---
kind: "section"
citation: "37 U.S.C. § 302f"
title: "37"
title_heading: "Pay and Allowances of the Uniformed Services"
number: "302f"
heading: "Special pay: reserve, recalled, or retained health care officers"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/37/302f"
units:
  - "Chapter 5 — Special and Incentive Pays"
  - "Subchapter I — Existing Special Pay, Incentive Pay, and Bonus Authorities"
---

# §302f. Special pay: reserve, recalled, or retained health care officers

- (a) **Eligible for Special Pay.—** A health care [officer](/usc/37/101.md?p=11) described in [subsection (b)](#b) shall be eligible for special [pay](/usc/37/101.md?p=21) under section [302](/usc/37/302.md), [302a](/usc/37/302a.md), [302b](/usc/37/302b.md), [302c](/usc/37/302c.md), [302e](/usc/37/302e.md), or [303](/usc/37/303.md) of this title (whichever applies) notwithstanding any requirement in those sections that—
  - (1) the call or order of the [officer](/usc/37/101.md?p=11) to [active duty](/usc/37/101.md?p=18) be for a period of not less than one year; or
  - (2) the [officer](/usc/37/101.md?p=11) execute a written agreement to remain on [active duty](/usc/37/101.md?p=18) for a period of not less than one year.
- (b) **Health Care Officers Described.—** A health care [officer](/usc/37/101.md?p=11) referred to in [subsection (a)](#a) is an [officer](/usc/37/101.md?p=11) of the [armed forces](/usc/37/101.md?p=4) who is otherwise eligible for special [pay](/usc/37/101.md?p=21) under section [302](/usc/37/302.md), [302a](/usc/37/302a.md), [302b](/usc/37/302b.md), [302c](/usc/37/302c.md), [302e](/usc/37/302e.md), or [303](/usc/37/303.md) of this title and who—
  - (1) is a reserve [officer](/usc/37/101.md?p=11) on [active duty](/usc/37/101.md?p=18) (other than for training) under a call or order to [active duty for a period of more than 30 days](/usc/37/101.md?p=19) but less than one year;
  - (2) is involuntarily retained on [active duty](/usc/37/101.md?p=18) under [section 12305 of title 10](/usc/10/12305.md), or is recalled to [active duty](/usc/37/101.md?p=18) under [section 688 of title 10](/usc/10/688.md) for a period of more than 30 days; or
  - (3) voluntarily agrees to remain on [active duty](/usc/37/101.md?p=18) for a period of less than one year at a time when—
    - (A) [officers](/usc/37/101.md?p=11) are involuntarily retained on [active duty](/usc/37/101.md?p=18) under [section 12305 of title 10](/usc/10/12305.md); or
    - (B) the Secretary of Defense determines (pursuant to regulations prescribed by the Secretary) that special circumstances justify the payment of special [pay](/usc/37/101.md?p=21) under this section.
- (c) **Monthly Payments.—** Payment of special [pay](/usc/37/101.md?p=21) pursuant to this section may be made on a monthly basis. The [officer](/usc/37/101.md?p=11) shall repay in the manner provided in [section 303a(e) of this title](/usc/37/303a.md?p=e) any amount received under this section in excess of the amount that corresponds to the actual period of [active duty](/usc/37/101.md?p=18) served by the [officer](/usc/37/101.md?p=11).
- (d) **Special Rule for Reserve Medical and Dental Officers.—** While a reserve medical or dental [officer](/usc/37/101.md?p=11) receives a special [pay](/usc/37/101.md?p=21) under section [302](/usc/37/302.md) or [302b](/usc/37/302b.md) of this title by reason of [subsection (a)](#a), the [officer](/usc/37/101.md?p=11) shall not be entitled to special [pay](/usc/37/101.md?p=21) under section [302(h)](/usc/37/302.md?p=h) or [302b(h)](/usc/37/302b.md) of this title.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 102–190, div. A, title VI, § 634(a), Dec. 5, 1991, 105 Stat. 1381; amended Pub. L. 104–106, div. A, title XV, § 1501(d)(4)(A), Feb. 10, 1996, 110 Stat. 500; Pub. L. 106–398, § 1 [[div. A], title VI, § 625(b)], Oct. 30, 2000, 114 Stat. 1654, 1654A–153; Pub. L. 109–163, div. A, title VI, § 687(b)(9), Jan. 6, 2006, 119 Stat. 3329.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2006—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 109–163 substituted “repay in the manner provided in section 303a(e) of this title” for “refund”.

2000—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 106–398 amended heading and text of subsec. (d) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “While a reserve medical officer receives a special pay under section 302 of this title by reason of subsection (a), the officer shall not be entitled to special pay under subsection (h) of that section.”

1996—Subsec. (b)(2), (3)(A). Pub. L. 104–106 substituted “section 12305 of title 10” for “section 673c of title 10”.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 1996 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 104–106 effective as if included in the Reserve Officer Personnel Management Act, title XVI of Pub. L. 103–337, as enacted on Oct. 5, 1994, see section 1501(f)(3) of Pub. L. 104–106, set out as a note under section 113 of Title 10, Armed Forces.

### Savings Provision

For savings provision relating to payment or repayment of any bonus, incentive pay, special pay, or similar pay obligated to be paid before Apr. 1, 2006, under a provision of this section amended by section 687(b) of Pub. L. 109–163, see section 687(f) of Pub. L. 109–163, set out as a note under section 510 of Title 10, Armed Forces.

### Active Duty in Connection With Operation Desert Storm

Pub. L. 102–25, title III, § 304, Apr. 25, 1991, 105 Stat. 81, as amended by Pub. L. 102–190, div. A, title VI, § 656, Dec. 5, 1991, 105 Stat. 1393, provided that: Eligible for Special Pay.—A health care officer described in subsection (b) shall be eligible for special pay under section 302, 302a, 302b, 302e, or 303 of title 37, United States Code (whichever applies), notwithstanding any requirement in those sections that— the call or order of the officer to active duty be for a period of not less than one year; or the officer execute a written agreement to remain on active duty for a period of not less than one year. Health Care Officers Described.—A health care officer referred to in subsection (a) is an officer of the Armed Forces who is otherwise eligible for special pay under section 302, 302a, 302b, 302e, or 303 of title 37, United States Code, and who— is a reserve officer on active duty under a call or order to active duty for a period of less than one year in connection with Operation Desert Storm; is involuntarily retained on active duty under section 673c [now 12305] of title 10, United States Code, or is recalled to active duty under section 688 of that title, in connection with Operation Desert Storm; or voluntarily agrees to remain on active duty for a period of less than one year in connection with Operation Desert Storm. Monthly Payments.—Payment of special pay pursuant to this section may be made on a monthly basis. If the service on active duty of an officer described in subsection (b) is terminated before the end of the period for which a payment is made to the officer under subsection (a), the officer is entitled to special pay under section 302, 302a, 302b, 302e, or 303 of title 37, United States Code (whichever applies), only for the portion of that period that the officer actually served on active duty. The officer shall refund any amount received in excess of the amount that corresponds to the period of active duty of the officer. Special Rule for Reserve Medical Officer.—While a reserve medical officer receives a special pay under section 302 of title 37, United States Code, by operation of subsection (a), the officer shall not be entitled to special pay under subsection (h) of that section. Period of Applicability.—Subsection (a) shall apply during the period beginning on August 1, 1990, and ending on the first day of the first month beginning on or after the date 180 days after the end of the Persian Gulf conflict.”