---
kind: "section"
citation: "10 U.S.C. § 2200h"
title: "10"
title_heading: "Armed Forces"
number: "2200h"
heading: "Program elements"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/10/2200h"
units:
  - "Subtitle A — General Military Law"
  - "Part III — Training and Education"
  - "Chapter 113 — Defense Civilian Training Corps"
---

# §2200h. Program elements

- (a) **In General.—** In establishing the [program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1), the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Defense shall determine the following:
  - (1) A methodology to identify and target critical skills gaps in [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of Defense occupations relating to acquisition, science, engineering, or other civilian occupations determined by the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Defense.
  - (2) A mechanism to track and report the success of the [program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) in eliminating any critical skills gaps identified under [paragraph (1)](#a-1).
  - (3) Criteria for an accredited civilian educational institution to participate in the [program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1).
  - (4) The eligibility of a student to become a [member of the program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=2).
  - (5) Criteria required for a [member of the program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=2) to receive financial assistance from the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of Defense.
  - (6) The term of service as an employee of the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of Defense required for a [member of the program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=2) to receive such financial assistance.
  - (7) Criteria required for a [member of the program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=2) to be released from a term of service.
  - (8) The method by which a successful graduate of the [program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) may gain immediate employment in the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of Defense, in accordance with [subsection (b)](#b).
  - (9) Resources required for implementation of the [program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1).
- (b) **Hiring Authority.—**
  - (1) **Members.—** The head of an element of the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of Defense that partners with an institution participating in the [program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) may, without regard to the provisions of subchapter I of [chapter 33](/usc/5/chptIII/sptB/ch33.md) of title 5, appoint a [member of the program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=2) to a position in such element for a term of one year.
  - (2) **Graduates.—**
    - (A) **In general.—** The head of an element described in [paragraph (1)](#b-1) may—
      - (i) renew the appointment[^1] a successful graduate of the [program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) serving a one-year term under such paragraph until such graduate is appointed to a permanent position in such element, except that the appointment may not be renewed for more than a total of four one-year terms; and
      - (ii) without regard to the provisions of subchapter I of [chapter 33](/usc/5/chptIII/sptB/ch33.md) of title 5, appoint a graduate holding a position under an appointment renewed under [clause (i)](#b-2-A-i) to a vacant position in the civil service (as such term is defined in [section 2101 of title 5](/usc/5/2101.md), United States Code) in the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6).
    - (B) **Level.—** The position of a graduate in a term or permanent position described in [subparagraph (A)](#b-2-A) shall be classified at the level of GS–9 under the General Schedule under subchapter III of [chapter 53](/usc/5/chptIII/sptD/ch53.md) of title 5, or an equivalent level for which the participant is qualified, without regard to any minimum time-in-[grade](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-7) or time-based experience requirements.
    - (C) **Limit.—** The authority under this section may not be used for more than 60 graduates of the [program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) in any calendar year.
  - (3) **Compensation.—**
    - (A) **In general.—** The basic [pay](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-15) of an individual appointed under this subsection shall be paid from amounts available in the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of Defense [Acquisition Workforce](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-18) Development Account established under [section 1705 of this title](/usc/10/1705.md).
    - (B) **Limitation.—** Payment under [subparagraph (A)](#b-3-A) may be made only during the term of the appointment of such an individual and may not exceed a total of four years of payments for any one individual, including renewals under paragraph [(1)](#b-1) or [(2)](#b-2).
    - (C) **Relation to other authority.—** Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to affect the authority of the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Defense to [pay](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-15) compensation from other available appropriations.
  - (4) **Sunset.—** The authority under this subsection shall terminate on December 31, 2029.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 116–92, div. A, title VIII, § 860(a), Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 1514; amended Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title X, § 1081(a)(4)(A), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 3870; Pub. L. 119–60, div. A, title VIII, § 823(a), Dec. 18, 2025, 139 Stat. 954.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2025—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 119–60, § 823(a)(1), (2), inserted “, in accordance with subsection (b)” before period at end of par. (8), designated existing provisions as subsec. (a), and inserted heading.

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 119–60, § 823(a)(3), added subsec. (b).

2021—Pub. L. 116–283 substituted “§” for “SEC.” in section designation.