; and (2) by amending subsections (e) and (f) to read as follows: (e) Appointment (1) In general An individual who participates in the fellows program shall be appointed into an excepted service position in the Department. (2) Position requirements Each year, the head of each Department of Defense Component shall submit to the Secretary of Defense placement opportunities for participants in the fellows program. Such placement opportunities shall provide for leadership development and potential commencement of a career track toward a position of senior leadership in the Department. The Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the heads of Department of Defense Components, shall establish qualification requirements for the appointment of participants under paragraph (1). (3) Appointment to positions Each year, the Secretary of Defense shall appoint participants in the fellows program to positions in the Department of Defense Components. In making such appointments, the Secretary shall seek to best match the qualifications and skills of the participants with the requirements for positions available for appointment. (4) Term The term of each appointment under the fellows program shall be one year with the option to extend the appointment up to one additional year. (5) Grade An individual appointed to a position under the fellows program shall be appointed at a level between GS–10 and GS–12 of the General Schedule based on the directly related qualifications, skills, and professional experience of the individual. (6) Education loan repayment To the extent that funds are provided in advance in appropriations Acts, the Secretary of Defense may repay a loan of a participant in the fellows program if the loan is described by subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) of section 16301(a)(1) of title 10, United States Code. Any repayment of a loan under this paragraph may require a minimum service agreement, as determined by the Secretary. (7) Department of defense component defined In this subsection, the term Department of Defense