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Code · BILL · 119th Congress · S. 2296 (Engrossed in Senate) — To authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2026 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military c... · Sec. 549

Sec. 549. Pathway for cadets and midshipmen to play professional sports

440 words·~2 min read·/bill/119/s/2296/es/section-549

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Section 553 of the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 ( Public Law 117–263 ; 136 Stat. 2592), and the amendments made by such section, are repealed. Section 7448(a) of title 10, United States Code, is amended— in paragraph (2), by inserting , except as provided under paragraph (5), after That ; and by adding at the end the following new paragraph: That, upon graduation, a cadet may seek employment as a professional athlete or Olympic athlete if the cadet is drafted or signs a free agent contract with a professional sports entity, in which case the cadet will incur a five-year service obligation upon employment as a professional or Olympic athlete and will, if no longer employed as a professional or Olympic athlete, return as a regular officer in the active component for a five-year service obligation.
If the cadet is ineligible to return to active service, the cadet shall repay the government for the cost of his or her education. . Section 8459(a) of title 10, United States Code, is amended— in paragraph (2), by inserting , except as provided under paragraph (5), after That ; and by adding at the end the following new paragraph: That, upon graduation, a midshipman may seek employment as a professional athlete or Olympic athlete if the midshipman is drafted or signs a free agent contract with a professional sports entity, in which case the midshipman will incur a five-year service obligation upon employment as a professional or Olympic athlete and will, if no longer employed as a professional or Olympic athlete, return as a regular officer in the active component for a five-year service obligation.
If the midshipman is ineligible to return to active service, the midshipman shall repay the government for the cost of his or her education. . Section 9448(a) of title 10, United States Code, is amended— in paragraph (2), by inserting , except as provided under paragraph (5), after That ; and by adding at the end the following new paragraph: That, upon graduation, a cadet may seek employment as a professional athlete or Olympic athlete if the cadet is drafted or signs a free agent contract with a professional sports entity, in which case the cadet will incur a five-year service obligation upon employment as a professional or Olympic athlete and will, if no longer employed as a professional or Olympic athlete, return as a regular officer in the active component for a five-year service obligation.
If the cadet is ineligible to return to active service, the cadet shall repay the government for the cost of his or her education. .
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  • 136 Stat. 2592
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Sec. 549
Pathway for cadets and midshipmen to play professional sports
Stat.136 Stat. 2592
Cites 2Cited by 0 across 0 sources
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