§ 705a. Rest and recuperation absence: certain members undergoing extended deployment to a combat zone

• (a) Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary concerned may provide a member of the armed forces described in subsection (b) the benefits described in subsection (c).
• (b) A member of the armed forces described in this subsection is any member who—
  • (1) is assigned or deployed for at least 270 days in an area or location—
    • (A) that is designated by the President as a combat zone; and
    • (B) in which hardship duty pay is authorized to be paid under section 305 or 352(a) of title 37; and
  • (2) meets such other criteria as the Secretary of Defense may prescribe in the regulations required by subsection (a).
• (c) The benefits described in this subsection are the following:
  • (1) A period of rest and recuperation absence for not more than 15 days.
  • (2) Round-trip transportation at Government expense from the area or location in which the member is serving in connection with the exercise of the period of rest and recuperation.
• (d) Any benefits provided a member under this section are in addition to any other leave or absence to which the member may be entitled.