§ 1596 — Foreign Language Proficiency: Special Pay For Proficiency Beneficial For Intelligence Interests

(a) The Secretary of Defense may pay special pay under this section to a civilian officer or employee of the Department of Defense who— (1) has been certified as being proficient in a foreign language identified by the Secretary of Defense as being a language in which proficiency by civilian personnel of the Department is important for the effective collection, production, or dissemination of foreign intelligence information; and (2) is serving in a position, or is subject to assignment to a position, in which proficiency in that language facilitates performance of officially assigned intelligence or intelligence-related duties. (b) The annual rate of special pay under subsection (a) shall be determined by the Secretary of Defense. (c) Special pay under this section may be paid in addition to any compensation authorized under section 1602 of this title for which an officer or employee is eligible.