10 USC § 1596c - Programming language proficiency: special pay for proficiency beneficial for national security interests

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t10/s1596c"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "10 USC § 1596c - Programming language proficiency: special pay for proficiency beneficial for national security interests"
title_number: 10
title_name: "ARMED FORCES"
section_number: "1596c"
section_name: "Programming language proficiency: special pay for proficiency beneficial for national security interests"
chapter_number: 81
chapter_name: "CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES"
part_number: "II"
part_name: "PERSONNEL"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Added Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title II, § 241(c)(1), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 3487.)"
---


# § 1596c. Programming language proficiency: special pay for proficiency beneficial for national security interests

**(a)** **Authority.—** The Secretary of Defense, under the sole and exclusive discretion of the Secretary, may pay special pay under this section to an employee of the Department of Defense who—

**(1)** has been certified by the Secretary to be proficient in a computer or digital programming language identified by the Secretary as being a language in which proficiency by civilian personnel of the Department is necessary because of national security interests; and

**(2)** is assigned duties requiring proficiency in that programming language.

**(b)** **Rate.—** The rate of special pay for an employee under this section shall be prescribed by the Secretary, but may not exceed 20 percent of the employee’s rate of basic pay.

**(c)** **Relationship to Other Pay and Allowances.—** Special pay under this section is in addition to any other pay or allowances to which the employee is entitled.

**(d)** **Regulations.—** The Secretary of Defense shall prescribe regulations to carry out this section.

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**Source Credit**: (Added Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title II, § 241(c)(1), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 3487.)