The words “Hereafter” and “appointed to the United States Naval Academy” are omitted as surplusage. The words “an agreement that * * * he will” are substituted for the words “articles * * * by which he shall engage”. The word “separated” is substituted for the words “discharged by competent authority”. The words “if tendered an appointment”, “upon graduation from the United States Naval Academy”, and “consecutive” are omitted as surplusage. The words “if he is permitted to resign” are substituted for the words “in the event of the acceptance of his resignation”, since a resignation is effective only if accepted. The first 43 words of clause (3) are substituted for 34 U.S.C. 1048 (last 30 words of clause (3)). The last sentence is substituted for the words “with the consent of his parents or guardian if he be a minor, and if any he have.”

2022—Subsec. (a)(5). Pub. L. 117–263, § 553(b)(1), amended par. (5) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (5) read as follows: “That the midshipman—

“(A) will not seek release from the midshipman’s commissioned service obligation or seek or accept approval for off-duty employment while completing the midshipman’s commissioned service obligation to obtain employment as a professional athlete following graduation until the midshipman completes a period of at least two consecutive years of commissioned service; and

“(B) understands that the appointment alternative described in paragraph (3) will not be used to allow the midshipman to obtain such employment until at least the end of that two-year period.”

Subsec. (b)(4). Pub. L. 117–263, § 553(b)(2), added par. (4).

Subsec. (c)(2) to (4). Pub. L. 117–263, § 553(b)(3), added par. (2) and redesignated former pars. (2) and (3) as (3) and (4), respectively.

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 117–263, § 553(b)(4), substituted “with respect to a midshipman” for “with respect to an officer who is a graduate of the Academy” and “midshipman’s” for “officer’s”.

Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 117–263, § 553(b)(5), substituted “each term” for “the terms”.

2019—Subsec. (a)(5)(A). Pub. L. 116–92 inserted “or seek or accept approval for off-duty employment while completing the midshipman’s commissioned service obligation” before “to obtain employment”.

2018—Pub. L. 115–232 renumbered section 6959 of this title as this section.

2017—Subsec. (a)(5). Pub. L. 115–91, § 543(b), added par. (5).

Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 115–91, § 618(a)(1)(L), inserted “or 373” before “of title 37”.

2011—Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 111–383 added par. (4).

2009—Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 111–84 substituted “subsection (a)” for “section (a)”.

2006—Subsecs. (a)(3)(A), (b)(1), (2). Pub. L. 109–163, § 515(b)(1)(S), substituted “Navy Reserve” for “Naval Reserve”.

Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 109–163, § 687(c)(10), added subsec. (f).

1996—Subsec. (a)(2)(B). Pub. L. 104–106 substituted “five years” for “six years”.

1989—Subsec. (a)(2)(B). Pub. L. 101–189 substituted “six years” for “five years”.

1985—Pub. L. 99–145 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section read as follows:

“(a) Each midshipman who is a citizen or national of the United States shall sign an agreement that he will—

“(1) unless sooner separated from the Naval Academy, complete the course of instruction at the Naval Academy;

“(2) accept an appointment and, unless sooner separated from the naval service, serve as a commissioned officer of the Regular Navy, the Regular Marine Corps, or the Regular Air Force for at least five years immediately after graduation; and

“(3) accept an appointment as a commissioned officer in the reserve component of the Navy or the Marine Corps or as a Reserve in the Air Force for service in the Air Force Reserve and, unless sooner separated from the naval service, remain therein until at least the sixth anniversary and, at the direction of the Secretary of Defense, up to the eighth anniversary of his graduation if an appointment in the regular component of that armed force is not tendered to him or if he is permitted to resign as a commissioned officer of that component before that anniversary.

If the midshipman is a minor and has parents or a guardian, he may sign the agreement only with the consent of the parents or guardian.

“(b) A midshipman who does not fulfill his agreement under subsection (a) may be transferred by the Secretary of the Navy to the Naval Reserve or the Marine Corps Reserve in an appropriate enlisted grade or rating, and, notwithstanding section 651 of this title, may be ordered to active duty to serve in that grade or rating for such period of time as the Secretary prescribes but not for more than four years.”

1984—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 98–525, § 541(b), struck out “, unless sooner separated,” in introductory text preceding “he will”; inserted in cl. (1) “unless sooner separated from the Naval Academy,”; and inserted “, unless sooner separated from the naval service,” in cls. (2) and (3).

Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 98–525, § 542(c), substituted “at least the sixth anniversary and, at the direction of the Secretary of Defense, up to the eighth anniversary” for “the sixth anniversary”.

1964—Pub. L. 88–647 designated existing provisions as subsec. (a) and added subsec. (b).

Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 88–276 substituted “five” for “three”.

Amendment by Pub. L. 117–263 only applicable to cadets or midshipmen who first enroll in the United States Military Academy, the United States Naval Academy, or the United States Air Force Academy on or after June 1, 2021, see section 553(d) of Pub. L. 117–263, as added by section 202(a) of Pub. L. 117–328, set out as a note under section 7448 of this title.

Amendment by Pub. L. 115–232 effective Feb. 1, 2019, with provision for the coordination of amendments and special rule for certain redesignations, see section 800 of Pub. L. 115–232, set out as a note preceding section 3001 of this title.

Revised cadet and midshipman service agreements under this section and sections 7448 and 9448 of this title applicable to cadets and midshipmen who are attending the United States Military Academy, the United States Naval Academy, or the United States Air Force Academy on Dec. 12, 2017, and to persons who begin attendance at such military service academies on or after that date, see section 543(d) of Pub. L. 115–91, set out as a note under section 7448 of this title.

Amendment by Pub. L. 104–106 applicable to persons first admitted to United States Military Academy, United States Naval Academy, and United States Air Force Academy after Dec. 31, 1991, see section 531(e) of Pub. L. 104–106, set out as a note under section 7448 of this title.

Amendment by Pub. L. 101–189 applicable to persons who are first admitted to one of the military service academies after Dec. 31, 1991, see section 511(e) of Pub. L. 101–189, as amended, set out as a note under section 2114 of this title.

Amendment by Pub. L. 99–145 (other than with respect to the authority of the Secretary of the Navy to prescribe regulations) effective on the date on which regulations prescribed by the Secretary take effect and applicable to agreements entered into under this section on or after the effective date of such regulations and also with respect to each such agreement that was entered into before the effective date of such regulations by an individual who is a midshipman on such date, see section 512(e) of Pub. L. 99–145, set out as a note under section 7448 of this title.

Amendment by section 541(b) of Pub. L. 98–525 applicable with respect to agreements entered into under this section before, on, or after Oct. 19, 1984, see section 541(d) of Pub. L. 98–525, set out as a note under section 7448 of this title.

For effective date of amendment by Pub. L. 88–276, see section 5(c) of Pub. L. 88–276, set out as a note under section 7448 of this title.

Secretary of the Navy to prescribe regulations required by subsec. (c) of this section as added by Pub. L. 99–145 not later than the end of the 90-day period beginning on Nov. 8, 1985, see section 512(d) of Pub. L. 99–145, set out as a note under section 7448 of this title.

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(c) of Pub. L. 109–163, see section 687(f) of Pub. L. 109–163, set out as a note under section 510 of this title.

Secretary of Defense to prescribe, not later than July 1, 2007, Department of Defense policy on whether to authorize service academy and ROTC graduates to participate in professional sports before the completion of their obligations for service on active duty, see section 533 of Pub. L. 109–364, set out as a note under section 7448 of this title.