---
kind: "section"
citation: "37 U.S.C. § 321"
title: "37"
title_heading: "Pay and Allowances of the Uniformed Services"
number: "321"
heading: "Special pay: judge advocate continuation pay"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/37/321"
units:
  - "Chapter 5 — Special and Incentive Pays"
  - "Subchapter I — Existing Special Pay, Incentive Pay, and Bonus Authorities"
---

# §321. Special pay: judge advocate continuation pay

- (a) **Eligible Judge Advocate Defined.—** In this section, the term “eligible judge advocate” means an [officer](/usc/37/101.md?p=11) of the [armed forces](/usc/37/101.md?p=4) on full-time [active duty](/usc/37/101.md?p=18) who—
  - (1) is qualified and serving as a judge advocate, as defined in [section 801 of title 10](/usc/10/801.md); and
  - (2) has completed—
    - (A) the [active duty](/usc/37/101.md?p=18) service obligation incurred through the [officer](/usc/37/101.md?p=11)’s original commissioning program; or
    - (B) in the case of an [officer](/usc/37/101.md?p=11) detailed under [section 2004 of title 10](/usc/10/2004.md) or section 470[^1] of title 14, the [active duty](/usc/37/101.md?p=18) service obligation incurred as part of that detail.
- (b) **Special Pay Authorized.—** An eligible judge advocate who executes a written agreement to remain on [active duty](/usc/37/101.md?p=18) for a period of obligated service specified in the agreement may, upon the acceptance of the agreement by the [Secretary concerned](/usc/37/101.md?p=5), be paid continuation [pay](/usc/37/101.md?p=21) under this section. The total amount paid to an [officer](/usc/37/101.md?p=11) under one or more agreements under this section may not exceed $60,000.
- (c) **Proration.—** The term of an agreement under [subsection (b)](#b) and the amount payable under the agreement may be prorated.
- (d) **Payment Methods.—** Upon acceptance of an agreement under [subsection (b)](#b) by the [Secretary concerned](/usc/37/101.md?p=5), the total amount payable pursuant to the agreement becomes fixed. The Secretary shall prepare an implementation plan specifying the amount of each installment payment under the agreement and the times for payment of the installments.
- (e) **Additional Pay.—** Any amount paid to an [officer](/usc/37/101.md?p=11) under this section is in addition to any other [pay](/usc/37/101.md?p=21) and allowances to which the [officer](/usc/37/101.md?p=11) is entitled.
- (f) **Repayment.—** An [officer](/usc/37/101.md?p=11) who has entered into a written agreement under [subsection (b)](#b) and has received all or part of the amount payable under the agreement but who does not complete the total period of [active duty](/usc/37/101.md?p=18) specified in the agreement, shall be subject to the repayment provisions of [section 303a(e) of this title](/usc/37/303a.md?p=e).
- (g) **Regulations.—** The [Secretary concerned](/usc/37/101.md?p=5) shall prescribe regulations to carry out this section.

## Footnotes

[^1]: See References in Text note below.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 106–65, div. A, title VI, § 629(a)(1), Oct. 5, 1999, 113 Stat. 659; amended Pub. L. 109–163, div. A, title VI, § 687(b)(29), Jan. 6, 2006, 119 Stat. 3332.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

Section 470 of title 14, referred to in subsec. (a)(2)(B), was redesignated section 2770 of title 14 by Pub. L. 115–282, title I, § 116(b)(2), Dec. 4, 2018, 132 Stat. 4226, and references to section 470 of title 14 deemed to refer to such redesignated section, see section 123(b)(1) of Pub. L. 115–282, set out as a References to Sections of Title 14 as Redesignated by Pub. L. 115–282 note preceding section 101 of Title 14, Coast Guard.

### Amendments

2006—Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 109–163 amended heading and text of subsec. (f) generally, substituting provisions referring to repayment provisions of section 303a(e) for specific provisions relating to repayment required when officer fails to complete total period of agreed upon active duty.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Pub. L. 106–65, div. A, title VI, § 629(c), Oct. 5, 1999, 113 Stat. 661, provided that: “The amendments made by subsection (a) [enacting this section] shall take effect on October 1, 1999.”

### 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.