until 2 years after graduating from the Academy, except as otherwise authorized by the Secretary under subparagraph (B). (B) The Secretary may authorize not more than 10 cadets during any academic year to obtain employment as a professional athlete before completing the active-duty service obligation otherwise required under this subsection. (C) The Secretary may waive the numerical limitation under subparagraph (B) and authorize participation for more than 10 graduates in a fiscal year if the Secretary determines that— (i) such a waiver is in the national interest; and (ii) participation by additional graduates will provide significant recruiting, retention, public affairs, or strategic benefit to the Armed Forces. (D) A cadet authorized under subparagraph (B) shall— (i) accept an appointment as a commissioned officer in an appropriate reserve component, as determined by the Secretary; (ii) serve in the Selected Reserve in an appropriate status, grade, and assignment, as determined by the Secretary; and (iii) participate in recruiting, retention, public affairs or other activities that strategically benefit the armed forces, as determined by the Secretary. (E) The Secretary shall prescribe the period of obligated service required under this paragraph, except that such obligated service shall be served in the Selected Reserve for a period of not more than 10 years. (F) Upon completion of employment as a professional athlete, or upon termination of authorization under this paragraph, the Secretary may require the officer to serve on active duty for such period as the Secretary determines appropriate, except that the combined period of service required under subparagraph (E) and this subparagraph may not exceed 10 years. (G) If an officer authorized under this paragraph is unable or unwilling to satisfy the service obligations required under this paragraph, and is determined by the Secretary concerned to be ineligible for further military service, the Secretary may require the officer to reimburse the United States for all or a portion of the cost of the education provided by the Academy, under such terms and conditions as the Secretary may prescribe.; (B) in subsection (b)— (i) in paragraph (1), by striking Subject to paragraph (4), the Secretary and inserting The Secretary; and (ii) by striking paragraph (4); and (C) in subsection (c)— (i) by striking paragraph (2); and (ii) by redesignating paragraphs (3) and (4) as paragraphs (2) and (3), respectively. (b) Regulations Each Secretary concerned shall prescribe regulations to carry out this section and the amendments made by this section, including eligibility criteria, performance standards, and procedures for monitoring compliance.