(a) The Secretary of Defense may pay a gratuity to the surviving dependents of any member of the armed forces or of any employee of the Department of Defense-
(1) who-
(A) is assigned to duty with an intelligence component of the Department of Defense and whose identity as such a member or employee is disguised or concealed; or
(B) is within a category of individuals determined by the Secretary of Defense to be engaged in clandestine intelligence activities; and
(2) who after October 14, 1980 dies as a result of injuries (excluding disease) sustained outside the United States and whose death-
(A) resulted from hostile or terrorist activities; or
(B) occurred in connection with an intelligence activity having a substantial element of risk.
(b) Any payment under subsection (a)-
(1) shall be in an amount equal to the amount of the annual basic pay or salary of the member or employee concerned at the time of death;
(2) shall be considered a gift and shall be in lieu of payment of any lesser death gratuity authorized by this chapter or any other Federal law; and
(3) shall be made under the same conditions as apply to payments authorized by section 413 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 3973).
(Added
1985-Subsec. (a).
1983-Subsec. (a)(2).
1981-Subsec. (b)(3).