50 U.S.C. § 1902
(a) Program required
(1) In general The Secretary of Defense shall carry out a program for—
(A) awarding scholarships to undergraduate students who—
(B) awarding fellowships to graduate students who—
(E) awarding scholarships to students who—
(i) are United States citizens who—
to enable such students to pursue English language studies at an institution of higher education of the United States to attain proficiency in those skills; and
(2) Funding allocations Of the amount available for obligation out of the National Security Education Trust Fund or from a transfer under section 1910(c) of this title for any fiscal year for the purposes stated in paragraph (1), the Secretary shall have a goal of allocating—
The funding allocation under this paragraph shall not apply to grants under paragraph (1)(D) for the National Flagship Language Initiative described in subsection (i) or for the scholarship program under paragraph (1)(E). For the authorization of appropriations for the National Flagship Language Initiative, see section 1911 of this title. For the authorization of appropriations for the scholarship program under paragraph (1)(E), see section 1912 of this title.
(b) Service agreement In awarding a scholarship or fellowship under the program, the Secretary or contract organization referred to in subsection (a)(4), as the case may be, shall require a recipient of any fellowship or any scholarship to enter into an agreement that, in return for such assistance, the recipient—
(2)
(A) will (in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense in coordination with the heads of the other Federal departments and agencies concerned) begin work not later than three years after the recipient’s completion of degree study during which scholarship assistance was provided under the program—
(B) will (in accordance with such regulations) begin work not later than two years after the recipient’s completion or termination of study for which fellowship assistance was provided under the program—
(g) Determination of agencies and offices of Federal Government having national security responsibilities
(h) Temporary employment and retention of certain participants
(1) In general The Secretary of Defense may—
(i) Use of awards to attend the Foreign Language Center of the Defense Language Institute
(3) In this subsection, the term “award recipient” means an undergraduate student who has been awarded a scholarship under subsection (a)(1)(A) or a graduate student who has been awarded a fellowship under subsection (a)(1)(B) who—
(j) National Flagship Language Initiative
(6)
(A) An employee of a department or agency of the Federal Government who participates in training in a program under paragraph (1) shall agree in writing—
(k) Employment of program participants
(1) Appointment authority The Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Secretary of State, or the head of a Federal agency or office identified by the Secretary of Defense under subsection (g) as having national security responsibilities—
(A) may, without regard to any provision of title 5, governing appointments in the competitive service, appoint an eligible program participant—
(2) Treatment of certain service In the case of an eligible program participant described in clause (ii) or (iii) of paragraph (4)(C) who receives an appointment under paragraph (1)(A), the head of a Department or Federal agency or office referred to in paragraph (1) may count any period that the individual served in a position with the Federal Government toward satisfaction of the service requirement under paragraph (1)(B) if that service—
(4) Eligible program participant defined In this subsection, the term “eligible program participant” means an individual who—
(C) at the time of the appointment of the individual to an excepted service position under paragraph (1)(A)—
(Pub. L. 102–183, title VIII, § 802, , 105 Stat. 1271; Pub. L. 102–496, title IV, § 404(b), (c), , 106 Stat. 3185; Pub. L. 103–178, title III, § 311(b)(2), (d), , 107 Stat. 2037; Pub. L. 104–201, div. A, title X, § 1078(b)–(d), (f)(2), , 110 Stat. 2664–2666; Pub. L. 105–272, title III, § 305(a)(2), , 112 Stat. 2400; Pub. L. 107–296, title XIII, § 1332(b), , 116 Stat. 2300; Pub. L. 107–306, title III, §§ 332, 333(a)(1)–(3), , 116 Stat. 2395, 2396; Pub. L. 108–136, div. A, title IX, § 925(a), , 117 Stat. 1578; Pub. L. 108–487, title VI, §§ 601(b), 602(a)(1), 603(a)(1), (2), , 118 Stat. 3952–3954; Pub. L. 109–364, div. A, title IX, § 945(a), (b), , 120 Stat. 2367; Pub. L. 110–181, div. A, title IX, § 953, , 122 Stat. 292; Pub. L. 111–84, div. A, title XI, § 1101, , 123 Stat. 2484; Pub. L. 112–239, div. A, title IX, § 956, , 126 Stat. 1899; Pub. L. 115–91, div. A, title XVI, § 1625, , 131 Stat. 1733; Pub. L. 118–31, div. G, title IX, § 7901(c)(1), , 137 Stat. 1106.)
In subsec. (a)(4), “section 6101 of title 41” substituted for “section 3709 of the Revised Statutes (41 U.S.C. 5)” on authority of Pub. L. 111–350, § 6(c), , 124 Stat. 3854, which Act enacted Title 41, Public Contracts.
2023—Subsec. (j)(6)(B) to (D). Pub. L. 118–31 redesignated subpars. (C) and (D) as (B) and (C), respectively, and substituted “subparagraph (C)” for “subparagraph (D)” in subpar. (B), as redesignated.
2017—Subsec. (k)(2). Pub. L. 115–91, § 1625(2), substituted “paragraph (4)(C)” for “paragraph (3)(C)” in introductory provisions.
Subsec. (k)(3), (4). Pub. L. 115–91, § 1625(1), (3), added par. (3) and redesignated former par. (3) as (4).
2013—Subsec. (k). Pub. L. 112–239 amended subsec. (k) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “The Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Secretary of State, or the head of a Federal agency or office identified by the Secretary of Defense under subsection (g) as having national security responsibilities—
“(1) may, without regard to any provision of title 5 governing appointments in the competitive service, appoint to a position that is identified under subsection (b)(2)(A)(i) as having national security responsibilities, or to a position in such Federal agency or office, in the excepted service an individual who has successfully completed an academic program for which a scholarship or fellowship under this section was awarded and who, under the terms of the agreement for such scholarship or fellowship, at the time of such appointment owes a service commitment to such Department or such Federal agency or office; and
“(2) may, upon satisfactory completion of two years of substantially continuous service by an incumbent who was appointed to an excepted service position under the authority of paragraph (1), convert the appointment of such individual, without competition, to a career or career conditional appointment.”
2009—Subsec. (k). Pub. L. 111–84 added subsec. (k).
2008—Subsec. (b)(2)(A)(iii). Pub. L. 110–181, § 953(1), added cl. (iii).
Subsec. (b)(2)(B)(iii). Pub. L. 110–181, § 953(2), added cl. (iii).
2006—Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 109–364, § 945(a), amended par. (2) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (2) read as follows: “will—
“(A) in the case of a recipient of a scholarship, after the recipient’s completion of the study for which scholarship assistance was provided under the program, work in a position in the Department of Defense or other element of the intelligence community that is certified by the Secretary as appropriate to utilize the unique language and region expertise acquired by the recipient pursuant to such study for a period specified by the Secretary, which period shall include one year of service for each year, or portion thereof, for which such scholarship assistance was provided; or
“(B) in the case of a recipient of a fellowship, after the recipient’s completion of the study for which the fellowship assistance was provided under the program, work in a position described in subparagraph (A) that is certified by the Secretary as appropriate to utilize the unique language and region expertise acquired by the recipient pursuant to such study for a period specified by the Secretary, which period shall (at the discretion of the Secretary) include not less than one nor more than three years for each year, or portion thereof, for which such fellowship assistance was provided; and”.
Subsecs. (h) to (j). Pub. L. 109–364, § 945(b), added subsec. (h) and redesignated former subsecs. (h) and (i) as (i) and (j), respectively.
2004—Subsec. (a)(1)(E). Pub. L. 108–487, § 603(a)(1), added subpar. (E).
Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 108–487, § 603(a)(2), which directed the amendment of the matter following par. (2) by inserting in the first sentence “or for the scholarship program under paragraph (1)(E)” after “under paragraph (1)(D) for the National Flagship Language Initiative described in subsection (i)” and by inserting at end “For the authorization of appropriations for the scholarship program under paragraph (1)(E), see section 1912 of this title.”, was executed to the concluding provisions of par. (2) to reflect the probable intent of Congress.
Pub. L. 108–487, § 601(b), in introductory provisions, inserted “or from a transfer under section 1910(c) of this title” after “National Security Education Trust Fund”.
Subsecs. (i)(5), (6). Pub. L. 108–487, § 602(a)(1), added pars. (5) and (6).
2003—Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 108–136 added subpars. (A) and (B) and struck out former subpars. (A) and (B) which also contained provisions relating to recipients of scholarships and fellowships, respectively.
2002—Subsec. (a)(1)(D). Pub. L. 107–306, § 333(a)(1), added subpar. (D).
Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 107–306, § 333(a)(3), inserted at end “The funding allocation under this paragraph shall not apply to grants under paragraph (1)(D) for the National Flagship Language Initiative described in subsection (i). For the authorization of appropriations for the National Flagship Language Initiative, see section 1911 of this title.”
Subsec. (b)(2)(A)(ii). Pub. L. 107–296, § 1332(b)(1), added cl. (ii) and struck out former cl. (ii) which read as follows: “if the recipient demonstrates to the Secretary (in accordance with such regulations) that no national security position is available, work in the field of higher education in a discipline relating to the foreign country, foreign language, area study, counterproliferation study, or international field of study for which the scholarship was awarded, for a period specified by the Secretary, which period shall be determined in accordance with clause (i); or”.
Subsec. (b)(2)(B)(ii). Pub. L. 107–296, § 1332(b)(2), added cl. (ii) and struck out former cl. (ii) which read as follows: “if the recipient demonstrates to the Secretary (in accordance with such regulations) that no national security position is available upon the completion of the degree, work in the field of higher education in a discipline relating to the foreign country, foreign language, area study, counterproliferation study, or international field of study for which the fellowship was awarded, for a period specified by the Secretary, which period shall be established in accordance with clause (i); and”.
Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 107–306, § 332, added subsec. (h).
Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 107–306, § 333(a)(2), added subsec. (i).
1998—Subsec. (a)(1)(B)(i), (C), (4). Pub. L. 105–272, § 305(a)(2)(A), inserted “counterproliferation studies,” after “area studies,”.
Subsec. (b)(2)(A)(ii), (B)(ii). Pub. L. 105–272, § 305(a)(2)(B), inserted “counterproliferation study,” after “area study,”.
1996—Subsec. (a)(1)(A). Pub. L. 104–201, § 1078(b)(1), amended subpar. (A) generally. Prior to amendment, subpar. (A) read as follows: “awarding scholarships to undergraduate students who are United States citizens in order to enable such students to study, for at least one academic semester or equivalent term, in foreign countries that are critical countries (as determined under section 1903(d)(4)(A) of this title) in those language and study areas where deficiencies exist (as identified in the assessments undertaken pursuant to section 1906(d) of this title);”.
Subsec. (a)(1)(B)(i). Pub. L. 104–201, § 1078(b)(2)(A), inserted “relating to the national security interests of the United States” after “international fields”.
Subsec. (a)(1)(B)(ii). Pub. L. 104–201, § 1078(b)(2)(B), substituted “subsection (b)(2)(B)” for “subsection (b)(2)” and “work in a national security position or work in” for “work for an agency or office of the Federal Government or in”.
Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 104–201, § 1078(c)(1), in introductory provisions, substituted “or any scholarship” for “, or of scholarships that provide assistance for periods that aggregate 12 months or more,”.
Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 104–201, § 1078(c)(2), amended par. (2) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (2) read as follows: “will, upon completion of such recipient’s baccalaureate degree or education under the program, as the case may be, and in accordance with regulations issued by the Secretary, work for the Federal Government or in the field of education in the area of study for which the scholarship or fellowship was awarded for a period specified by the Secretary, which period for the recipients of scholarships shall be no more than the same period for which scholarship assistance was provided and for the recipients of fellowships shall be not less than one and not more than three times the period for which the fellowship assistance was provided; and”.
Subsecs. (c) to (f). Pub. L. 104–201, § 1078(d), added subsec. (c) and redesignated former subsecs. (c) to (e) as (d) to (f), respectively.
Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 104–201, § 1078(f)(2), added subsec. (g).
1993—Subsec. (a)(1)(A). Pub. L. 103–178, § 311(b)(2)(A), (d), struck out comma after “term,” and inserted before semicolon at end “in those language and study areas where deficiencies exist (as identified in the assessments undertaken pursuant to section 1906(d) of this title)”.
Subsec. (a)(1)(B)(i). Pub. L. 103–178, § 311(b)(2)(B), inserted before semicolon at end “and in which deficiencies exist (as identified in the assessments undertaken pursuant to section 1906(d) of this title)”.
1992—Subsec. (a)(1)(A). Pub. L. 102–496, § 404(b)(1), inserted “or equivalent term,” after “semester”.
Subsec. (a)(1)(B)(i). Pub. L. 102–496, § 404(b)(2), substituted “as part of a graduate degree program of a United States institution of higher education” for “in the United States”.
Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 102–496, § 404(b)(3), inserted at end “In addition, the Secretary may enter into personal service contracts for periods up to one year for program administration, except that not more than 10 such contracts may be in effect at any one time.”
Subsecs. (e), (f). Pub. L. 102–496, § 404(c), redesignated subsec. (f) as (e) and struck out former subsec. (e) which read as follows: “The Secretary shall administer the program through the Defense Intelligence College.”
Pub. L. 108–487, title VI, § 602(a)(2), , 118 Stat. 3953, provided that:
“The amendment made by paragraph (1) [amending this section] shall apply to training under section 802(i) [now 802(j)] of the David L. Boren National Security Act of 1991 [
50 U.S.C. 1902(i), now 1902(j)] that begins on or after the date that is 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [
Dec. 23, 2004].”
Amendment by Pub. L. 108–487 effective , except as otherwise provided, see section 801 of Pub. L. 108–487, set out as a note under section 2656f of Title 22, Foreign Relations and Intercourse.
Pub. L. 108–136, div. A, title IX, § 925(b), , 117 Stat. 1578, provided that:
- “(1) The amendment made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall apply with respect to service agreements entered into under the David L. Boren National Security Education Act of 1991 [50 U.S.C. 1901 et seq.] on or after the date of the enactment of this Act [].
- “(2) The amendment made by subsection (a) shall not affect the force, validity, or terms of any service agreement entered into under the David L. Boren National Security Education Act of 1991 before the date of the enactment of this Act that is in force as of that date.”
Pub. L. 107–306, title III, § 333(c), , 116 Stat. 2397, provided that:
“The amendments made by this section [enacting
section 1911 of this title and amending this section and
section 1903 of this title] shall take effect on the date the Secretary of Defense submits the report required under section 334 of this Act [
116 Stat. 2397] and notifies the appropriate committees of Congress (as defined in subsection (c) of that section) that the programs carried out under the David L. Boren National Security Education Act of 1991 [
50 U.S.C. 1901 et seq.] are being managed in a fiscally and programmatically sound manner.”
Amendment by Pub. L. 107–296 effective 60 days after , see section 4 of Pub. L. 107–296, set out as an Effective Date note under section 101 of Title 6, Domestic Security.
Pub. L. 107–306, title III, § 333(d), , 116 Stat. 2397, provided that:
“Nothing in this section [enacting
section 1911 of this title, amending this section and
section 1903 of this title, and enacting provisions set out as notes under this section] shall be construed as affecting any program or project carried out under the David L. Boren National Security Education Act of 1991 [
50 U.S.C. 1901 et seq.] as in effect on the date that precedes the date of the enactment of this Act [
Nov. 27, 2002].”
Pub. L. 118–31, div. G, title IX, § 7901(k), , 137 Stat. 1107, provided that:
“For purposes of applying amendments made by provisions of this Act other than this section, the amendments made by this section [amending this section and sections 1903, 1908, 2021, 2093, 2111, 2154, 3024, 3093, 3164, 3232a, 3334
l, 3341, 3361, 3363, 3381, 3505, 3507, 3512, 3517, 3519, 3519a, and 3614 of this title and provisions set out as a note under
section 3024 of this title] shall be treated as having been enacted immediately before any such amendments by other provisions of this Act [see Tables for classification].”
Pub. L. 108–487, title VI, § 602(c), , 118 Stat. 3953, provided that:
“The Secretary of Defense shall take such actions as the Secretary considers appropriate to increase the number of qualified educational institutions that receive grants under the National Flagship Language Initiative under section 802(i) of the David L. Boren National Security Education Act of 1991 [
50 U.S.C. 1902(i)] to establish, operate, or improve activities designed to train students in programs in a range of disciplines to achieve advanced levels of proficiency in those foreign languages that the Secretary identifies as being the most critical to the national security of the United States.”
Pub. L. 108–487, title VI, § 602(d), , 118 Stat. 3953, provided that:
“Educational institutions that receive grants under the National Flagship Language Initiative may support students who pursue total immersion foreign language studies overseas of foreign languages that are critical to the national security of the United States.”