passed a physical examination within a period of 6 months from the date on which it is contemplated that he will be appointed or called to active duty, he shall, prior to being appointed or called to active duty, certify that to the best of his knowledge and belief he is free from all disease or injury not noted in his record at the time of his examination and that he is willing to serve in any climate. If a candidate for appointment in the Regular Corps, or an officer of the Reserve Corps on inactive service, has not passed a physical examination within a period of 6 months from the date on which it is contemplated that he will be appointed or called to active duty, he may, prior to being appointed or called to active duty, be required to undergo such physical examination as the Surgeon General may direct to determine his physical qualification for appointment or call to active duty in accordance with standards prescribed for original appointment, or he may be appointed or called to active duty after executing the certificate described above, but shall be physically examined to determine his physical qualification for continued active service in accordance with standards prescribed for original appointment within a period of 15 days after reporting for duty at his first station.

Provisions Applicable Only to Regular Corps

§ 21.41 Professional examinations, holding of; subjects to be included. From time to time the Surgeon General may order examinations to be held in such professions and for such grades as he deems necessary for the purpose of providing merit rolls of eligible candidates for appointment in the Regular Corps and shall, if a professional examination is to be required, prescribe the subjects relating to each such profession in which candidates will be examined.

§ 21.42 Examinations; junior assistant, assistant, or senior assistant grade. The examination for appointment to the junior assistant, assistant, or senior assistant grade in the Regular Corps shall consist of (a) a written professional examination relating to the fundamentals of the candidate's profession and their relationship to the activities of the Service, and (b) an examination as to the candidate's general fitness, which shall include an oral interview, and a review

and evaluation of the candidate's academic and professional education and professional training and experience, and may include other written tests to determine the candidate's fitness for appointment as an officer.

§ 21.43 Examination; full grade and above. The examination for appointment to the full, senior, or director grade in the Regular Corps shall consist of a review and evaluation of the candidate's academic and professional education and professional training and experience. The Surgeon General may, however, direct that the examination of a candidate for appointment to any such grade shall also include an oral interview, a written or oral professional examination, or both.

§ 21.44 Clinical or other practical demonstration. In the discretion of the Surgeon General a candidate for appointment to any grade up to and including the senior assistant grade in the Regular Corps may be required to perform successfully a clinical or other practical demonstration which, if required, shall constitute a part of the professional examination.

§ 21.45 Rating values. The examination of every candidate for appointment to any grade in the Regular Corps shall be rated by a board appointed pursuant to § 21.30 in accordance with such relative values for each part of the examination as are prescribed by the Surgeon General. No candidate who receives a final rating below 80 shall be appointed in the Regular Corps.

§ 21.46 Merit roll. Each board appointed pursuant to § 21.30 to consider the qualifications of candidates for appointment as officers shall assign a numerical rating to each candidate for appointment in the Regular Corps who passes the examination, and shall submit a report to the Surgeon General of the ratings and the relative standing of all such candidates for each grade in each profession. The Surgeon General shall submit each such report with his recommendations to the Administrator, and, if approved by the Administrator, the report shall constitute a merit roll from which the Administrator shall, in accordance with relative standing, recommend available persons to the President for nomination as commissioned officers of the Regular Corps. A board may consider any newly discovered evidence relating to the physical, profes

sional, or personal qualifications of any candidate examined for appointment. Upon recommendation of such board after review of such evidence, the Surgeon General, with the approval of the Administrator, may correct the rating of a candidate or may qualify or disqualify a candidate. The placing of a candidate's name on a merit roll shall give no assurance of an appointment. A merit roll shall expire when a new merit roll in the same profession and grade has been established, but no merit roll shall continue in effect longer than two years after its approval by the Administrator. Every candidate who has not been nominated by the President for appointment prior to the expiration of a merit roll on which his name appears, shall, unless he requests the opportunity to be reexamined, be rated with the next group of candidates of the same profession for appointment in the same grade and shall be given the same rating he had on the expired merit roll. If two candidates who were examined at the same time receive the same numerical rating, the elder candidate shall assume relative standing on the merit roll over the younger candidate. If a candidate whose name is being transferred from an expired to a new merit roll has the same numerical rating as a candidate whose name is being placed on the new merit roll for the first time, the former shall assume relative standing on the merit roll over the latter. The name of a candidate may be removed from a merit roll in the event that he refuses an appointment when offered. No candidate's eligibility for appointment shall exceed two years unless he again becomes eligible as the result of another examination.

§ 21.47 Examination; anticipation of meeting qualifications. A potential candidate for appointment in any grade in the Regular Corps may be examined within a period of nine months prior to the date upon which it is anticipated that he will qualify for appointment under this subpart. Upon successful completion of the examination, his name will be entered on a merit roll. In the event that his name, in order of relative standing among all candidates, precedes that of fully qualified candidates, his name, for purpose of appointment, shall be passed over in favor of fully qualified candidates until such time as he becomes fully qualified, but in no event shall he otherwise lose his relative standing on the merit roll, except as provided in

§ 21.46. If the candidate fails to qualify for appointment at the time that it was anticipated that he would qualify, his name shall be removed from the merit roll.

§ 21.48 Reappointment of former officers of the Regular Corps. If a candidate for appointment to the Regular Corps is a former officer of the Regular Corps and if he applies for reappointment to the Regular Corps within two years from the date of the termination of his commission in the Regular Corps, he may be appointed to the Regular Corps without regard to the merit rolls after passing an examination which shall consist of a physical examination and a review and evaluation of his record with the Service. If reappointed, such candidate shall be reappointed in the permanent grade held by him at the time of the termination of his commission, and shall, for purposes of promotion, pay and pay period, seniority in grade, and retirement, be credited with the same credits he had at the time his commission was terminated. For purposes of § 21.114 a reappointment shall be considered as an original appointment.

Provisions Applicable Only to Reserve Corps

§ 21.51 Appointment of officers having specialized training or experience in administration and management. The Surgeon General may recommend for original appointment in the Reserve Corps candidates who have specialized training or experience in administration and management relating to the functions of the Service. All such candidates shall be subject to the same eligibility requirements for original appointment as are applicable to other candidates, except that such a candidate may substitute experience in administration or management for the requirement of professional training or experience.

§ 21.52 Waiver of entrance qualifications for original appointment in time of war or national emergency. If, in time of war or national emergency proclaimed by the President, the Administrator determines that there is need for commissioned personnel to meet the needs of the Service, other than persons eligible for examination for original appointment under the eligibility requirements prescribed in this subpart, he may prescribe standards of eligibility for examination for the original appointment of

officers in the Reserve Corps without regard to such eligibility requirements. Such standards shall, however, authorize the examination only of candidates with specialized experience in administration or management or candidates with training or experience in fields relating to public health. The permanent grade of an officer who becomes eligible for examination for appointment pursuant to such standards and who becomes eligible for appointment after passage of an examination shall be limited to the junior assistant or the assistant grade, except that, if upon examination a candidate is found to be exceptionally qualified for the performance of highly specialized duties with the Service pursuant to § 21.55, he may be recommended for appointment to any grade up to and including the director grade. Any appointment made pursuant to this section shall be terminated not later than 6 months following the termination of the war or the national emergency proclaimed by the President.

§ 21.53 Examination. The examination of candidates for original appointment as officers to any grade in the Reserve Corps shall consist of a review and evaluation of their academic and other education and their training and experience. In the discretion of the Surgeon General the examination of any such candidate may include an oral interview, a written examination, or both.

§ 21.54 Students. A potential candidate for appointment in the Regular Corps who is pursuing a course of instruction which, upon completion, would qualify him under §§ 21.25 or 21.26 for examination for appointment in the junior assistant or assistant grade may be examined for and appointed in the Reserve Corps in the junior assistant grade but shall not be called to extended active duty until the successful completion of such course of instruction, except that he may be called to active duty for purposes of training for periods not to exceed 120 days during any fiscal year.

§ 21.55 Appointment to higher grades; candidates exceptionally qualified in specialized fields. Any candidate eligible for examination for appointment in the grade of assistant pursuant to § 21.26 who, upon examination for such purpose, is found exceptionally qualified for the performance of duties requiring highly specialized training or experience may be recommended for appointment in the Reserve Corps in any grade up to and in

cluding the director grade without regard to the additional years of postgraduate training or experience prescribed for grades above the assistant grade.

§ 21.56 Reappointment. An officer of the Reserve Corps, after being examined and found qualified for reappointment, may be recommended for reappointment to the same grade in the event that his commission expires before he becomes eligible for reappointment to a higher grade, or may be recommended for reappointment to a higher grade to be effective on or after the date on which he meets the qualifications prescribed in this subpart for original appointment to such higher grade.

§ 21.57 Examination for reappointment. The examination of an officer of the Reserve Corps on active duty who is being considered for reappointment in such corps shall consist of a review and evaluation of his record with the Service. The examination of an officer of the Reserve Corps on inactive duty who is being considered for reappointment in such corps shall consist of (a) a review and evaluation of his record with the Service while on active duty, if any, and (b) the record of his training or experience during the period of his inactive duty preceding such examination. In the discretion of the Surgeon General the examination for reappointment of an officer, whether on active or inactive duty, may include an oral interview.

§ 21.58 Physical examination for reappointment. Every officer of the Reserve Corps being considered for reappointment shall undergo such physical examination as the Surgeon General may direct. An officer on active duty may be recommended for reappointment unless he is found to have a physical disability which, if it were incurred in line of duty in time of war, would make him eligible for retirement. Except as otherwise provided in § 21.59, an officer not on active duty may be recommended for promotion only if he meets the physical qualifications for original appointment. If an officer is not available to be physically examined because of circumstances which make it impracticable for the Service to require such examination, he may, in the discretion of the Surgeon General, be reappointed without such examination, but shall be examined as soon thereafter as practicable and his physical qualification or disqualification for continued or future active service shall be

determined on the same basis as if the physical examination had been given prior to reappointment.

§ 21.59 Reappointment of officers who are or have been in a retired status. An officer of the Reserve Corps who has been retired for disability shall, upon a finding that he has recovered from his disability, be recommended for reappointment to the grade held by him at the time of his retirement without further physical or other examination. An officer of the Reserve Corps not on active duty who has been retired for disability, who has been found to have recovered from such disability, and who has not served on active duty since the termination of his retired status may, upon the expiration of the commission issued to him upon the termination of his retired status, be recommended for reappointment without a physical examination, but such reappointment shall be made only to the grade held by him prior to his reappointment. The provisions of this section shall not, however, preclude an officer from being reappointed to a higher grade pursuant to § 21.56, if he passes the physical examination required by § 21.58 in advance of such reappointment.

SUBPART D-INCREASED PAY AND ALLOWANCES

§ 21.61 Duty requiring intimate contact with leprosy patients; additional pay. (a) Every officer who is assigned to full-time duty at a station of the Service devoted exclusively to the care of leprosy patients and who is engaged as a physician, dentist, nurse, dietitian, dispensing pharmacist, technician, or otherwise in the diagnosis or treatment of the diseases of such patients shall receive while so assigned, in addition to the pay and allowances of his grade, a sum equal to 50 per centum of the pay of his grade.

(b) Every officer who is assigned to full-time duty at a station of the Service devoted exclusively to the care of leprosy patients and who is not entitled to the additional payment of 50 per centum under paragraph (a) of this section shall receive while so assigned, in addition to the pay and allowances of his grade, a sum equal to 25 per centum of the pay of his grade. (Sec. 209 (g), 58 Stat. 687; 42 U. S. C. 210 (g))

SUBPART E—ALLOTMENTS

§ 21.71 Generally. An officer on active duty may be permitted to allot a part

or all of his monthly pay and allowances for the payment of insurance premiums, the purchase of securities of the Federal Government, or for other proper purposes approved by the Surgeon General: Provided, That no officer, without the approval of the Surgeon General, may have in force more than two allotments at one time, exclusive of allotments for insurance premiums. (Sec. 209 (c), 58 Stat. 686; 42 U. S. C. 210 (c))

§ 21.72 On active duty or traveling outside continental United States. An officer on active duty whose permanent or temporary post of duty is outside the continental United States or in Alaska or who, while stationed in the United States, is traveling on official business outside the continental United States or in Alaska, may be permitted to allot, in addition to allotments for the purposes as indicated in § 21.71, a part or all of his monthly pay and allowances for the support of his family or dependents, except that no officer, without the approval of the Surgeon General, may have in force more than two allotments at one time, exclusive of allotments for insurance premiums. (Sec. 209 (c), 58 Stat. 686; 42 U. S. C. 210 (c))

SUBPART F-LEAVE

AUTHORITY: §§ 21.81 to 21.95, inclusive, issued under secs. 209 (c), 215, 58 Stat. 686, 690; 42 U. S. C. 210 (c), 216, except as noted following provisions affected.

DEFINITIONS

For the

§ 21.81 Meaning of terms. purpose of computing and granting leave pursuant to this subpart:

(a) A "year" or "leave year" means the period beginning July 1 of any calendar year and ending June 30 of the succeeding calendar year.

(b) "Annual leave" means any period of one work day or more during which an officer is relieved from his scheduled working hours, other than for sick leave, and all non-work days within such period.

(c) A "work day" means a day on which an officer is scheduled to perform more than brief periods of work, including a day when an officer is scheduled to serve as officer of the day, to be on call, or to perform official travel.

(d) A "non-work day" means a day designated by an officer in charge on which an officer has no scheduled working hours, including a day on which an

officer is ordinarily scheduled to perform only brief periods of work, such as ward rounds in a hospital.

(e) "Off-work hours" means the period between the normal completion and commencement of scheduled working hours on two consecutive work days.

(f) "Station leave" means authorized absence from duty and station on nonwork days, off-work hours, or for a period of less than one work day.

(g) "Sick leave" means any period of one day or more with respect to which an officer is excused from duty because of sickness, disability, or need of medical services.

Leave With Pay

Annual

§ 21.84 Accrual and accumulation of annual leave. An officer shall accrue annual leave at the rate of 30 days for each full year of active service with the Service, and for any portion of a year at the rate of one day for each 12 consecutive days of such service. leave accrued during a leave year, but unused at the end of such year, shall be carried forward as accumulated leave for use in succeeding leave years, except that accumulated leave credited to an officer at the beginning of a new leave year in excess of 60 days shall be canceled: Provided, however, That accumulated annual leave credited to an officer on July 1, 1948, in excess of 60 days but not exceeding 120 days shall be carried forward in succeeding leave years until used, commuted, or compensated. Annual leave taken during a leave year shall be charged first against the leave accrued or to accrue during that year. No annual leave shall accrue (a) during any period of such leave immediately preceding the termination or inactivation of a commission, or retirement, (b) during any period in which an officer is placed on leave without pay while detailed pursuant to section 214 (b) or 214 (c) of the act, or (c) during any period of absence without leave.

§ 21.85 Carrying over accrued and accumulated annual leave during continued service. Annual leave accrued and accumulated but not taken shall not survive the expiration, termination, or inactivation of a commission, or retirement, except that such accrued and accumulated leave shall remain available (a) to an officer whose commission expires or is terminated but who, without a break in active service, accepts

a new commission, and (b) to an officer who is retired for age in time of war but who is continued on or recalled to active duty without a break in active service.

§ 21.86 Granting of annual leave. Within the limitations prescribed in §§ 21.84 and 21.85, annual leave with pay may be granted, upon application, by the Surgeon General at such time or times and for such periods as are approved by him. Annual leave not exceeding 30 days may be granted as provided herein as an advance of leave not yet accrued or accumulated. A period of absence from duty shall be considered as annual leave only if authorized in advance or if the absence and the reasons therefor are reported as promptly as circumstances permit and the absence is excused by the Surgeon General.

§ 21.87 Computation of annual leave. The number of days of annual leave taken shall be computed by counting each work day during the period of leave and all non-work days within such period, but excluding any period of station leave immediately preceding or immediately following such leave, except that in the case of annual leave taken immediately preceding the expiration, termination, or inactivation of a commission, or retirement, each day, following the day on which an officer is released from his assigned station, shall be counted as a day of leave.

§ 21.88 Station leave. During offwork hours and on non-work days, during which an officer has no scheduled working hours he shall be entitled to station leave unless the officer in charge otherwise directs. If an officer desires to take station leave for a period of less than one work day or on a non-work day during which he is scheduled to perform only a brief period of work, he must obtain the oral permission of the officer in charge. Station leave shall not be charged as annual leave.

§ 21.89 Reporting of absence; granting of sick leave. Absence from duty with pay because of sickness, disability, or need of medical services shall be reported immediately, and sick leave may be granted therefore. Every such absence in excess of 3 days shall be supported by a medical certificate which shall be furnished to the officer responsible for granting such leave promptly upon the termination of such absence, and which