A bonus under this section may be paid to an eligible member of a regular component or reserve component of an armed force who executes a written agreement—

(1) to transfer from such regular component or reserve component to a regular component or reserve component of another armed force; and

(2) to serve pursuant to such agreement for a period of not less than three years in the component to which transferred.

A member is eligible to enter into an agreement under subsection (a) if, as of the date of the agreement, the member—

(1) has not failed to satisfactorily complete any term of enlistment in the armed forces;

(2) is eligible for reenlistment in the armed forces or, in the case of an officer, is eligible to continue in service in a regular or reserve component of the armed forces; and

(3) has fulfilled such requirements for transfer to the component of the armed force to which the member will transfer as the Secretary having jurisdiction over such armed force shall establish.

A member may enter into an agreement under subsection (a) to transfer to a regular component or reserve component of another armed force only if the Secretary having jurisdiction over such armed force determines that there is shortage of trained and qualified personnel in such component.

A bonus under this section shall, at the election of the Secretary paying the bonus—

(1) A bonus under this section may not exceed $10,000.

(2) A bonus under this section shall be paid by the Secretary having jurisdiction of the armed force to which the member to be paid the bonus is transferring.

A bonus under this section shall, at the election of the Secretary paying the bonus—

(A) be disbursed to the member in one lump sum when the transfer for which the bonus is paid is approved by the chief personnel officer of the armed force to which the member is transferring; or

(B) be paid to the member in annual installments in such amounts as may be determined by the Secretary paying the bonus.

A bonus paid to a member under this section is in addition to any other pay and allowances to which the member is entitled.

A member who is paid a bonus under an agreement under this section and who, voluntarily or because of misconduct, fails to serve for the period covered by such agreement shall be subject to the repayment provisions of section 303a(e) of this title.

The Secretaries concerned shall prescribe regulations to carry out this section. Regulations prescribed by the Secretary of a military department under this subsection shall be subject to the approval of the Secretary of Defense.

No agreement under this section may be entered into after December 31, 2018.

(Added and amended Pub. L. 109–163, div. A, title VI, §§ 641(a), 687(b)(35), Jan. 6, 2006, 119 Stat. 3304, 3333; Pub. L. 109–364, div. A, title VI, §§ 614(h), 620(a), Oct. 17, 2006, 120 Stat. 2249, 2252; Pub. L. 111–84, div. A, title VI, § 615(7), Oct. 28, 2009, 123 Stat. 2354; Pub. L. 111–383, div. A, title VI, § 615(7), Jan. 7, 2011, 124 Stat. 4237; Pub. L. 112–81, div. A, title VI, § 615(7), Dec. 31, 2011, 125 Stat. 1451; Pub. L. 112–239, div. A, title VI, § 615(7), Jan. 2, 2013, 126 Stat. 1777; Pub. L. 113–66, div. A, title VI, § 615(7), Dec. 26, 2013, 127 Stat. 781; Pub. L. 113–291, div. A, title VI, § 615(8), Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 3401; Pub. L. 114–92, div. A, title VI, § 615(8), Nov. 25, 2015, 129 Stat. 839; Pub. L. 114–328, div. A, title VI, § 615(8), Dec. 23, 2016, 130 Stat. 2159; Pub. L. 115–91, div. A, title VI, § 615(8), Dec. 12, 2017, 131 Stat. 1423.)