PUBLIC LAW 109–304—OCT. 6, 2006
120 STAT. 1575
‘‘(2) EFFECT OF PHYSICAL DISQUALIFICATION.—An individual not allowed to take the examination for a merchant marine officer’s license only because of physical disqualification may not be denied a degree for not taking the examination. ‘‘(b) MASTER’S DEGREE.—The Superintendent of the Academy may confer a master’s degree on an individual who has met the conditions prescribed by the Secretary. A master’s degree program may be funded through non-appropriated funds. To maintain the appropriate academic standards, the program shall be accredited by the appropriate accreditation body. The Secretary may prescribe regulations necessary to administer such a program. ‘‘(c) GRADUATION NOT ENTITLEMENT TO HOLD LICENSE.— Graduation from the Academy does not entitle an individual to hold a license authorizing service on a merchant vessel. ‘‘§ 51310. Deferment of service obligation under cadet commitment agreements ‘‘The Secretary of Transportation may defer the service commitment of an individual under section 51306(a)(5) of this title (as specified in the cadet commitment agreement) for not more than 2 years if the individual is engaged in a graduate course of study approved by the Secretary. However, deferment of service as a commissioned officer under section 51306(a)(5) must be approved by the Secretary of the military department that has jurisdiction over the service or by the Secretary of Commerce for service with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. ‘‘§ 51311. Midshipman status in the Naval Reserve ‘‘(a) APPLICATION REQUIREMENT.—Before being appointed as a cadet at the United States Merchant Marine Academy, a citizen of the United States must agree to apply for midshipman status in the Naval Reserve (including the Merchant Marine Reserve, Naval Reserve). ‘‘(b) APPOINTMENT.— ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—A citizen of the United States appointed as a cadet at the Academy shall be appointed by the Secretary of the Navy as a midshipman in the Naval Reserve (including the Merchant Marine Reserve, Naval Reserve). ‘‘(2) RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES.—The Secretary of the Navy shall provide for cadets of the Academy who are midshipmen in the United States Naval Reserve to be— ‘‘(A) issued an identification card (referred to as a ‘military ID card’); and ‘‘(B) entitled to all rights and privileges in accordance with the same eligibility criteria as apply to other members of the Ready Reserve of the reserve components of the armed forces. ‘‘(3) COORDINATION.—The Secretary of the Navy shall carry out paragraphs (1) and (2) in coordination with the Secretary of Transportation. ‘‘§ 51312. Board of Visitors ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—A Board of Visitors to the United States Merchant Marine Academy shall be established, for a term of 2 years commencing at the beginning of each Congress, to visit the Academy annually on a date determined by the Secretary of
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