§ 709a. Expenses incurred in connection with leave canceled due to contingency operations: reimbursement

• (a) The Secretary concerned may reimburse a member of the armed forces under the jurisdiction of the Secretary for travel and related expenses (to the extent not otherwise reimbursable under law) incurred by the member as a result of the cancellation of previously approved leave when—
  • (1) the leave is canceled in connection with the member’s participation in a contingency operation; and
  • (2) the cancellation occurs within 48 hours of the time the leave would have commenced.
• (b) The Secretary of Defense and, in the case of the Coast Guard when it is not operating as a service in the Navy, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall prescribe regulations to establish the criteria for the applicability of subsection (a).
• (c) The settlement of an application for reimbursement under subsection (a) is final and conclusive.