§ 301c.
(a)
Eligibility Requirements.—
(1)
Subject to regulations prescribed by the President, a member of the naval service who is entitled to basic pay, and (A) holds (or is in training leading to) a submarine duty designator, (B) is in and remains in the submarine service on a career basis, and (C) meets the requirements of paragraph (3), is entitled to continuous monthly submarine duty incentive pay in the amount prescribed pursuant to subsection (b).
(2)
Subject to regulations prescribed by the President, a member of the naval service who is entitled to basic pay but is not entitled to continuous monthly submarine duty incentive pay under paragraph (1) is entitled to submarine duty incentive pay in the amount prescribed pursuant to subsection (b) for any period during which such member performs frequent and regular operational submarine duty (as defined in paragraph (5)) required by orders.
(3)
To be entitled to continuous monthly submarine duty incentive pay through 26 years of service (as computed under
section 205 of this title, but excluding, in the case of an officer, periods as an enlisted member before initial appointment as an officer), a member must perform operational submarine duties for at least 6 of the first 12, and at least 10 of the first 18, years of his submarine service. However, if a member performs the prescribed operational submarine duties for at least 8 but less than 10 of the first 18 years of his submarine service, he is entitled to continuous monthly submarine duty incentive pay for the first 22 years of his service (as computed under
section 205 of this title, but excluding, in the case of an officer, periods as an enlisted member before initial appointment as an officer).
(4)
If upon completion of either 12 or 18 years of submarine service it is determined that a member has failed to perform the minimum prescribed operational submarine duty requirements during the prescribed periods of time, his entitlement to continuous monthly submarine duty incentive pay ceases. If entitlement to continuous monthly submarine duty incentive pay ceases upon completion of 12 years of submarine service, entitlement to that pay may again commence upon completion of 18 years of submarine service if the minimum operational submarine duty requirements have been met, and such pay shall continue for the period of time prescribed in accordance with this section. However, if entitlement to continuous monthly submarine duty incentive pay ceases in the case of any member at the completion of either 12 or 18 years of submarine service or 26 years of service (as co
mputed under
(5)
In this section:
(A)
The term “operational submarine duty” means duty—
(i)
while attached under competent orders to a submarine, while serving as an operator or crew member of an operational submersible (including an undersea exploration or research vehicle), while undergoing training preliminary to assignment to a nuclear-powered submarine, while undergoing rehabilitation after assignment to a nuclear-powered submarine, or, in the case of a member qualified in submarines, while attached as a member of a submarine operational command staff whose duties require serving on a submarine during underway operations—
(I)
during one calendar month: 48 hours, except that hours served underway in excess of 48 as a member of a submarine operational command staff during any of the immediately preceding five calendar months and not already used to qualify for incentive pay may be applied to satisfy the underway time requirements for the current month;
(II)
during any two consecutive calendar months when the requirements of subclause (I) of this clause have not been met: 96 hours; or
(III)
during any three consecutive calendar months when the requirements of subclause (II) of this clause have not been met: 144 hours;
(ii)
while receiving instruction to prepare for assignment to a submarine of advanced design, or
(iii)
while receiving instruction to prepare for a position of increased responsibility on a submarine.
(B)
The term “submarine service” means the service performed, under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the Navy, by a member, and the years of submarine service are computed beginning with the effective date of the initial order to perform submarine service.
(Added [Pub. L. 96–579, § 3(d)], Dec. 23, 1980, [94 Stat. 3360]; amended [Pub. L. 97–39, title VII, § 701(a)], (b), Aug. 14, 1981, [95 Stat. 942]; [Pub. L. 97–60, title I, § 114], Oct. 14, 1981, [95 Stat. 995]; [Pub. L. 99–145, title VI, § 633(a)], Nov. 8, 1985, [99 Stat. 646]; [Pub. L. 100–26, § 8(e)(4)], Apr. 21, 1987, [101 Stat. 286]; [Pub. L. 100–180, div. A, title VI, § 623(a)], (b), Dec. 4, 1987, [101 Stat. 1101]; [Pub. L. 100–224, § 5(a)(2)], Dec. 30, 1987, [101 Stat. 1538]; [Pub. L. 100–456, div. A, title XII, § 1233](l)(1), Sept. 29, 1988, [102 Stat. 2058]; [Pub. L. 101–510, div. A, title XIII, § 1322(c)(1)], Nov. 5, 1990, [104 Stat. 1672]; [Pub. L. 102–25, title VII, § 702(b)(1)], (2), (c), Apr. 6, 1991, [105 Stat. 117]; [Pub. L. 102–190, div. A, title XI, § 1111(d)(2)], Dec. 5, 1991, [105 Stat. 1492]; [Pub. L. 107–107, div. A, title VI, § 617(a)], (b), Dec. 28, 2001, [115 Stat. 1137]; [Pub. L. 109–163, div. A, title V, § 515(d)(1)(D)], (2), Jan. 6, 2006, [119 Stat. 3236].)