; and (2) reflects the differentiated needs of personnel at different stages of their careers. (j) Sabbaticals (1) In general The pilot program shall provide for an individual who is in a successive term after the first 8 years with the Department of Defense as a cybersecurity or legal professional under the pilot program to take, at the election of the individual, a paid or unpaid sabbatical from service with the Department for professional development or education purposes. The length of a sabbatical shall be any length not less than 6 months nor more than 1 year (unless a different period is approved by the Secretary of the military department or head of the organization or element of the Department concerned for purposes of this subsection). The purpose of any sabbatical shall be subject to advance approval by the organization or element in the Department in which the individual is currently performing service. The taking of a sabbatical shall be contingent on the written agreement of the individual concerned to serve with the Department for an appropriate length of time at the conclusion of the term of appointment in which the sabbatical commences, with the period of such service to be in addition to the period of such term of appointment. (2) Number of sabbaticals An individual may take more than one sabbatical under this subsection. (3) Repayment Except as provided in paragraph (4), an individual who fails to satisfy a written agreement executed under paragraph (1) with respect to a sabbatical shall repay the Department an amount equal to any pay, allowances, and other benefits received by the individual from the Department during the period of the sabbatical. (4) Waiver of repayment An agreement under paragraph (1) may include such conditions for the waiver of repayment otherwise required under paragraph (3) for failure to satisfy such agreement as the Secretary specifies in such agreement. (k) Regulations The Secretary of Defense shall administer the pilot program under regulations prescribed by the