Pilot program on career intermissions for certain Air Force fighter aircrew

(a) Establishment Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Air Force shall establish a pilot program, under the authority provided by section 710 of title 10, United States Code, to permit officers in Air Force fighter aircrew career fields to take a one-time career intermission in order to evaluate whether targeted career intermissions reduce early separations and preserve experienced fighter aircrew subject-matter experts for air staff positions and leadership roles in the active component of the Air Force. (b) Intermission period An intermission under the pilot program established under subsection (a) shall be for a period of not less than 4 months and not more than one year, as selected by the participant. (c) Treatment of aviation bonuses (1) Eligibility An officer described in subsection (a) may participate in the pilot program established under that subsection if the officer is subject to an active duty service obligation of not less than two years as of the beginning of the period of intermission of the officer under subsection (b). Participation in the pilot program shall not, by itself, disqualify an officer from eligibility for an aviation bonus under section 334(b) of title 37, United States Code. (2) Suspension of payments Payment of an aviation bonus under section 334(b) of title 37, United States Code, to an officer shall be suspended during any period of intermission of an officer under the pilot program established under subsection (a). (3) Resumption of payments Upon the return of an officer to active duty after an intermission under the pilot program established under subsection (a), payment of an aviation bonus under section 334(b) of title 37, United States Code, may resume for the remaining period of the agreement of the officer under paragraph (3) of that section, subject to the terms of the agreement. (4) Tolling Any period of intermission under the pilot program established under subsection (a) shall not be counted toward the fulfillment of an agreement with respect to an aviation bonus under section 334(b) of title 37, United States Code. (5) Other service obligations Except as provided in paragraph (4), an officer shall continue to satisfy any other active duty service obligation during a period of intermission under the pilot program established under subsection (a). (d) Application of career intermission program authorities Except as otherwise provided in this section, the Secretary shall carry out the pilot program established under subsection (a) in accordance with section 710 of title 10, United States Code. (e) Termination The authority to carry out the pilot program under subsection (a) shall terminate on the date that is 5 years after the date on which the pilot program is established. (f) Reports required Not later than one year after the establishment of the pilot program under subsection (a), and annually thereafter until termination of the pilot program under subsection (e), the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report on the implementation and effectiveness of the pilot program.