---
kind: "section"
citation: "10 U.S.C. § 1742"
title: "10"
title_heading: "Armed Forces"
number: "1742"
heading: "Internship, cooperative education, and scholarship programs"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/10/1742"
units:
  - "Subtitle A — General Military Law"
  - "Part II — Personnel"
  - "Chapter 87 — Defense Acquisition Workforce"
  - "Subchapter IV — Education and Training"
---

# §1742. Internship, cooperative education, and scholarship programs

- (a) **Programs.—** The [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Defense shall conduct the following education and [training](/usc/10/301.md?p=9) [programs](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1):
  - (1) An intern [program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) for purposes of providing highly qualified and talented individuals an opportunity for accelerated promotions, career broadening assignments, and specified [training](/usc/10/301.md?p=9) to prepare them for entry into acquisition positions in the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of Defense.
  - (2) A cooperative education credit [program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) under which the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) arranges, through cooperative arrangements entered into with one or more accredited institutions of higher education, for such institutions to grant undergraduate credit for work performed by students who are employed by the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of Defense in acquisition positions.
  - (3) A scholarship [program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) for the purpose of qualifying personnel for acquisition positions in the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of Defense.
- (b) **Scholarship Program Requirements.—** Each recipient of a scholarship under a [program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) conducted under [subsection (a)(3)](#a-3) shall be required to sign a written agreement that sets forth the terms and conditions of the scholarship. The agreement shall be in a form prescribed by the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) and shall include terms and conditions, including terms and conditions addressing reimbursement in the event that a recipient fails to fulfill the requirements of the agreement, that are comparable to those set forth as a condition for providing advanced education assistance under section 2005. The obligation to reimburse the [United States](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-1) under an agreement under this subsection is, for all purposes, a debt owing the [United States](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-1).

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 101–510, div. A, title XII, § 1202(a), Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1651; amended Pub. L. 108–136, div. A, title VIII, § 834(a), Nov. 24, 2003, 117 Stat. 1550; Pub. L. 108–375, div. A, title VIII, § 812(b), title X, § 1084(f)(1), Oct. 28, 2004, 118 Stat. 2013, 2064; Pub. L. 116–92, div. A, title VIII, § 861(j)(12), Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 1520.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2019—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 116–92 substituted “acquisition positions in the Department of Defense” for “the Acquisition Corps”.

2004—Pub. L. 108–375, § 1084(f)(1), amended directory language of Pub. L. 108–136, § 834(a). See 2003 Amendment note below.

Pub. L. 108–375, § 812(b), designated existing provisions as subsec. (a), inserted heading, and added subsec. (b).

2003—Pub. L. 108–136, § 834(a), as amended by Pub. L. 108–375, § 1084(f)(1), amended section catchline and text generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “The Secretary of Defense shall require that each military department conduct an intern program for purposes of providing highly qualified and talented individuals an opportunity for accelerated promotions, career broadening assignments, and specified training to prepare them for entry into the Acquisition Corps.”

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 2004 Amendment

Pub. L. 108–375, div. A, title X, § 1084(f), Oct. 28, 2004, 118 Stat. 2064, provided that the amendment made by section 1084(f)(1) is effective as of Nov. 24, 2003, and as if included in Pub. L. 108–136 as enacted.