1. Pilot program on earning by special operations forces medics of credits towards a physician assistant degree (a) In general The Secretary of Defense shall conduct a pilot program to assess the feasibility and advisability of partnerships between special operations forces and institutions of higher education with appropriate accreditation, and health care systems if determined appropriate by the Secretary for purposes of the pilot program, through which special operations forces medics earn credit toward the accredited master's degree of physician assistant for military operational work and training performed by the medics. (b) Duration The Secretary shall conduct the pilot program for a period not to exceed five years. (c) Clinical training Partnerships under subsection (a) shall permit medics participating in the pilot program to conduct clinical training at medical facilities of the Department of Defense and the civilian sector in order to meet the increasing demand for highly trained health care providers at such facilities. (d) Evaluation The evaluation of work and training performed by medics for which credits are earned under the pilot program shall comply with civilian clinical evaluation and accreditation standards applicable to the awarding of master's degrees of physician assistant. (e) Reports (1) Initial report Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representative a report that shall include the following: (A) A comprehensive framework for the military education to be provided to special operations forces medics under the pilot program, including courses of instruction at institutions of higher education with appropriate accreditation and any health care systems participating in the pilot program. (B) Metrics to be used to assess the effectiveness of the pilot program. (C) A description of the mechanisms to be used by the Department, medics, or both to cover the