PUBLIC LAW 107-295—NOV. 25, 2002 116 STAT. 2119 beyond 26 years of active commissioned service unless promoted to the grade of captain of the Regular Coast Guard. "(2) Unless retired or discharged under another provision of law, each officer who is continued on active duty under subsection (b) but is not subsequently promoted or continued on active duty, and is not on a list of officers recommended for continuation or for promotion to the next higher grade, shall, if eligible for retirement under any provision of law, be retired under that law on the first day of the first month following the month in which the period of continued service is completed.". SEC. 413. RESERVE STUDENT PRE-COMMISSIONING ASSISTANCE PRO- GRAM. (a) IN GENERAL. —Chapter 21 of title 14, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 709 the following new section: "§ 709a. Reserve student pre-commissioning assistance program "(a) The Secretary may provide financial assistance to an eligible enlisted member of the Coast Guard Reserve, not on active duty, for expenses of the member while the member is pursuing on a full-time basis at an institution of higher education a program of education approved by the Secretary that leads to— "(1) a baccalaureate degree in not more than 5 academic years; or "(2) a post-baccalaureate degree. "(b)(1) To be eligible for financial assistance under this section, an enlisted member of the Coast Guard Reserve shall— "(A) be enrolled on a full-time basis in a program of education referred to in subsection (a) at any institution of higher education; and "(B) enter into a written agreement with the Coast Guard described in paragraph (2). "(2) A written agreement referred to in paragraph (1)(B) is an agreement between the member and the Secretary in which the member agrees— "(A) to accept an appointment as a commissioned officer in the Coast Guard Reserve, if tendered; "(B) to serve on active duty for up to five years; and "(C) under such terms and conditions as shall be prescribed by the Secretary, to serve in the Coast Guard Reserve until the eighth anniversary of the date of the appointment. "(c) Expenses for which financial assistance may be provided under this section are the following: "(1) Tuition and fees charged by the institution of higher education involved. "(2) The cost of books. "(3) In the case of a program of education leading to a baccalaureate degree, laboratory expenses. "(4) Such other expenses as are deemed appropriate by the Secretary. "(d) The amount of financial assistance provided to a member under this section shall be prescribed by the Secretary, but may not exceed $25,000 for any academic year. "(e) Financial assistance may be provided to a member under this section for up to 5 consecutive academic years.
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