2006—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 109–163, § 605(b), inserted “and First-Time Enlistees” after “Specialties” in heading.

Subsec. (d)(1). Pub. L. 109–163, § 605(a)(1), designated existing provisions of subpar. (A) as cl. (i), redesignated former subpar. (B) as cl. (ii) of subpar. (A) and substituted “; or” for period at end, and added a new subpar. (B).

Subsec. (d)(2) to (4). Pub. L. 109–163, § 605(a)(2)–(4), substituted “member under paragraph (1)(A)” for “member under paragraph (1)” in first sentence of par. (2), added par. (3), designated second sentence of par. (2) as (4), and in par. (4) substituted “this subsection” for “this paragraph”.

1999—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 106–65, § 662, added subsec. (d).

Section and amendment by Pub. L. 106–65 effective 180 days after Oct. 30, 2000, unless postponed, see section 663 of Pub. L. 106–65, as amended, set out as a note under section 8440e of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.

Pub. L. 109–163, div. A, title VI, § 606, Jan. 6, 2006, 119 Stat. 3287, as amended by Pub. L. 109–364, div. A, title VI, § 608, title X, § 1071(e)(3), Oct. 17, 2006, 120 Stat. 2247, 2401, provided that:

“(a) Pilot Program Required.—During the period beginning on January 6, 2006, and ending on December 31, 2008, the Secretary of the Army shall use the authority provided by section 211 (d)(1)(B) of title 37, United States Code, as amended by section 605, to carry out within the Army a pilot program in order to assess the extent to which contributions by the Secretary to the Thrift Savings Fund on behalf of members of the Army described in subsection (b) would—

“(1) assist the Army in recruiting efforts; and

“(2) assist such members in establishing habits of financial responsibility during their initial enlistment in the Armed Forces.

“(b) Covered Members.—To be eligible to participate in the pilot program under subsection (a), a member of the Army must be serving under an initial enlistment for a period of not less than two years.

“(c) Contributions to Thrift Savings Fund.—

“(1) In general.—The Secretary of the Army may make contributions to the Thrift Savings Fund on behalf of any participant in the pilot program under subsection (a) for any pay period during the period of the pilot program.

“(2) Limitations.—The amount of any contributions made with respect to a member under paragraph (1) shall be subject to the provisions of section 8432 (c) of title 5, United States Code.

“(d) Report.—

“(1) In general.—Not later than February 1, 2008, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees [Committees on Armed Services and Appropriations of the Senate and the House of Representatives] a report on the pilot program under subsection (a).

“(2) Elements.—The report shall include the following:

“(A) A description of the pilot program, including the number of members of the Army who participated in the pilot program and the contributions made by the Army to the Thrift Savings Fund on behalf of such members during the period of the pilot program.

“(B) An assessment, based on the pilot program and taking into account the views of officers and senior enlisted personnel of the Army, and of field recruiters, of the extent to which contributions by the military departments to the Thrift Savings Fund on behalf of members of the Armed Forces similar to the participants in the pilot program—

“(i) would enhance the recruiting efforts of the Armed Forces; and

“(ii) would assist such members in establishing habits of financial responsibility during their initial enlistment in the Armed Forces.”