---
kind: "section"
citation: "10 U.S.C. § 2635"
title: "10"
title_heading: "Armed Forces"
number: "2635"
heading: "Medical emergency helicopter transportation assistance and limitation of individual liability"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/10/2635"
units:
  - "Subtitle A — General Military Law"
  - "Part IV — Service, Supply, and Property"
  - "Chapter 157 — Transportation"
---

# §2635. Medical emergency helicopter transportation assistance and limitation of individual liability

- (a) The [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Defense is authorized to assist the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of Health and Human Services and the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of Homeland Security in providing medical emergency helicopter transportation services to civilians. Any resources provided under this section shall be under such terms and conditions, including reimbursement, as the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Defense deems appropriate and shall be subject to the following specific limitations:
  - (1) Assistance may be provided only in areas where [military](/usc/10/801.md?p=8) units able to provide such assistance are regularly assigned, and [military](/usc/10/801.md?p=8) units shall not be transferred from one area to another for the purpose of providing such assistance.
  - (2) Assistance may be provided only to the extent that it does not interfere with the performance of the [military](/usc/10/801.md?p=8) mission.
  - (3) The provision of assistance shall not cause any increase in funds required for the operation of the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of Defense.
- (b) No individual (or his estate) who is authorized by the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of Defense to perform services under a [program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) established pursuant to [subsection (a)](#a), and who is acting within the scope of his duties, shall be liable for injury to, or loss of property or personal injury or death which may be caused incident to providing such services.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 93–155, title VIII, § 814(a), Nov. 16, 1973, 87 Stat. 620; amended Pub. L. 96–513, title V, § 511(88), Dec. 12, 1980, 94 Stat. 2928; Pub. L. 107–296, title XVII, § 1704(b)(1), Nov. 25, 2002, 116 Stat. 2314.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2002—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 107–296 substituted “Department of Homeland Security” for “Department of Transportation” in introductory provisions.

1980—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 96–513 substituted “Department of Health and Human Services” for “Department of Health, Education, and Welfare”.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 2002 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 107–296 effective on the date of transfer of the Coast Guard to the Department of Homeland Security, see section 1704(g) of Pub. L. 107–296, set out as a note under section 101 of this title.

### Effective Date of 1980 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 96–513 effective Dec. 12, 1980, see section 701(b)(3) of Pub. L. 96–513, set out as a note under section 101 of this title.