This section applies with respect to a member of an armed force who—

(1) is entitled to basic pay;

(2) has a specialty that is designated by the Secretary concerned for the purposes of this section;

(3) has completed a tour of duty (as defined in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary concerned) at a location outside the continental United States that is designated by the Secretary concerned for the purposes of this section; and

(4) at the end of that tour of duty executes an agreement to extend that tour for a period of not less than one year.

Upon the acceptance by the Secretary concerned of the agreement providing for an extension of the tour of duty of a member described in subsection (a), the member is entitled, at the election of the Secretary concerned, to either—

(1) special pay in monthly installments in an amount prescribed by the Secretary, but not to exceed $80 per month; or

(2) an annual bonus in an amount prescribed by the Secretary, but not to exceed $2,000 per year.

Not later than the date on which the Secretary concerned accepts an agreement described in subsection (a)(4) providing for the extension of a member’s tour of duty, the Secretary concerned shall notify the member regarding whether the member will receive special pay or a bonus under this section. The payment rate for the special pay or bonus shall be fixed at the time of the agreement and may not be changed during the period of the extended tour of duty. The Secretary concerned may pay a bonus under this section either in a lump sum or installments.

A member who, having entered into a written agreement to extend a tour of duty for a period under subsection (a), receives a bonus payment under subsection (b)(2) for a 12-month period covered by the agreement and ceases during that 12-month period to perform the agreed tour of duty shall be subject to the repayment provisions of section 303a(e) of this title.

A member who elects to receive one of the benefits specified in section 705(b) of title 10 as part of the extension of a tour of duty is not entitled to the special pay authorized by subsection (b)(1) for the period of the extension of duty for which the benefit under such section is provided.

(Added Pub. L. 96–579, § 5(a)(1), Dec. 23, 1980, 94 Stat. 3366; amended Pub. L. 99–145, title VI, § 641(a), Nov. 8, 1985, 99 Stat. 652; Pub. L. 105–85, div. A, title VI, § 625(a)(1), Nov. 18, 1997, 111 Stat. 1794; Pub. L. 107–314, div. A, title VI, § 654(b)(1), Dec. 2, 2002, 116 Stat. 2582; Pub. L. 108–136, div. A, title VI, § 621(a)(1), (2)(A), Nov. 24, 2003, 117 Stat. 1505; Pub. L. 109–163, div. A, title VI, § 687(b)(23), Jan. 6, 2006, 119 Stat. 3331.)