Section 1124a - Cyber operations-peculiar awards(a) AUTHORITY.-The Secretary of Defense and the Secretaries of the military departments may authorize the payment of a cash award to, and incur necessary expense for the honorary recognition of, a member of the covered armed forces whose novel actions, invention, or technical achievement enables or ensures operational outcomes in or through cyberspace against threats to national security.(b) ACTIONS DURING SERVICE.-An award under this section may be paid notwithstanding the member's death, separation, or retirement from the covered armed forces. However, the novel action, invention, or technical achievement forming the basis for the award must have been made while the member was on active duty or in an active reserve status and not otherwise eligible for an award under chapter 45 of title 5.(c) PAYMENT.-Awards to, and expenses for the honorary recognition of, members of the covered armed forces under this section may be paid from-(1) the funds or appropriations available to the activity primarily benefiting from the novel action, invention, or technical achievement; or(2) the several funds or appropriations of the various activities benefiting from the novel action, invention, or technical achievement.(d) AMOUNTS.-The total amount of the award, or awards, made under this section for a novel action, invention, or technical achievement may not exceed $2,500, regardless of the number of persons who may be entitled to share therein.(e) REGULATIONS.-Awards under this section shall be made under regulations to be prescribed by the Secretary of Defense or by the Secretaries of the military departments.(f) COVERED ARMED FORCES DEFINED.-In this section, the term "covered armed forces" means the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Space Force.Added Pub. L. 117-263, div. A, title XV, §1531, Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 2900. - active duty
- The term "active duty" means full-time duty in the active military service of the United States, including sustained duty in the Space Force. Such term includes full-time training duty, annual training duty, and attendance, while in the active military service, at a school designated as a service school by law or by the Secretary of the military department concerned. Such term does not include full-time National Guard duty.
- armed forces
- The term "armed forces" means the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force, and Coast Guard.
- military departments
- The term "military departments" means the Department of the Army, the Department of the Navy, and the Department of the Air Force.