113 STAT. 612 PUBLIC LAW 106-65—OCT. 5, 1999 Subtitle F—Reserve Component Management SEC. 551. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR PURSUIT OF DEGREES BY OFFICER CANDIDATES IN MARINE CORPS PLATOON LEADERS CLASS PROGRAM. (a) IN GENERAL.—(1) Part IV of subtitle E of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new chapter: " CHAPTER 1611—OTHER EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS "Sec. "16401. Marine Corps Platoon Leaders Class program: officer candidates pursuing degrees. "§ 16401. Marine Corps Platoon Leaders Class program: officer candidates pursuing degrees "(a) AUTHORITY FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.— The Secretary of the Navy may provide financial assistance to an eligible enlisted member of the Marine Corps Reserve 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 less them five academic years; or "(2) a doctor of jurisprudence or bachelor of laws degree in not more than three academic years. "(b) ELIGIBILITY.—(1) To be eligible for financial assistance under this section, an enlisted member of the Marine Corps Reserve must— "(A) be an officer candidate in the Marine Corps Platoon Leaders Class program and have successfully completed one six-week (or longer) increment of military training required under that program; "(B) meet the applicable age requirement specified in paragraph (2); "(C) be enrolled on a full-time basis in a program of education referred to in subsection (a) at any institution of higher education; and "(D) enter into a written agreement with the Secretary described in paragraph (3). "(2)(A) In the case of a member pursuing a baccalaureate degree, the member meets the age requirements of this paragraph if the member will be under 27 years of age on June 30 of the calendar year in which the member is projected to be eligible for appointment as a commissioned officer in the Marine Corps through the Marine Corps Platoon Leaders Class program, except that if the member has served on active duty, the member may, on such date, be any age under 30 years that exceeds 27 years by a number of months that is not more than the number of months that the member served on active duty. "(B) In the case of a member pursuing a doctor of jurisprudence or bachelor of laws degree, the member meets the age requirements of this paragraph if the member will be under 31 years of age
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