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Establishment of a student internship program for military child and youth programs

Division A · Title XI: Civilian Personnel

Plain-language summaryAI

The Department of Defense will create an internship program for college students to work in military child and youth programs, helping prepare them for future jobs in this area. Interns must be students in good standing who pass background checks, work under supervision, volunteer their time, and have limits on their work hours. The program may cover certain expenses like lodging and transportation, and can partner with colleges to offer academic credit for the internship.

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Section Text · Sec. 1103.
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1792a. Internship program for military child and youth programs

(a) Establishment

Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027, the Secretary of Defense shall establish and carry out an internship program through which an individual described in subsection (b) may perform duties as an intern in a military child and youth program to prepare the individual for possible future employment in a military child and youth program.

(b) Eligible individuals

An individual eligible to be an intern participating in the internship program under this section is an individual who—

(1)

is a student in good standing at an institution of higher education; and

(2)

the Secretary determines—

(A)

to be qualified and talented; and

(B)

has passed appropriate screening and background checks.

(c) Program requirements

Requirements of the internship program shall include the following:

(1)

An intern may perform duties only in a military child development center under the supervision of a child care employee.

(2)

Pursuant to section 1588(a)(3)(B) of this title, a student intern shall perform their duties on a voluntary basis.

(3)

A student intern may not work more than eight hours a day or a total of 40 hours per week.

(d) Authorization of certain expenses

The Secretary may pay the following expenses incurred in the course of an intern’s participation in the internship program:

(1)

Lodging expenses.

(2)

Subsistence expenses.

(3)

Incidental expenses.

(4)

Transportation expenses for transportation between the residence of the intern and the military installation where the intern performs duties under the internship program.

(e) Agreements

The Secretary may enter into agreements with one or more institutions of higher education so an intern may receive appropriate levels credit towards a graduate or undergraduate degree for duties performed under the internship program.

(f) Definition of institution of higher education

In this section, the term institution of higher education has the meaning given that term in section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1002 ).