FY18National Defense 

Authorization Act (NDAA)

Summary of H.R. 2810

The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018

As of 16 November 2017

Status of FY18 NDAA Bills

Passed in 

Committee

Passed in 

Chamber Agreement Final Passage Signed into Law

House 28 June 2017



14 July 2017

 09 November 

2017



14 November 

2017



Senate 28 June 2017



18 September 

2017



16 November 

2017


Table of Contents

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY..............................................................................................-1-

NATIONAL GUARD ACCOUNTS OVERVIEW..................................................................-2-

PROCUREMENT.........................................................................................................-3-

RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, TEST AND EVALUATION..................................................-4-

OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE..............................................................................-4-

MILITARY PERSONNEL AUTHORIZATIONS...................................................................-5-

RESERVE MANAGEMENT PROVISIONS........................................................................-6-

MEMBER EDUCATION, TRAINING, TRANSITION, AND RESILIENCE.......................................-7-

MILITARY PERSONNEL POLICY..................................................................................................-7-

COMPENSATION, PERSONNEL BENEFITS AND RETIREMENT...............................................-8-

STUDIES AND REPORTS..............................................................................................................-9-

OTHER FUNDING PROVISIONS..................................................................................................-10-

CONFERENCE DIRECTIVE REPORT LANGUAGE....................................................................-12-

SASC COMMITTEE REPORT LANGUAGE.................................................................................-13-

HASC COMMITTEE REPORT LANGUAGE.................................................................................-20-

LEGISLATIVE PROVISIONS NOT ADOPTED.............................................................................-27-
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Executive Summary

This is a short summary of the Fiscal Year 2018 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Bill text 

and conference report language can be found on NGB-LL’s website: www.nationalguard.mil/ll. 

To obtain a complete understanding of any particular provision, users are encouraged to review the 

actual legislative language. Beyond the legislative provisions, there are a number of committee reports 

relevant to the National Guard. Committee reports are generally complied with as though they were 

legislative language. Readers are encouraged to review the report language section (starting on page 

12) for situational awareness. A new section has been added to the summary to reflect legislative 

provisions in the House and Senate versions which were ultimately not adopted in the conference 

NDAA.

Status: 

On Thursday, 09 November, the House and Senate conferees released a compromise Fiscal Year 

2018 National Defense Authorization Bill. It authorizes $692.1 billion in discretionary spending 

(including $65.8 billion for Overseas Contingency Operations) in fiscal 2018, about $26 billion more 

than the President’s Budget Request. Please note this is an authorization and not an appropriation.

National Guard Highlights: 

• Military technician conversion percentage of 12.6%. (Sec. 413)

• Authorizes ARNG end strength of 343,500 and ANG end strength of 106,600. (Sec. 411)

• Requires the CNGB, in coordination with the Secretary of Defense, to submit an annual report 

on personnel, training, and equipment needs of the non-federalized National Guard. (Sec. 333)

• Provides for pre and post-mobilization TRICARE benefits for 12304b. (Sec. 511)

• Limits the number of members of the ARNG and ANG on full-time support at NGB to 6% of the 

authorized full-time end strength. (Sec. 416)

• Authorizes a pilot program on the use of retired senior enlisted members of the ARNG as ARNG 

recruiters. (Sec. 514)

• Requires a review and report on authorities for the employment, use, and status of NG and 

Reserve technicians. (Sec. 574)

• Requires a review and report on the effects of personnel requirements and limitations on the 

availability of members of the NG for the performance of funeral honors duty for veterans. (Sec.

573)

• Requires Comptroller General of the U.S. to assess and report on the Office of Complex 

Investigations with NGB. (Sec. 577)

• Directs an evaluation of the National Guard Counterdrug Program to assess its funding and 

determine how it aligns with DOD counter-narcotics goals, state-level plans, and program 

objectives. (Senate Directive Report Language )

• Requires the Army to develop a comprehensive modernization strategy explicitly addressing the 

Total Army’s vision, end-state, key objectives, and warfighting challenges. (Sec. 1061)

• Requires the Secretary of Defense to submit a report describing the manner in which the 

Secretary will allocate funds to be used by the Air Force and National Guard to mitigate 

identified sources of PFOS. (Conference Directive Report Language)
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• Increases the threshold for use of operation and maintenance amounts to carry out an 

unspecified minor military construction project from $1.0 million to $2.0 million. (Sec. 2802)

National Guard Accounts Overview

Army National Guard - Authorization of Funding (All Dollars in Thousands)

Army 

National 

Guard

FY18 PB

Request

HASC 

Mark

Delta from 

PB

SASC 

Mark 

Delta 

from PB

Conference 

Report

FY18

Delta 

from PB

O&M $7,307,170 $7,379,580 +$72,410 $7,490,093 +$182,923 $7,491,553 +$184,383

OCO for 

Base O&M - $173,900 +$173,900 - - - -

OCO O&M $108,111 $108,111 - $108,111 - $108,111 -

MILCON $210,652 $266,652 +$56,000 $294,152 +$83,500 $294,152 +$83,500

Army National Guard End Strength

Army 

National 

Guard

FY18 PB 

Request

HASC 

Mark 

Delta from 

PB

SASC 

Mark

Delta 

from PB

Conference 

Report

FY18

Delta 

from PB

End Strength 343,000 347,000 +4,000 343,500 +500 343,500 +500

AGR 30,155 30,155 - 30,155 - 30,155 -

Dual Status 

Technicians 25,507 25,507 - 22,294 -3,213 22,294 -3,213

Non-Dual 

Status 

Technicians

1,600 1,600 - 0 -1,600 0 -1,600

ADOS 17,000 17,000 - 17,000 - 17,000 -

Air National Guard - Authorization of Funding (All Dollars in Thousands) 

Air National 

Guard

FY18 PB

Request

HASC 

Mark

Delta 

from PB

SASC 

Mark

Delta from 

PB

Conference 

Report

FY18

Delta 

from PB

O&M $6,939,968 $7,104,268 +164,300 $7,143,668 +$203,700 $7,050,768 +$110,800

OCO for Base 

O&M - $47,600 +$47,600 - - - -

OCO O&M $15,400 $15,400 - $15,400 - $15,400 -

MILCON $161,491 $203,391 +$41,900 $187,491 +$26,000 $195,491 +$34,000

Air National Guard End Strength

Air National 

Guard

FY18 PB

Request

HASC 

Mark

Delta 

from PB

SASC 

Mark

Delta from 

PB

Conference 

Report

FY18

Delta 

from PB

End Strength 106,600 106,600 - 106,600 - 106,600 -

AGR 16,260 16,260 - 16,260 - 16,260 -

Dual Status 

Technicians 21,893 21,893 - 19,135 -2,758 19,135 -2,758

Non-Dual Status 

Technicians 350 350 - 0 -350 0 -350

ADOS 16,000 16,000 - 16,000 - 16,000 -

FUNDING AUTHORIZATIONS DO NOT EQUAL FINAL FUNDING. FINAL FUNDING LEVELS WILL BE 

DECIDED BY APPROPRIATIONS BILLS 
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PROCUREMENT

Sec. 131. Inventory requirement for Air Force fighter aircraft

This section would amend section 8062 of title 10, United States Code, by adding a new subsection requiring 

the Secretary of the Air Force to maintain a minimum total active inventory of 1,970 fighter aircraft, within 

which the Secretary would also have to maintain a minimum of 1,145 fighter aircraft as primary mission 

aircraft inventory (combat coded). The section would also provide additional limitations on fighter retirements 

by requiring the Secretary of the Air Force to certify to the congressional defense committees that: (1) The 

retirement of such fighter aircraft will not increase the operational risk of meeting the National Defense 

Strategy; and (2) The retirement of such aircraft will not reduce the total fighter force structure below 1,970 

fighter aircraft or primary mission aircraft inventory below 1,145 and would require a report setting forth the 

following: (a) The rationale for the retirement of existing fighter aircraft and an operational analysis of 

replacement fighter aircraft that demonstrates performance of the designated mission at an equal or greater 

level of effectiveness as the retiring aircraft; (b) An assessment of the implications for the Air Force, the Air 

National Guard, and the Air Force Reserve of the force mix ratio of fighter aircraft; and (c) Such other matters 

relating to the retirement of fighter aircraft as the Secretary considers appropriate. 

Lastly, the section would also require a notification at least 90 days prior to the date on which a fighter 

aircraft is retired that includes the following: (1) A list of each fighter aircraft proposed for retirement, 

including for each such aircraft: (a) The mission design series type; (b) The variant; and (c) The assigned 

unit and military installation where such aircraft is based, and how such unit and installation is affected. (2) 

For each military installation and unit affected by the proposed retirement, changes, if any, to the designed 

operational capability (DOC) statement of the unit as a result of a proposed retirement. (3) Any anticipated 

changes in manpower authorizations as a result of a proposed retirement listed under (2) above.

Sec. 132. Prohibition on availability of funds for retirement of E–8 JSTARS aircraft

This section states none of the funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act or otherwise made available 

for fiscal year 2018 for the Air Force may be obligated or expended to retire, or prepare to retire, any E–8 

Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System aircraft. The prohibition in subsection (a) shall not apply to 

individual E–8 Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System aircraft that the Secretary of the Air Force 

determines, on a case-by-case basis, to be non-operational because of mishaps, other damage, or being 

uneconomical to repair.

Sec. 133. Requirement for continuation of JSTARS aircraft recapitalization program

This section provides if the budget request submitted to Congress for any fiscal year includes a request by 

the Secretary of the Air Force to cancel or modify the JSTARS aircraft recapitalization program, the 

Secretary of Defense shall submit, as part of such budget request, the report described in subsection (b).

The report described in this subsection, is a report that includes the following: (1) The assumptions, 

rationale, and all analysis supporting the proposed cancellation or modification of the JSTARS aircraft 

recapitalization program. (2) An assessment of the implications of such cancellation or modification for 

meeting the mission requirements for air battle management and moving target indicator intelligence 

discipline of the Air Force, the Air National Guard, the Army, the Army National Guard, the Navy and Marine 

Corps, and the combatant commands. (3) A certification that the plan for the cancellation or modification of 

the recapitalization program would not result in an increased time during which there is a capability or 

capacity gap in providing battlefield management, command and control and intelligence, surveillance, and 

reconnaissance capabilities to the combatant commanders. (4) Such other matters relating to the proposed

cancellation or modification as the Secretary considers appropriate. The report under subsection (b) shall be 

submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex. In this section: (1) The term ‘‘budget 

request’’ means the budget materials submitted by the Secretary of Defense in support of the budget of the 

President for a fiscal year (submitted to Congress pursuant to section 1105 of title 31, United States Code).

(2) The term ‘‘JSTARS aircraft recapitalization program’’ means the recapitalization program for the E–8C 

Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System aircraft as such program is proposed to be carried out in the 

budget request submitted to Congress for fiscal year 2018.

Sec. 134. Limitation on selection of single contractor for C–130H avionics modernization program 

increment 2

This provision prohibits the Department of the Air Force from selecting a single contractor for the C-130H 

avionics modernization program increment 2 until the Secretary of the Air Force certifies to the congressional 

defense committees that every opportunity will be taken to make use of commercial-off-the-shelf technology 
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solutions and non-developmental items and that excessively restrictive military specification standards were 

not used as criteria to restrict or eliminate fair and open competition.

Sec. 137. Cost-benefit analysis of upgrades to MQ–9 Reaper aircraft

This section directs the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of the Air Force, shall 

conduct an analysis that compares the costs and benefits of the following: (1) Upgrading fielded MQ–9 

Reaper aircraft to a Block 5 configuration. (2) Proceeding with the procurement of MQ–9B aircraft instead of 

upgrading fielded MQ–9 Reaper aircraft to a Block 5 configuration. Not later than 180 days after the date of 

the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees a 

report that includes the results of the cost-benefit analysis conducted under subsection (a). The report 

required by paragraph (1) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex.

Sec. 138. Plan for modernization of the radar for F–16 fighter aircraft of the National Guard

This section directs the Secretary of the Air Force shall develop a plan to modernize the radars of F–16 

fighter aircraft of the National Guard by replacing legacy mechanically-scanned radars for such aircraft with 

active electronically scanned array radars. Not later 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 

Secretary of the Air Force shall submit to the congressional defense committees the plan developed under 

subsection (a).

RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, TEST, AND EVALUATION

Sec. 236. Requirement for a plan to build a prototype for a new ground combat vehicle for the Army

This section requires the Secretary of the Army to submit a report to the congressional defense committees 

detailing the Army’s plan to build a prototype for a ground combat vehicle. The committee directs the Army to 

submit this report within 90 days of the enactment of this Act.

OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE

Sec. 333. Annual report on personnel, training, and equipment needs of non-federalized National 

Guard

This section would amend Section 10504 of title 10, to add “Annual Report On Non-Federalized Service 

National Guard Personnel, Training, and Equipment Requirements”. Not later than January 31 of each of 

calendar years 2018 through 2020, the Chief of the National Guard Bureau, in coordination with the 

Secretary of Defense, shall submit to the recipients described in paragraph (3) a report that identifies the 

personnel, training, and equipment required by the non-Federalized National Guard— (A) to support civilian 

authorities in connection with natural and man-made disasters during the covered period; and (B) to carry out 

prevention, protection, mitigation, response, and recovery activities relating to such disasters during the 

covered period. In preparing each report, the Chief of the National Guard Bureau shall (A) consult with the 

chief executive of each State, the Council of Governors, and other appropriate civilian authorities; (B) collect 

and validate information from each State relating to the personnel, training, and equipment requirements 

described in paragraph (1); (C) set forth separately the personnel, training, and equipment requirements for

each of the emergency support functions of the National Response Framework; and each of the Federal 

Emergency Management Agency regions; (D) assess core civilian capability gaps relating to natural and 

man-made disasters, as identified by States in submissions to the Department of Homeland Security; (E) 

take into account threat and hazard identifications and risk assessments of the Department of Defense, the 

Department of Homeland Security, and the States; and ‘‘(F) assess the budgets of each State to support the 

personnel, training, and equipment requirements of the non-Federalized National Guard.

The annual report shall be submitted to the following officials: The congressional defense committees, the

Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Homeland

Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate; the Secretary of Defense; the Secretary of Homeland 

Security; the Council of Governors; the Secretary of the Army; the Secretary of the Air Force; the 

Commander of the United States Northern Command; the Commander of the United States Pacific 

Command; the Commander of the United States Cyber Command.
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Sec. 350. Civilian training for National Guard pilots and sensor operator aircrews of MQ–9 unmanned 

aerial vehicles

This section authorizes the Secretary of the Air Force to enter into one or more contracts with appropriate 

civilian entities in order to provide flying or operating training for Air National Guard pilots and sensor 

operator aircrew members in the MQ–9 unmanned aerial vehicle if the Secretary of the Air Force determines 

that Air Force training units lack sufficient capacity to train such pilots or sensor operator aircrew members 

for initial qualification in the MQ–9 unmanned aerial vehicle; pilots or sensor operator aircrew members of Air 

National Guard units require continuation training in order to remain current and qualified in the MQ–9 

unmanned aerial vehicle; non-combat continuation training in the MQ–9 unmanned aerial vehicle is 

necessary for such pilots or sensor operator aircrew members to achieve required levels of flying or 

operating proficiency; and such training for such pilots or sensor operator aircrew members is necessary in 

order to meet requirements for the Air National Guard to provide pilots and sensor operator aircrew members 

qualified in the MQ–9 unmanned aerial vehicle for operations on active duty and in State status.

Sec. 351. Training for National Guard personnel on wildfire response

This section provides the Secretary of the Army and the Secretary of the Air Force may, in consultation with 

the Chief of the National Guard Bureau, provide support for training of appropriate personnel of the National 

Guard on wildfire response and prevention, with preference given to military installations with the highest 

wildfire suppression need.

MILITARY PERSONNEL AUTHORIZATIONS 

Sec. 411. End strengths for Selected Reserve

See table on Page 2

Sec. 412. End strengths for Reserves on active duty in support of the reserves

See table on Page 2

Sec. 413. End strengths for military technicians (dual status)

This section would authorize military technicians (dual status) for the reserve components of the Army and 

Air Force for fiscal year 2018, at the following levels: Army National Guard: 22,294; Army Reserve: 6,492; Air 

National Guard: 19,135; and Air Force Reserve: 8,880. These authorizations reflect the conversion of 12.6 

percent of the technician population, as requested in the fiscal year 2018 budget request, to civilian 

employees under section 3101 of title 5, United States Code, or section 1601 of title 10, United States Code 

as authorized elsewhere in this Act to reflect the requirements of section 1084 of the National Defense 

Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114–328).

Sec. 414. Fiscal year 2018 limitation on number of non-dual status technicians

This section would set the limit on the number of non-dual status technicians who may be employed in the 

Department of Defense as of September 30, 2018, at zero to reflect the requirements of section 1084 of the 

National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114–328) converting non-dual status 

technicians to civilian employees under section 3101 of title 5, United States Code, or section 1601 of title 

10, United States Code, by no later than October 1, 2017.

Sec. 415. Maximum number of reserve personnel authorized to be on active duty for operational 

support

See table on Page 2

Sec. 416. Number of members of the National Guard on full-time duty in support of the reserves 

within the National Guard Bureau

This section would limit the number of personnel authorized to be on full-time duty in support of the reserves 

within the National Guard Bureau to not exceed the number equal to six percent of the number authorized by 

section 412 of this Act.
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Sec. 506. Clarification of effect of repeal of statutory specification of general or flag officer grade for 

various positions in the Armed Forces

This section would amend section 502 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (Public 

Law 114–328) to clarify that the grade of an officer serving as of the date of the enactment of that Act in a 

position whose statutory grade is affected by an amendment made by section 502 may not be reduced after 

that date by reason of such amendment as long as the officer remains in continuous service in such position 

after that date.

RESERVE MANAGEMENT PROVISIONS 

Sec. 511. Equal treatment of orders to serve on active duty under section 12304a and 12304b of title 

10, United States Code

This section amends 1074(d)(2) of title 10, United States Code, by striking ‘‘in support of a contingency 

operation under’ and inserting ‘‘under section 12304b of this title or’’. Section 1145(a)(2)(B) of title 10, United 

States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘in support of a contingency operation’’ and inserting ‘‘under section 

12304b of this title or a provision of law referred to in section 101(a)(13)(B) of this title’’.

Sec. 512. Service credit for cyberspace experience or advanced education upon original appointment 

as a commissioned officer

This section amends Section 12207 of title 10, United States Code, to authorize if the Secretary of a military 

department determines that the number of commissioned officers with cyberspace-related experience or 

advanced education in reserve active-status in an armed force under the jurisdiction of such Secretary is 

critically below the number needed, such Secretary may credit any person receiving an original appointment 

as a reserve commissioned officer with a period of constructive service for the following: (A) Special 

experience or training in a particular cyberspace-related field if such experience or training is directly related 

to the operational needs of the armed force concerned. (B) Any period of advanced education in cyberspacerelated field beyond the baccalaureate degree level if such advanced education is directly related to the 

operational needs of the armed force concerned.

Sec. 513. Consolidation of authorities to order members of the reserve components of the Armed 

Forces to perform duty

This section requires the Secretary of Defense to submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the 

Senate and the House of Representatives legislative proposals designed to implement alternative 

approaches to reducing the number of statutory authorities by which members of the reserve components of 

the Armed Forces may be ordered to perform duty to not more than eight statutory authorities grouped into 

four duty categories to which specific pay and benefits may be aligned.

Sec. 514. Pilot program on use of retired senior enlisted members of the Army National Guard as 

Army National Guard recruiters

This section authorizes the Secretary of the Army to carry out a pilot program for the Army National Guard 

under which retired senior enlisted members of the Army National Guard would serve as contract recruiters 

for the Army National Guard. The Secretary of the Army shall design any pilot program conducted under this 

section to determine the following: (1) The feasibility and effectiveness of hiring retired senior enlisted 

members of the Army National Guard who have retired within the previous two years to serve as recruiters.

(2) The merits of hiring such retired senior enlisted members as contractors or as employees of the

Department of Defense. (3) The best method of providing a competitive compensation package for such 

retired senior enlisted members. (4) The merits of requiring such retired senior enlisted members to wear a 

military uniform while performing recruiting duties under the pilot program. If a pilot program is conducted 

under this section, the Secretary of the Army shall use funds otherwise available for the National Guard 

Bureau to carry out the program. If a pilot program is conducted under this section, the Secretary of the Army

shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the Senate a report 

containing an evaluation of the success of the pilot program, including the determinations described in 

subsection (b). The report shall be submitted not later than January 1, 2019.
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MEMBER EDUCATION, TRAINING, TRANSITION, AND RESILIENCE

Sec. 544. Two-year extension of suicide prevention and resilience program for the National Guard 

and Reserves

This section would amend section 10219(g) of title 10, United States Code, to extend the authority for suicide 

prevention and resilience programs for the National Guard and Reserves until October 1, 2020.

MILITARY PERSONNEL POLICY

Sec. 572. Review and reports on policies for regular and reserve officer career management

This section requires the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretaries of the military 

departments, to conduct a review of the policies of the Department of Defense for the career management of 

regular and reserve officers of the Armed Forces pursuant to the Defense Officer Personnel Management 

Act and the Reserve Officer Personnel Management Act. Not later than July 31, 2018, the Secretary of 

Defense shall submit tp the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives 

a report setting forth the results of the review conducted under subsection (a). 

Sec. 573. Review and report on effects of personnel requirements and limitations on the availability 

of members of the National Guard for the performance of funeral honors duty for veterans

This section directs the Secretary of Defense to undertake a review of the effects of the personnel

requirements and limitations described in subsection (b) with respect to the members of the National Guard 

in order to determine whether or not such requirements unduly limit the ability of the Armed Forces to meet 

the demand for personnel to perform funeral honors in connection with funerals of veterans. Not later than 

six months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on 

Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report on the review undertaken pursuant 

to subsection (a). The report shall include the following: (1) A description of the review. (2) Such 

recommendations as the Secretary considers appropriate in light of the review for legislative or 

administrative action to expand the number of members of the National Guard available for the performance 

of funeral honors functions at funerals of veterans.

Sec. 574. Review and report on authorities for the employment, use, and status of National Guard and 

Reserve technicians

This section requires the Secretary of Defense to conduct a review of the following: (1) Authority for the 

employment, use, and status of National Guard technicians under section 709 of title 32, United States Code 

(commonly referred to as the National Guard Technicians Act of 1968). (2) Authorities for the employment, 

use, and status of National Guard and Reserve technicians under sections 10216 through 10218 of title 10, 

United States Code. (3) Any other authorities on the employment, use, and status of National Guard and 

Reserve technicians under law. In conducting the review under subsection (a), the Secretary of Defense 

shall consult with the Chief of the National Guard Bureau, the Chief of Army Reserve, the Chief of Air Force 

Reserve, and representatives of National Guard and Reserve technicians, including collective bargaining 

representatives of such technicians. Not later than April 1, 2018, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the 

Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report containing (1) the 

results of the review conducted under subsection (a), including a discussion of the matters set forth in 

subsections (b) and (e); and (2) such recommendations for legislative or administrative action as the 

Secretary considers appropriate in light of the review in order to improve and enhance the employment, use, 

and status of National Guard and Reserve technicians.

Sec. 575. Assessment and report on expanding and contracting for childcare services of the 

Department of Defense

This section directs the Secretary of Defense to conduct an assessment of the feasibility and advisability of 

the following: (1) Expanding the operating hours of childcare facilities of the Department of Defense in order 

to meet childcare services requirements for swing-shift, night-shift, and weekend workers. (2) Using 

contracts with private-sector childcare services providers to expand the availability of childcare services for 

members of the Armed Forces at locations outside military installations at costs similar to the current costs 

for childcare services through child development centers on military installations. (3) Contracting with privatesector childcare services providers to operate childcare facilities of the Department on military installations.
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(4) Expanding childcare services as described in paragraphs (1) through (3) to members of the Na tional 

Guard and Reserves in a manner that does not substantially raise costs of childcare services for the military 

departments or conflict with others who have a higher priority for space in childcare services programs, such 

as members of the Armed Forces on active duty. Not later than September 1, 2018, the Secretary of 

Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives 

a report containing the results of the assessment conducted under subsection (a).

Sec. 577. Comptroller General of the United States assessment and report on the Office of Complex

Investigations within the National Guard Bureau

This section directs the Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct an assessment on the 

purpose, structure, and effectiveness of the Office of Complex Investigations within the National Guard 

Bureau. The assessment conducted shall address the following: (1) The purpose of the Office of Complex 

Investigations and the criteria used to determine which cases will be investigated by the office. (2) The 

services provided by the Office of Complex Investigations. (3) The authority under which the Office of

Complex Investigations may investigate violations of State law. (4) The structure of the Office of Complex 

Investigations, including the number of individuals assigned, both permanently and temporarily, to the office;

the organizational structure of the office; and the annual budget of the office, the source of funding, and the 

extent to which States are required to reimburse the Department of Defense for activities conducted by the

office. (5) The extent to which the investigations conducted by the Office of Complex Investigations could be 

conducted by another State or Federal entity. (6) The policies governing the Office of Complex 

Investigations, and the extent to which the office adheres to these policies. (7) The training provided to 

investigators and other employees of the Office of Complex Investigations. (8) Any other matters the 

Comptroller General considers relevant to the assessment. Not later than October 31, 2018, the Comptroller 

General shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives 

a report containing the results of the assessment conducted under subsection (a).

COMPENSATION, PERSONNEL BENEFITS AND RETIREMENT

Sec. 601. Fiscal year 2018 increase in military basic pay

This section authorizes a 2.4% increase in military basic pay.

Sec. 611. One-year extension of certain bonus and special pay authorities for reserve forces.

This section would extend for 1 year the authority to pay the Selected Reserve reenlistment bonus, the 

Selected Reserve affiliation or enlistment bonus, special pay for enlisted members assigned to certain highpriority units, the Ready Reserve enlistment bonus for persons without prior service, the Ready Reserve 

enlistment and reenlistment bonus for persons with prior service, the Selected Reserve enlistment and 

reenlistment bonus for persons with prior service, travel expenses for certain inactive- duty training, and 

income replacement for reserve component members experiencing extended and frequent mobilization for

Active-Duty service.

Sec. 616. Report regarding the national pilot shortage

This section directs the Comptroller General of the United States to, not later than April 30, 2018, submit to

the Committees on Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the Senate a report regarding the 

extent of the national pilot shortage and the impact that such shortage has on the ability of the Department of 

Defense to retain pilots.

Sec. 617. Special aviation incentive pay and bonus authorities for enlisted members who pilot 

remotely piloted aircraft.

This section would amend chapter 5 of title 37, United States Code, to create a new authority to pay aviation 

incentive pay and bonuses to enlisted member remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) pilots with statutory caps of 

$1,000 per month for aviation incentive pay and $35,000 per year for aviation bonus pay, which is equivalent 

to the current caps under section 334 of title 37, United States Code, for pilots who are officers. This 

authority will also include the same business case analysis requirement for setting bonuses that is required 

under section 334 of title 37, United States Code, for pilots who are officers. The committee intends this 

authority to be a companion to the efforts precipitated by this committee to begin the training pipeline for 

enlisted RPA pilots in the United States Air Force. This authority would also be available for enlisted pilots in 
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the other services, such as the Army, where enlisted pilots are already utilized in the unmanned aerial 

vehicle community.

Sec. 623. Technical correction regarding election to participate in modernized retirement system for 

reserve component members experiencing a break in service

This section amends Section 12739(f)(2)(B)(iii) of title 10, United States Code, by striking ‘‘on the date of the

reentry’’ and inserting ‘‘within 30 days after the date of the reentry’’.

Sec. 701. Continued access to medical care at facilities of the uniformed services for certain 

members of the reserve components

This section amends paragraph (2) of section 1076d(f) of title 10, United States Code, to define ‘TRICARE 

Reserve Select’ to mean (A) medical care at facilities of the uniformed services to which a dependent 

described in section 1076(a)(2) of this title is entitled; and ‘(B) health benefits under the TRICARE Select 

self-managed, preferred provider network option under section 1075 of this title made available to 

beneficiaries by reason of this section and subject to the cost-sharing requirements set forth in such section 

1075. Section 1076e is amended in the subsection heading, by striking ‘‘Retired Reserve’’; by striking 

‘‘Retired Reserve’’ the last place it appears; and by striking paragraph (2) and defining the term to mean

‘TRICARE Retired Reserve’ (A) medical care at facilities of the uniformed services to which a dependent 

described in section 1076(a)(2) of this title is entitled; and ‘(B) health benefits under the TRICARE Select 

self-managed, preferred provider network option under section 1075 of this title made available to

beneficiaries by reason of this section and subject to the cost-sharing requirements set forth in such section 

1075.

Sec. 705. Physical examinations for members of a reserve component who are separating from the 

Armed Forces

This section amends section 1145 of title 10, United States Code, to require the service secretary to provide 

a physical examination to a reserve component member during the 2-year period before the date on which 

the member separates from the Armed Forces in support of a contingency operation for a period of more 

than 30 days, if the member would not otherwise receive such an examination and elects an examination. 

The provision would require the service secretary to provide the physical examination during the 90-day

period before the member's separation date, to issue orders for the member to receive the examination, and 

to provide a record of the examination to the member. Under this provision, the member would not be 

entitled to health benefits solely by reason of receiving a physical examination.

Sec. 707. Expansion of sexual trauma counseling and treatment for members of the reserve 

components

This section amends Section 1720D(a)(2)(A) of title 38, United States Code, by striking ‘‘on active duty’’; and 

by inserting before the period at the end the following: ‘‘that was suffered by the member while serving on 

active duty, active duty for training, or inactive duty training’’.

Sec. 732. Feasibility study on conduct of pilot program on mental health readiness of part-time 

members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces

This section directs the Secretary of Defense to conduct a feasibility study and cost estimate for a pilot 

program that uses predictive analytics and screening to identify mental health risk and provide early, targeted

intervention for part-time members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces to improve readiness 

and mission success.

STUDIES AND REPORTS 

Sec. 1061. Army modernization strategy

This section directs the Secretary of the Army to develop a modernization strategy for the total Army.

The strategy required shall include the following: (1) A comprehensive description of the future total Army, 

including key objectives, war fighting challenges, and risks, sufficient to establish requirements, set priorities, 

identify opportunity costs, and establish acquisition time lines for the total Army over a period beyond the 

period of the current future-years defense program under section 221 of title 10, United States Code. (2) 

Mechanisms for identifying programs of the Army that may be unnecessary, or do not perform according to 

expectations, in achieving the future total Army. (3) A comprehensive description of the manner in which the 

future total Army intends to fight and win as part of a joint force engaged in combat across all operational 
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domains. (4) A comprehensive description of the mechanisms required by the future total Army to maintain

command, control, and communications and sustainment. (5) A description of the combat vehicle 

modernization priorities of the Army over the next 5 and 10 years; the extent to which such priorities can be 

supported at current funding levels within a relevant time period; the extent to which additional funds are 

required to support such priorities; how the Army is balancing and resourcing such priorities with efforts to 

rebuild and sustain readiness and increase force structure capacity over this same time period; and how the 

Army is balancing its near term modernization efforts with an accelerated long-term strategy for acquiring 

next generation combat vehicle capabilities. Additionally, the Comptroller General of the United States shall 

conduct an assessment of the modernization strategy. Not later than May 1, 2018, the Comptroller General 

shall provide to the congressional defense committees a briefing on the preliminary assessment of the 

Comptroller General under paragraph (1). The Comptroller General shall submit to the congressional 

defense committees a report on the final assessment of the Comptroller General under such paragraph. In 

this section, the term ‘‘total Army’’ means the active components and the reserve components of the Army.

Sec. 1083. Modification of requirement relating to conversation of certain military technician (dual 

status) positions to civilian positions

This section amends Section 1053(a)(1) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016, as

amended by section 1084(a)(1) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017, is further 

amended by striking ‘’20 percent’’ and inserting ‘‘12.6 percent’’.

Sec. 1084. National Guard accessibility to Department of Defense issued unmanned aircraft

This section directs the Secretary of Defense, not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this 

Act, in coordination with the Chief of the National Guard Bureau, the Commander of United States Northern 

Command, and the Commander of United States Pacific Command, shall conduct an efficiency and 

effectiveness review of the governance structure, coordination processes, documentation, and timing and 

deadline requirements stipulated in Department of Defense Policy Memorandum 15-002. In conducting the 

review, the Secretary shall take into account information and data points provided by State governors and 

State adjutant generals in assessing the efficiency and effectiveness of accessing Department of Defense 

issued unmanned aircraft systems for State and National Guard operations.

Sec. 1092. Collaboration between Federal Aviation Administration and Department of Defense on 

unmanned aircraft systems

This section authorizes the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration and the Secretary of 

Defense may collaborate on sense-and-avoid capabilities for unmanned aircraft systems.

Sec. 1638. Exercise on assessing cybersecurity support to election systems of States

This section would require the Secretary of Defense to incorporate the cybersecurity of elections systems of 

the States as a component of the Cyber Guard Exercise.

Sec. 1644. Cyber posture review

This section would require the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Director of National Intelligence, 

the Attorney General, the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, and the Secretary of State, to 

conduct a cyber posture review. The purpose of the review would be to clarify U.S. cyber deterrence policy 

and strategy for the near term by conducting a comprehensive review of the cyber posture of the United 

States for the next 5 to 10 years. A report on the results of the review would be due no later than March 1, 

2018, in unclassified and classified forms as necessary.

OTHER FUNDING PROVISIONS 

Sec. 1403 Drug Interdiction and Counter-Drug Activities, Defense-wide

This section would authorize the additional appropriations for the Drug Interdiction and Counter- Drug 

Activities, Defense-wide at the levels identified in section 4501 of division D of this Act.

Sec. 1508. Drug Interdiction and Counter-Drug Activities, Defense-wide

This section would authorize the additional appropriations for the Drug Interdiction and Counter- Drug 

Activities, Defense-wide at the levels identified in section 4502 of division D of this Act.
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Sec. 2601. Authorized Army National Guard construction and land acquisition projects.

 Army National Guard

State Location Amount

Delaware .................. New Castle ................................................... $36,000,000

Idaho ........................ Mission Training Center Gowen .................. $9,000,000

Orchard Training Area ................................ $22,000,000

Iowa ......................... Camp Dodge ................................................. $8,500,000

Kansas ..................... Fort Leavenworth ........................................ $19,000,000

Maine ....................... Presque Isle .................................................. $17,500,000

Maryland .................. Sykesville ...................................................... $19,000,000

Minnesota ................ Arden Hills ................................................... $39,000,000

Missouri ................... Springfield .................................................... $32,000,000

New Mexico ............. Las Cruces ................................................... $8,600,000

Virginia .................... Fort Belvoir ................................................. $15,000,000

Fort Pickett ................................................. $4,550,000

Washington .............. Tumwater ..................................................... $31,000,000

Sec. 2604. Authorized Air National Guard construction and land acquisition projects.

Air National Guard

State Location Amount

California .......................... MarchAirForceBase ......................... $15,000,000

Colorado ........................... PetersonAirForceBase ..................... $8,000,000

Connecticut ...................... Bradley IAP ........................................ $7,000,000

Indiana ............................. Hulman Regional Airport .................... $8,000,000

Kentucky .......................... Louisville IAP ...................................... $9,000,000

Mississippi ........................ Jackson International Airport ............. $8,000,000

Missouri ............................ Rosecrans Memorial Airport ............... $10,000,000

New York ......................... Hancock Field ..................................... $6,800,000

Ohio .................................. Toledo Express Airport ....................... $15,000,000

Oklahoma ......................... Tulsa International Airport ................. $8,000,000

Oregon .............................. KlamathFalls IAP.............................. $18,500,000

South Dakota ................... Joe Foss Field ..................................... $12,000,000

Tennessee .........................

Wisconsin..........................

McGhee-Tyson Airport ........................

Dane County Regional Airport/ Truax 

Field.......................................................

$25,000,000

$8,000,000

Sec. 2702. Prohibition on conducting additional base realignment and closure

(BRAC) round.

This section would prohibit an additional Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) round.

Sec. 2802. Modification of thresholds applicable to unspecified minor construction projects

This section would amend Section 2805(a)(2) of title 10, United States Code by striking ‘‘$3,000,000’’ and 

inserting ‘‘$6,000,000’’. Section 2805(c) of such title is amended by striking ‘‘$1,000,000’’ and inserting 

‘‘$2,000,000’’.

Sec. 2878. Report on hurricane damage to Department of Defense assets

This section requires the Secretary of Defense, not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this 

Act, to submit to the congressional defense committees a report on damage to Department of Defense 

assets and installations from hurricanes during 2017.
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CONFERENCE DIRECTIVE REPORT LANGUAGE

Environmental Restoration Activities at National Guard and Reserve Locations

The conferees direct the Secretary of Defense to deliver recommendations to the conferees no later than 30 

days after the enactment of this Act on how the Department could: (1) Reimburse state or municipal 

agencies that expended funds to investigate or provide alternative water supplies, due to the release of perand polyfluoroalkyl substances, when release came from a Department of Defense facility; and (2) Authorize 

access to the Environmental Restoration Account, established in 10 U.S.C. 2703, to address the 

investigation and any required removal or remedial action for the release of per- and polyfluoroalkyl

substances when the release took place from an Air or Army National Guard facility operating under a title 32 

authority.

Operation and Maintenance, Air National Guard, Facilities Sustainment, Restoration and 

Modernization

The conferees direct that not later than December 31, 2017 the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the 

congressional defense committees a report setting forth a description of the manner in which the Secretary 

will allocate funds which shall be used by the Air Force and the National Guard to take actions to mitigate 

identified sources of polyfluoroalkyl substances at sites as a result of surveys conducted by the Armed 

Forces so as to restore public confidence in potable water which may be affected in such sites.

Sexual assault prevention and response

The conferees direct the Department of Defense to provide a briefing to the Committees on Armed Services 

of the Senate and the House of Representatives no later than March 1, 2018 on the status of the 

Department's implementation of the Government Accountability Office's recommendations in GAO-17-217 

report, dated February 2017, titled "Sexual Assault: Better Resource Management Needed to Improve 

Prevention and Response in the Army National Guard and Army Reserve."

Briefing on a database of emergency response capabilities of the Department of Defense

The conferees are aware the Department has worked with its Federal and State partners to identify and 

document defense capabilities that may be needed in domestic emergencies. However, the conferees 

believe it is imperative for the Department to have comprehensive visibility on the cyber talent and cyber 

capabilities available in both the Active and Reserve Components in order to further develop and resource 

such capability needs for domestic response and other mission areas. The conferees note the Department of 

the Army’s talent management programs, including the Cyber Warrior Database (CWARD). CWARD is 

intended to capture relevant expertise, knowledge, skills, and abilities within the Army Cyber community in 

order to enable effective mission planning and human resource management. The conferees support this 

effort and encourage widespread adoption of common cyber talent and capability management tools among 

the service components. The conferees direct the Secretary of Defense to brief the congressional defense 

committees, not later than 60 days after enactment of this act, on the process used to track Department of 

Defense capabilities applicable to domestic emergency response. The briefing shall include information 

determining if and how those current processes can be expanded to include tracking cyber capabilities for 

the Active and Reserve Component, and if those processes can be dynamically updated and used to inform 

the development of operational plans and concepts of operations.

Authorization for National Guard and Reserve Unfunded Requirements for Military Construction

The conference agreement includes authorization for sixteen projects from the National Guard and 

Reserve’s unfunded requirements list: $32.0 million for a Consolidated Mission Complex, Phase 2 at Robins 

Air Force Base, Georgia; $32.0 million for an Aircraft Maintenance Hangar (Addition) at Springfield, Missouri; 

$30.0 million for a Reserve Center at Lewis-McChord, Washington; $26.0 million for a Reserve Center at

Fort Buchanan, Puerto Rico; $19.0 million for an Enlisted Barracks, Transient Training at Fort Leavenworth, 

Kansas; $15.0 million for a Readiness Center Add/Alt at Fort Belvoir, Virginia; $9.0 million for an Enlisted 

Barracks Transient Training at MTC Gowen, Idaho; $9.0 million for an Indoor Small Arms Range at 

Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, Minnesota; $8.5 million for a Vehicle Maintenance Instruction

Facility at Camp Dodge, Iowa; $8.0 million to Construct Small Arms Range at Hulman Regional Airport, 

Indiana; $8.0 million to Construct Small Arms Range at Tulsa International Airport, Oklahoma; $8.0 million to 

Construct Small Arms Range at Jackson International Airport, Mississippi; $8.0 million to Construct Small 
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Arms Range at Dane County Regional Airport/Truax Field, Wisconsin; and $3.1 million for a Munitions 

Training/Admin Facility at NAS JRB Fort Worth, Texas.

National Guard and Reserve Equipment

The conference committee authorizes $250 million for the National Guard and Reserve Equipment Account 

SASC COMMITTEE REPORT LANGUAGE

Arctic Search and Rescue

The committee is aware that growing international interest in the Arctic has led to increasing commercial and 

security activity in the High North. With this steady surge in demand, the committee remains concerned by 

the limited capabilities of the United States to conduct search and rescue operations throughout the Arctic 

region. The committee notes that the Department of Defense’s Report to Congress on Strategy to Protect 

United States National Security Interests in the Arctic Region, a report required by this committee in Section 

1068 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 (P.L. 114–92), identified the need for 

additional personnel recovery capability in this region. Specifically, the report calls for ‘‘forward 

deployed/based assets in a sustainable location and/or rapidly deployable air drop response/sustainment 

packages suitable to remote land, cold water, or ice pack operating environments.’’ The committee 

understands that the Alaska National Guard currently possesses two air-dropped, palletized Arctic 

Sustainment Packages (ASPs) to enable the survival of fifty individuals for three or more days in extreme 

Arctic conditions. The ASP is rapidly deployable over varied terrain, and allows personnel to survive and

operate in the High North. In light of emerging commercial and security requirements in the region, the 

committee believes that additional ASPs are needed to meet personnel recovery requirements,

and urges the Secretary of Defense to prioritize their resourcing.

C–130H modernization

The committee remains committed to the Air Force’s Avionics Modernization Program (AMP), and urges the 

Air Force to pursue the most rapid upgrade possible of the 176 C–130H aircraft. The committee continues to 

support the current two-increment AMP upgrade strategy, but is concerned that extensive development

needlessly delays completion of both AMP increments despite availability of commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) 

and non-developmental item (NDI) technologies, including glass cockpit and autopilot systems and 

components, that are available and in use on C–130 aircraft today. Achieving the best possible 

value/capability for the taxpayer and the Air Force is the goal. Therefore, the committee expects the 

Secretary of the Air Force to maximize efforts to procure COTS and NDI solutions and that minimize use of 

unnecessary military standard (MIL–STD) systems. This approach must adhere to the intent of Section 2377 

of Title 10, United States Code, and comprehensively apply the tenets of DoD’s Better Buying Power (BBP)

3.0 policy. COTS/NDI solutions are currently flying on both U.S. Government and civilian C–130 aircraft that 

are lighter, less expensive, and have proven reliability at or above that of the MIL–STD solutions. Such cost 

effective solutions should be embraced to the maximum extent possible and practical.

Therefore, the Secretary of the Air Force is directed to provide a briefing to the congressional defense 

committees within 180 days of enactment of this Act that details (1) how the intent of Section 2377 of Title 

10, United States Code, and the prescribed processes of DoD BBP 3.0 have been vigorously applied to 

defining both the technical requirements and acquisition strategy for AMP Increments 1 & 2, including the Air 

Force’s creation of incentives to offerors for accelerated and cost-capped implementation; (2) how the 

standards requirements applied to the C–130 cockpit modernization are not excessive given the operational 

mission profiles and considering other COTS technologies already operational these aircraft; and (3) how the 

proposed solution will reduce total ownership cost to the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve units that 

must then operate and maintain the aircraft.

F–16 Block 40/50 Mission Training Centers

The Secretary of the Air Force has directed the Air Force to accelerate procurement of additional F–16 

Mission Training Centers (MTC) suites for Air National Guard use in order to provide continuity of training 

between live and virtual scenarios, develop and maintain required combat readiness without dependence on 

the availability of off-station resources, reduce flight operations tempo and flying hour cost required to gain 

equal training readiness, reduce travel cost, reduce personnel tempo impacts for pilots, and increase dwell 
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time for wings, allowing more deployment flexibility. Additional MTCs would save travel costs and make the 

F–16 block 40/50 MTC more available to Active Duty, Reserve, and Air National Guard F–16 block 40/50 

pilots, resulting in enhanced readiness.

Establishment of Office of Complex Investigations within the National Guard Bureau

The committee directs the Chief of the National Guard Bureau to submit to the Committees on Armed 

Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives, no later than April 1, 2018, a status report on the 

official establishment of the Office of Complex Investigations that lays out the manning documents and turnover rates for such office.

HMMWV Rollover Mitigation

The committee is concerned by the number of High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) 

rollover accidents that have occurred in recent years, after the vehicles were up-armored to improve ballistic 

protection and resistance to mines and improvised explosive devices. The committee understands that 

commercial-off-the-shelf solutions are available to mitigate the problem of rollover accidents. The committee 

encourages the Army and Army National Guard to work expeditiously to mitigate the risk of HMMWV rollover

accidents. In particular, HMMWV Modernization activities should be specifically directed to mitigate the risk 

of rollovers and loss of control accidents in the existing Army and National Guard fleet by supporting retrofit 

installation of antilock braking systems and electronic stability control kits. The committee requests that the 

Department of the Army provide a briefing on plans to mitigate rollover accidents within the HMMWV fleet.

Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (JSTARS)

The E–8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (JSTARS) aircraft has long provided significant 

joint air command and control in both land and maritime arenas. The committee is pleased that the budget 

request includes some funding to continue this program’s essential warfighting function until the JSTARS 

Recapitalization Program reaches Full Operational Capability (FOC) in 2028. The committee expects that the 

Department of the Air Force will take no action to prematurely retire E–8C aircraft before the JSTARS Recap 

program reaches this milestone. The committee is greatly concerned that a lengthy JSTARS Recap 

acquisition program could result in a capabilities gap which will leave the combatant commanders without an 

acceptable level of ground moving target indicator and battle management command and control capability

for several years. Accordingly, the committee encourages the Secretary of the Air Force to fund all 

necessary modifications, including, but not limited to, Prime Mission Equipment-Diminishing Manufacturing 

Sources (PME–DMS) on all 16 E–8C aircraft and to maintain all E–8C aircraft in a singular configuration and

deployable state to continue world-wide missions, avoid degradation of mission performance, and meet 

Combatant Commander requirements for operations during the period.

Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of the Air Force to provide a briefing to the Committees on 

Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives, not later than November 1, 2017, that 

describes, in detail, a strategy to sufficiently address manning, sustainment, modernization, and viability 

deficiencies that would resolve capability gaps, shortfalls, and deficiencies of the E–8C fleet of aircraft. The 

briefing should include a strategy that addresses right-sizing and balancing unit manning among the Total 

Force; maintaining proficient and current aircrews to meet operational requirements; resolving obsolescence 

and diminishing manufacturing sources of parts and supply; necessary mission system upgrades and 

operational enhancements across the E–8C fleet to keep the aircraft viable and relevant until the JSTARS 

Recapitalization aircraft is fielded; resolving maintenance deficiencies; standardizing existing aircraft 

capabilities in areas such as imagery servers and the Automated Information System; and the associated

cost, budget, and timeline required to implement the strategy.

Light Utility Helicopter Industrial Base

The committee notes that the Army’s Aviation Restructure Initiative repurposed UH–72A Lakota Light Utility 

Helicopters (LUH) to become the primary entry-level training helicopter at the United States Army Aviation 

Center of Excellence (USAACE) at Fort Rucker. The committee understands that the Army has a helicopter

pilot shortage of about 700 pilots, which generates a need for additional LUHs to meet pilot training 

requirements.

In addition to USAACE, the Army National Guard also utilizes UH–72A helicopters for Security and Support 

missions. The committee understands that unmet requirements for UH–72A exist presently at USAACE, 

Combat Training Centers, and the Army Test and Evaluation Command. The committee understands that

SASC Committee Report Language
- 15 -

the Army issued a Justification and Approval (J&A) for 16 Lakotas without providing for full and open 

competition in December 2015. The pre-award J&A was subsequently protested in the U.S. Court of Federal 

Claims (COFC). The committee further understands that the Army appealed the COFC’s initial ruling in 

October 2016, but no exact timeline for a final ruling is known.

The committee further understands that the Fiscal Year 2017 Consolidated Appropriations Act (P.L. 115–31) 

appropriated funding for the Army to procure 28 UH–72A helicopters ‘‘in support of ongoing mission 

requirements at the Army Aviation Center of Excellence at Fort Rucker, the Combat Training Centers, and 

the Army Test and Evaluation Center.’’ In testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee on May 

25, 2017, the Acting Secretary of the Army, Robert M. Speer, stated that ‘‘the 2017 funding is held up in the 

same protest’’. The committee understands the Secretary’s statement to mean that the Army does not intend 

to obligate funding for the 28 Lakotas funded by Congress in P.L. 115– 31 in a timely manner.

The committee understands that there is dispute over the Army’s interpretation of its obligations pursuant to 

P.L. 115–31. The committee notes that the language on Lakota procurement contained in P.L. 115–31 is 

clear, directive, and legally binding. The committee is concerned about the impact of continued contracting

delays on the Army’s pilot training capability and the UH–72A industrial base.

Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of the Army to reexamine the Army’s position on obligating 

funding for the 28 Lakota helicopters appropriated in P.L. 115–31. The committee urges the Secretary to 

avoid conflating issues which may be legally separate and distinct. No later than 30 days after the enactment

of this Act, the committee requires the Secretary to provide to congressional defense committees a report 

which includes a legal analysis on its position regarding obligating funding for Lakotas as directed by 

Congress in P.L. 115–31. The report shall also include a plan for the Army to mitigate its pilot shortage.

Primary aircraft assigned to Air National Guard rescue squadrons

The committee finds that National Guard rescue squadrons in Alaska, California, and New York play a critical 

role in rescue response throughout the United States during times of disaster or crisis, a mission that 

prepares these units remarkably well for success in combat. The committee notes that certain rescue 

squadrons, in addition to civilian and deployment requirements conducted by all National Guard rescue 

squadrons, are tasked with alert requirements in support of active duty missions. Therefore, the committee

directs the Secretary of the Air Force to report to the congressional defense committees no later than 180 

days after the passage of this Act on the readiness of Air National Guard units to meet active duty alert 

mission requirements and whether such units have the appropriate number of primary aircraft assigned to 

fully execute all assigned missions.

SUSV Replacement Rapid Acquisition Strategy

The committee understands that extreme cold weather conditions and difficult terrains like deep snow, 

tundra, mud, swamps, and wetlands create mobility challenges for U.S. ground forces. In fact, the Chosin 

Reservoir Campaign during the Korean War realistically depicted the adverse effects that extreme cold 

weather operating conditions had on U.S. Forces.

The committee is aware that in 1983, the U.S. Army first began to field the M973 Small Unit Support Vehicle 

(SUSV)—a 14-person, tracked, semi-amphibious vehicle capable of navigating a wide range of otherwise 

impassable terrain that traditional wheeled and tracked vehicles cannot traverse. The SUSV travels with a 

footprint of just 1.8 pounds per square inch—less pressure than the human foot exerts—and is much better 

equipped to traverse difficult terrains like deep snow, tundra, mud, swamps, and wetlands. The committee is 

concerned that due to a limited availability of repair parts and no Army program to help support or maintain 

them, many of these 30-plus year old SUSVs are being cannibalized for parts to keep the few functional one 

remaining running and the entire fleet has just five years left on their projected life cycle before they will be 

classified obsolete. Currently there are approximately 200 SUSVs spread across the U.S. Army and the 

National Guard in states such as Alaska, Colorado, Minnesota, and Vermont, and other states, such as 

Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, and New Hampshire have an articulated requirement for the SUSV’s

unique capabilities.

The committee is also aware that on February 12, 2017, Headquarters, Department of the Army, G8, 

validated the requirement for a Joint All-Terrain/All-Weather Support Vehicle (JAASV) However, the 

committee is concerned that any program sourcing solution for the SUSV would not be sourced at this time 

SASC Committee Report Language
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and that the requirement will compete for funding in Program objective Memorandum 2019–2023. The 

committee is also concerned that allied and near peer Competitor countries are developing extreme cold 

weather ground transportation capabilities that far exceed U.S. military capabilities, notably the recent 

advances in all-weather/cross-country mobility being demonstrated by new Russian specialty vehicles.

The committee believes that the U.S. Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, and National Guard forces currently 

need a tactical vehicle that will provide transportation for a squad-sized element, emergency medical 

evacuation, command and control capability, and general cargo transportation on- and off-road in a wide 

range of otherwise impassable terrain, to include ice and extreme cold weather conditions to support yearround training and missions. The committee believes that the newly identified requirement—the JAASV—will 

enhance joint operations and facilitate interoperability under the adverse conditions that demand all-terrain, 

all-weather cross-country mobility that traditional wheeled and tracked vehicles cannot traverse.

Total force integration initiatives for rescue squadrons in the reserve component of the U.S. Armed 

Forces

The committee is aware that the National Commission on the Structure of the Air Force—a report requested 

by this committee in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 (Public Law 112–329)—

recommended that ‘‘new equipment will arrive at Air Reserve Component units simultaneously with its arrival

at Active Component units in the proportional share of each component . . . The Air Force should no longer 

recapitalize by cascading equipment from the Active Component to the Reserve Components.’’

Further, the Commission members testified to this committee that ‘‘There is no more significant element to 

an integrated total force than a fully integrated fielding plan for all equipment, especially aircraft.’’

The committee notes that the Air Force concurred with this recommendation without reservation and 

highlighted the KC–46 and F–35 Lightning II programs as examples of this commitment. While the committee 

is encouraged that the Air Force has prioritized the fielding of the HH–60G replacement programs, and

reaffirms the need to field this critical capability to the total force as rapidly as possible, the committee 

remains concerned that the Air Force has not observed the principle of concurrent and proportional fielding 

for the fielding of the HH–60G replacement program.

The committee is aware that the Air Force plans to field the HH–60G Ops Loss Replacement helicopter to 

National Guard Rescue Squadrons until the HH–60W is fielded to all components in 2030. However, the 

committee believes the Air Force’s current fielding plan does not fulfill the letter or spirit of the Commission’s

recommendation of concurrent and proportional fielding, and that the Air Force has not provided sufficient 

grounds to justify an exception to this fundamental component of total force integration.

The committee believes that the Air Force’s fielding plan should prioritize the integrated fielding of the HH–

60G replacement program to units that are scheduled to deploy overseas in support of contingency 

operations, that stand alert in support of active-duty missions, and that maintain high levels of readiness to 

rapidly deploy in support of alert missions overseas.

Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of the Air Force to review its fielding plan of the HH–60G 

replacement programs, and urges the Air Force to provide recommendations on how it intends to fulfill its 

commitment to comply with the Commission’s recommendation.

Air National Guard advertising reduction

The budget request included $6.9 billion in Operation & Maintenance, Air National Guard (OMANG), of which 

$97.2 million was for SAG 042J Recruiting and Advertising. The committee understands that within the 

Recruiting and Advertising request was an increase of $60.5 million to fund additional marketing and 

advertising efforts. The committee notes this request would nearly triple the Air National Guard’s advertising 

budget. The committee believes these funds can be better aligned for other readiness priorities. Accordingly, 

the committee recommends a decrease of $45.0 million in OMANG to SAG 042J Recruiting and Advertising.

Defense environmental international cooperation program

The budget request included $34.7 billion in Operation and Maintenance, Defense-Wide (OMDW) 030, of 

which $960,000 was for the Defense Environmental International Cooperation (DEIC) program.

SASC Committee Report Language
- 17 -

The committee notes that the Army National Guard and other military units are frequently called upon to 

respond to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HA/DR) crises around the world. The DEIC enables 

the Army National Guard to share best practices and lessons learned from its own HA/DR missions and 

promote the sustainment of mission capability among our allies, in order to develop and enhance their own 

self-sufficient HA/DR capabilities with a limited amount of funding. For example, given the ongoing readiness 

challenges of the United States Southern Command and its limited resources to conduct its HA/DR mission, 

the Army National Guard has used the DEIC to provide training and capability development to countries 

within the region so that they can remove debris and otherwise respond in the event of an earthquake or 

hurricane. Accordingly, in order to continue the enhancement of the Department’s readiness and HA/DR 

capabilities, including those of the Army National Guard, the committee recommends an increase of $1.0 

million in OMDW for the DEIC program.

Encouraging the use of the Innovative Readiness Training program

The committee is aware that readiness challenges continue to face the Armed Forces due to budgetary 

constraints. The committee continues to recognize the value of the Innovative Readiness Training (IRT) 

program, which allows Military Services realistic, joint training opportunities for National Guard, Reserve, and 

Active-Duty members.

The committee values the IRT program for its low cost and high benefit to achieving measurable military 

readiness. The committee strongly encourages the Department of Defense to continue utilizing IRT 

programs to provide mission-essential training, prioritizing programs that directly support Active-Duty 

missions. Examples of IRT activities include, but are not limited to, constructing rural roads and airplane 

runways, small building and warehouse construction in remote areas, transportation of medical supplies, and 

military readiness training in the areas of engineering, health care and transportation for under-served 

communities.

The committee understands the IRT program offers complex and challenging training opportunities for 

domestic and international crises. The committee is also aware that states that utilize the IRT program 

include Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, 

Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Wyoming, New Jersey, New 

Mexico, New York, North Dakota, South Dakota, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia.

The committee strongly encourages the Department of Defense to continue to fully utilize IRT programs that 

provide hands-on and mission-essential training and that are available to active, reserve, and National Guard 

forces.

Military training for operations in densely populated urban terrain

The committee directs the Secretary of Defense to submit to the congressional defense committees a report 

no later than March 1, 2018 on plans and initiatives to enhance existing urban training concepts, capabilities, 

and facilities that could provide for new training opportunities that would more closely resemble large, dense, 

heavily populated urban environments. The report shall include specific plans and efforts to provide for a 

realistic environment for the training of large units with joint assets and recently fielded technologies to 

exercise new tactics, techniques, and procedures, including consideration of anticipated urban military 

operations in or near the littoral environment and any relevant cyber vulnerabilities.

The report shall also include consideration of multiple training facility options and the costs and benefits 

associated therewith, including non-traditional options, such as leased facilities and National Guard facilities 

or other facilities owned or operated by a state government. The committee notes that there has been 

sustained congressional interest in improving joint urban training strategies and capabilities for more than 

two decades and encourages the Department to draw upon the results of past studies on this matter. The 

report shall be submitted in unclassified form but may include a classified annex.

ROTC Cyber Institute

There remains a nationwide shortage of 500,000 cyber professionals and correspondingly a universal need 

for an increase in cybersecurity education and training. The Army Cyber Branch created in 2015 and formed 

41 total Cyber Mission Force teams, as well as 21 United States Army Reserve and Army National Guard

Cyber Protection Teams. The first 33 teams began deploying once reaching minimum competency. There 

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remains an urgent need to commission lieutenants into cyber branch and there is significant competition for 

talent with the private sector. A program to establish ROTC Cyber Institutes for purposes of accelerating the 

development of foundational expertise in critical cyber operational skills for future military and civilian leaders 

of the Armed Forces and Department of Defense of the United States including such leaders of the Reserve 

Components could help address these shortfalls. Ideal programs should include: instruction and practical 

experiences that lead to accredited cyber certifications in the field; targeted strategic foreign language 

proficiency training for such future leaders designed to significantly enhance critical cyber operational 

capabilities; mathematical foundations of cryptography and courses in cryptographic theory, and; programs

to expand the pool of qualified cyber instructors necessary to support cyber education.

The Committee directs the Secretary of Defense to conduct a feasibility study of establishing ROTC Cyber 

Institutes, including an assessment of the suitability of one or more Senior Military Colleges hosting such an 

institute, for the purposes of accelerating the development of foundational expertise in critical cyber 

operational skills for future military and civilian leaders of the Armed Forces and Department of Defense of 

the United States including such leaders of the Reserve Components. This study should include an

assessment of existing partnerships at the colleges or universities under consideration, and if or at what level 

they meet the above program recommendations, a description of current curriculum that advances cyber 

competency, additional authorities needed, costs associated with implementing new partnerships and any 

existing plans to establish such institutes. This study should be submitted to the Committees on Armed 

Services of the Senate and House of Representatives by no later than December 1, 2017.

Transition Assistance Program challenges for the National Guard and Reserves

The committee is concerned about uneven participation rates by eligible members of the National Guard and 

Reserves in the Department of Defense’s Transition Assistance Program (TAP). To help ensure greater 

participation of eligible servicemembers in TAP, the committee directs the Under Secretary of Defense for 

Personnel and Readiness to collect information on any challenges facing demobilizing members of the 

National Guard and Reserves regarding the timing and location of TAP courses. Additionally, the Secretary 

should consider the addition of related questions to the TAP online assessment tool, which are specific to 

members of the National Guard and Reserves.

Report on action to address mental health of remotely piloted aircraft community

The Air Force is pursuing efforts to improve the quality of life and quality of service of the remotely piloted 

aircraft (RPA) community. This plan seeks to address the burden on RPA crews due to significant demand 

for persistent intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and strike capabilities. The committee is concerned

about the potentially unique impacts on RPA pilots and airmen who are stationed in the United States while 

operating aircraft engaged in combat abroad. Section 1712A of title 38, United States Code, provides for 

counseling and mental health services for a veteran or member of the Armed Forces who engaged in combat 

by ‘‘remotely controlling an unmanned aerial vehicle, notwithstanding whether the physical location of such 

veteran or member during such combat was within such theatre of combat operations or area.’’ A 2011 

School of Aerospace Medicine report titled ‘‘Psychological Health Screening of Remotely Piloted Aircraft 

Operators and Supporting Units,’’ found ‘‘there is a high incidence of emotional exhaustion/fatigue among

RPA operators as a group in comparison to noncombatant airmen’’ and that ‘‘efforts to reduce occupational 

burnout should focus on operational stressors and be equally devoted to weapon- and nonweapondeploying RPA operators.’’

Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of the Air Force to provide a report to the Committees on 

Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives on steps the Air Force, Air Force Reserve, 

and Air National Guard are taking to address the mental health of RPA pilots and airmen supporting RPA 

operations, particularly those stationed in the United States flying missions with aircraft assigned 

operationally to Combatant Commands. This report should also include detailed efforts the Air Force is 

taking to retain these pilots, given the potential for exhaustion and occupational stress.

Encouraging Air Force Rescue Unit Associations

The committee notes that United States Air Force rescue squadrons, including those in the reserve 

component, deliver critical combat and emergency support to military and civilian personnel in harm’s way, 

both at home and abroad. Whether called upon to provide combat search and rescue or to respond to a 

natural disaster, Air Force rescue squadrons are an adaptable and invaluable capability for the nation.

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The unique nature of the rescue mission lends itself well for a robust partnership between Active, Reserve, 

and National Guard rescue units. In particular, experience gained by National Guard units while performing 

their domestic duties, under title 32, United States Code, provides important opportunities to prepare units for

success in combat environments. The committee believes that the significant experience residing in reserve 

component rescue squadrons should be better leveraged to benefit the Total Force. Issued in 2014, the 

report of National Commission on the Structure of the Air Force—a report required by the National Defense

Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 (P.L. No. 112–239)—recommended forming additional associate units 

comprised of both active and reserve component personnel and equipment. As part of the House Report of 

the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (H. Rept. 114–537), the House of 

Representatives further encouraged the Air Force to consider forming associate units with the three Air 

National Guard combat search and rescue units in Alaska, California, and New York.

The committee believes the Air Force should accelerate the creation of combat search and rescue associate 

units to promote efficiency, leverage Reserve Component expertise, improve readiness across the Total 

Force, and expand interoperability between Active and Reserve Components.

National Guard Counterdrug Program

The National Guard Counterdrug Program (NGCP) is a federally-funded program that provides militaryspecific skill-sets to law enforcement agencies and community-based organizations to address the supply 

and demand for illicit drugs. The timing and allocation of funding continues to be a limiting factor for the 

NGCP and impedes the effective sustainment of relationships with supported agencies and impacts the 

retention of highly-trained individuals.

With such challenges in mind, the committee is interested in the allocation of resources to best support the 

Department of Defense (DOD) counternarcotics efforts. In October 2015, the Government Accountability 

Office (GAO) reported that the National Guard had developed performance measures to report on its 

counterdrug program, but the information collected was not being used to evaluate and inform funding for 

state-level programs or oversee the counterdrug schools training.

While the National Guard has developed its Threat Based Resource Model (TBRM) to determine the severity 

of the drug threat, and is using it to determine funding levels for each state within the counterdrug program, 

the committee is concerned that the states’ use of the funds has not produced results in line with each state’s

counterdrug objectives. The committee would like to have a better understanding of how the NGCP allocates 

and expends resources in alignment with its stated objectives.

Accordingly, the committee directs the Comptroller General of the United States to evaluate the NGCP’s 

approach to resource allocation, to include the following: (1) A description of how the NGCP aligns with the 

Department of Defense’s overarching counter-narcotics objectives; (2) A description of how the National

Guard determines funding and distribution percentages for each state in the TBRM; (3) An assessment of 

the extent to which funding for the National Guard counterdrug program is expended in accordance with 

approved state plans; and (4) An assessment of the extent to which the National Guard Counterdrug 

Program is achieving its stated objectives.

The committee directs the Comptroller General to brief the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate 

and the House of Representatives not later than March 15, 2018, on preliminary findings of the evaluation 

with a final report to follow by June 30, 2018.

National Guard role in enhanced border security

The committee acknowledges an increased emphasis on enhancing our nation’s border security to address 

illegal immigration, illicit drug smuggling, human trafficking, and other criminal activities that threaten our 

national security. The committee notes there may be additional opportunities for National Guard units to 

conduct valuable unit and individual training events that would contribute to readiness as well as enhanced 

border security.

Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of the Army and the Secretary of the Air Force to submit to 

the congressional defense committees, in consultation with the Chief of the National Guard Bureau, the 

Commander of U.S. Northern Command and the Secretary of Homeland Security, a report by December 1, 

2017, with recommendations on how the Army National Guard and Air National Guard could gain effective 

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unit and individual training while also enhancing the border security capabilities of the continental United 

States. This report should contain a description of: the types of activities that would achieve such training 

and enhanced border security; the costs associated with such activities and the delineation of state and 

federal funding required; the potential impact on operations and personnel tempo for tasked units; any 

limitations of current operating authorities for each potential training activity; and any other information the 

Secretaries consider relevant.

HASC COMMITTEE REPORT LANGUAGE

Digital Transformation of the Recruiting Process

The committee understands that the Department of Defense and the military departments are working to 

improve and modernize the military recruiting process. However, the committee is aware that additional 

modernization is required to optimize recruiting and entrance processing. Therefore, the committee directs 

the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the military services, to provide a briefing to the Committee on 

Armed Services of the House of Representatives no later than April 1, 2018, on the plan to modernize 

military recruiting and entrance processing. The briefing shall include:

(1) how the enlistment and commissioning workflow process can be modernized to improve workflow by 

minimizing paperwork and maximizing paperless transactions;

(2) how the military services measure effectiveness and return on investment for recruiting and 

advertising; and

(3) how the military services are using data analytics to improve recruiting.

GI Bill Benefit Review

The committee recognizes the substantial benefit the Post 9-11 GI Bill provides service members to further 

their or their dependent’s education. Due to the length of service requirements to earn the benefit or transfer 

the benefit to a dependent, many service members have experienced difficulty understanding how much of 

the benefit they have earned. The committee is aware that service members, both Active Duty and in the 

Reserve Components, have had to reimburse the government for unauthorized use of the benefit due to not 

meeting the length of service requirements. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of Defense to

provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services by November 30, 2017, on whether providing 

service members information on their remaining entitlement upon discharge from service would be feasible 

and appropriate. The committee believes relevant information would include the amount of the Post 9-11 GI 

Bill benefit each service member has earned prior to separation, retirement or release from military service, 

including whether or not they have completed any additional service obligation for transferring the benefit to 

a dependent.

Military Child Custody Protections

The committee remains concerned that service members are not receiving necessary information related to 

State child custody laws governing their dependents. While the Secretaries of the military departments are 

currently required to provide notice of child custody protections under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, 

the military departments do not have uniform requirements to provide information on State child custody 

laws. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretaries of the 

military departments, to provide a briefing to the Committee on Armed Services of the House of 

Representatives not later than March 1, 2018, on the information and resources currently provided to service 

members regarding State child custody laws. The briefing shall include an analysis of how best to 

standardize the dissemination of this information to all affected service members, as well as an analysis of 

when, and how often, the information should be provided to these service members.

Pilot Shortage Assessment

The committee recognizes that the services are having difficulty addressing shortfalls in critical career fields 

that are vital for the readiness of our Armed Forces, specifically in the pilot career field. The committee is 

concerned about the Air Force's retention and recruitment issues within the fighter pilot community. The 

committee notes that the Air Force provided written testimony to the committee on February 7, 2017, stating 

that the Air Force was short 723 fighter pilots below requirement and 1,555 pilots short across all mission 

areas. Therefore, the committee encourages the Secretary of the Air Force to evaluate all options for 
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improving the recruitment and retention of Air Force pilots. As part of such an assessment, the committee 

directs the Secretary of the Air Force to provide a briefing to the Committee on Armed Services of the House 

of Representatives by December 1, 2017, on the extent to which moving pilot or other aviation billets to the 

Active Guard and Reserve Components would address these shortages.

Pre-Command Audit Training Course

The committee believes that good financial management and auditability are important responsibilities of 

military leaders at all levels and is concerned that responsible officers receive inadequate training on these 

matters in the course of their careers. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of Defense to submit a

report to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives by March 1, 

2018, on the current programs of education used to train those officers assuming a command billet or a billet 

directly responsible for financial management on their responsibilities regarding financial management and 

auditability. Additionally, the committee directs the Comptroller General of the United States to submit a 

report to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives by June 1, 

2018, that provides an assessment of the programs identified in the Secretary’s report. The report of the 

Comptroller General shall also include an overview of current law and the Department of Defense's financial 

management and audit efforts to be in compliance with statutory guidance, as well as general financial 

management training requirements for command billets or billets requiring management of Department of 

Defense funds.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

The committee acknowledges the efforts of the Department of Defense and the military services to diagnose 

and treat military members suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Despite the progress that 

has been made, the committee believes that more needs to be done to ensure service members seek and

receive the treatment they deserve. The committee continues to believe PTSD is underreported and 

underdiagnosed, leading to unnecessary suffering and some service members receiving other than 

honorable discharges that are unwarranted. The committee wishes to stay informed of the Department’s 

progress in addressing these concerns and directs the Secretary of Defense to provide a briefing to the

Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives not later than December 1, 2017, on the 

extent to which service members are seeking PTSD treatment; steps the military services are taking to 

eliminate the stigma sometimes associated with seeking treatment; and efforts by the military services to 

ensure commanders carefully weigh a diagnosis of PTSD when adjudicating involuntary separations.

TRICARE Pharmacy Pilot Program

The committee notes that section 743 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (Public 

Law 114–328) authorizes the Secretary of Defense to conduct a pilot program to evaluate whether extending

additional discounts for prescription drugs filled at retail pharmacies will maintain or reduce cost for the 

Department of Defense. This pilot gives the Secretary of Defense the authority to implement a pilot program 

that would test prescription drug acquisition cost parity in the TRICARE pharmacy program. The committee 

believes there is merit in executing the pilot program in order to determine if TRICARE pharmacy costs to the 

Department can be reduced through decreased acquisition costs, lower administrative fees, and competition, 

while restoring beneficiary access to brand-name maintenance prescription drugs at all dispensing retail 

pharmacies. Therefore, the committee encourages the Secretary to promptly utilize the authority granted 

under section 743 and implement the pilot program. In the event the Secretary declines to conduct the pilot, 

the committee directs the Secretary to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services by 

September 15, 2017, on the analytical basis for that decision.

Armored brigade combat team modernization

The committee understands that Budget Control Act of 2011 (Public Law 112-25) funding levels have 

reduced buying power, disrupted modernization plans, and reduced the Army's capability advantage over 

near-peer, high-end competitors. The committee notes that Army modernization funding declined 74 percent 

from 2008-2015 as a result of the drawdown from two wars and the imposition of the budget caps by Public 

Law 112-25. Perhaps most significant is that research and development (R&D) funding has been reduced by 

50 percent, and appears to be concentrated in the later stages of R&D at the prototyping and system design 

and development stages, which are the precursors to fielding new capabilities. The Vice Chief of Staff of the 

Army stated, in testimony before the House Committee on Armed Services, that today’s Army is “out-ranged, 

outgunned, and outdated; and on our present course, the U.S. Army will not be sufficiently modern to deter 

and defeat potential enemies.” The committee is concerned that the tactical overmatch that U.S. ground 

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forces have enjoyed for decades is being diminished, or in some cases, no longer exists. The committee 

believes the consequences of reduced modernization funding are most dramatic with respect to ground 

combat vehicle modernization. While the Army has definitive plans in place for Army aviation modernization, 

and has worked to establish mature acquisition strategies using multiyear procurement contracts for aviation 

platforms, the same cannot be said for ground combat vehicle modernization. The committee believes there 

is an immediate need for a more accelerated ground combat vehicle modernization strategy that should 

include the development of a next generation infantry fighting vehicle and main battle tank, while also looking 

for ways to accelerate needed upgrades for legacy combat vehicles in the near term to address immediate 

threats. The committee understands the armored brigade combat team (ABCT), which is comprised of 

Abrams tanks, Bradley fighting vehicles, M109A7 Paladin self-propelled artillery, M113 Armored Personnel 

Carriers, Armored Multipurpose Vehicles, M88 Improved Recovery Vehicles, Joint Light Tactical Vehicles, 

and other systems is the only full-spectrum force in the Army's force structure. Over the past several National 

Defense Authorization Acts, the committee has noted concerns regarding the reduction of active ABCTs and 

the Army's ability to have sufficient numbers of fully ready active ABCTs to meet combatant commander 

steady-state and contingency plan requirements. The committee has also taken action to prevent further 

reductions in ABCT force structure, and prevent any production breaks in the combat vehicle industrial base. 

Given the return of armored units to the European theater, as well as the Army’s plans to increase ABCT 

capacity, the committee believes that these actions have been validated. However, the committee remains 

concerned about the stability of ABCT modernization funding in fiscal year 2018 and beyond, and 

encourages the Army to fully modernize at least one ABCT per year. The committee directs the Secretary of

the Army, in consultation with the Chief of Staff of the Army, to provide a report to the House Committee on 

Armed Services and the Senate Committee on Armed Services by April 5, 2018, on the Army’s plan for 

executing its ground combat vehicle modernization strategy. Elements of the report should include: the 

Army’s combat vehicle modernization priorities over the next 5 and 10 years; the extent to which those 

priorities can be supported at current funding levels within a relevant time period; the extent to which 

additional funds are required to support such priorities; detail how the Army is balancing and resourcing 

these priorities with efforts to rebuild and sustain readiness and increase force structure capacity over this 

same time period; and explain how the Army is balancing its near-term modernization efforts with an 

accelerated long-term strategy for acquiring next generation combat vehicle capabilities. The committee also 

directs the Comptroller General of the United States to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed 

Services by May 1, 2018, on the Comptroller General's preliminary assessment of the Army’s report on the

ground combat vehicle modernization strategy. The committee further directs the Comptroller General to 

provide a report on the Comptroller General's final assessment to the House Committee on Armed Services 

at a date to be determined at the time of the briefing. The Comptroller General’s review should focus in

particular on how the Army has developed its modernization priorities for the next 5 years, and examine how 

the Army is balancing and resourcing these priorities with efforts to rebuild and sustain readiness and 

increase force structure capacity over this time period. Additionally, the review should evaluate the extent to 

which the Army has balanced its near-term modernization efforts with its long-term strategy for acquiring new 

capabilities.

Small unit support vehicle recapitalization strategy

The committee understands the Army's family of small unit support vehicle (SUSV) fleet is used by Army 

units that train and operate in extreme cold weather conditions, and that this vehicle provides those units with 

unique capabilities not found elsewhere in the Army. In addition, while the committee is aware of the Army's 

effort to refurbish some of the fleet, the committee notes that legacy SUSVs are beyond their economic

useful life and have become increasingly difficult to maintain. In the committee report (H. Rept. 114-537) 

accompanying the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017, the committee required a 

briefing on the potential requirement for a replacement to the SUSV fleet. The briefing indicated the Army 

National Guard has established an SUSV overhaul program; however, this overhaul does not provide any 

additional capability. The committee remains concerned regarding the capability and capacity of

the Army’s SUSV fleet, and therefore directs the Secretary of the Army to conduct a business case analysis 

(BCA) to determine whether the Army should develop or procure a replacement for the small unit support 

vehicle designated SUSV. The BCA should include the following elements:

(1) an analysis of how the SUSV fleet will be affected if a replacement for the vehicle is not developed or 

procured;

(2) an explanation of the costs associated with refurbishing the SUSV fleet;

(3) a description of specific requirements for a new SUSV vehicle and whether there is a vehicle available 

that would meet such requirements; (4) an analysis that compares the costs and benefits of the procuring 

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of a new SUSV to the costs and benefits of refurbishing the SUSV fleet; and (5) recommendations for the 

most cost-effective approach to addressing the needs of the SUSV fleet. The committee directs the 

Secretary of the Army to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services by March 1, 2018, 

on the results of the BCA.

Tactical Network Review

The committee directs the Secretary of the Army to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed 

Services by September 29, 2017, that details the network study results and the Army’s recommended way 

ahead.

Heavy Equipment Transport System Modernization Strategy

The committee directs the Secretary of the Army to provide a briefing to the

House Committee on Armed Services by December 1, 2017, on the Army's strategy

for upgrading current HETS and HET trailers.

A-10 to F-16 transition at Fort Wayne, Indiana

The committee notes that section 134 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (Public 

Law 114-328) included a subsection that authorizes the Secretary of the Air Force to carry out the transition 

of the A-10 aircraft unit at Fort Wayne Air National Guard Base, Indiana, to an F-16 aircraft unit, as described 

by the Secretary in the Force Structure Actions map submitted in support of the budget request for fiscal year 

2017. The committee understands that the Secretary of the Air Force has not yet planned for or announced 

this transfer, and encourages the Secretary to execute this transfer as soon as possible. The committee 

remains concerned about the status of other A-10 and F-16 basing decisions for the Active Duty Air Force, 

Air Force Reserve, and Air National Guard. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of the Air Force to 

provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services by September 1, 2017, on an update of A-10 

and F-16 basing decisions for the Active Duty Air Force, Air Force Reserve, and Air National Guard.

E-8C Joint Surveillance and Target Attack Radar System

The committee acknowledges that the E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (JSTARS) is a 

proven Air Force Battle Management Command and Control platform enabled by leveraging its extremely 

capable active radar system that provides invaluable moving target indicator (MTI) intelligence, surveillance, 

and reconnaissance (ISR) targeting information to multiple users both on the ground and in airborne attack 

platforms. The demand for MTI capability within each geographic combatant commander’s area of 

responsibility far exceeds what JSTARS can currently provide due to its limited fleet size and strained crew

resources. The committee also notes that the current fleet of 16 E-8C aircraft has issues and challenges the 

Air Force must successfully navigate to maintain viability until the current fleet of E-8C aircraft is replaced by 

the JSTARS Recapitalization program beginning in the late 2020s. Despite these issues and challenges, the

committee is confident that the Secretary of the Air Force can develop a successful legacy JSTARS to 

JSTARS Recapitalization transition plan that would not prematurely retire E-8C aircraft, reassign crews or 

maintenance personnel, or otherwise create an MTI ISR capability gap or capacity deficit greater than what

existing levels of aircraft should be providing currently. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of the 

Air Force to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services not later than November 1,

2017, that describes, in detail, a strategy to sufficiently address manning, sustainment, modernization, and 

viability deficiencies that would resolve capability gaps, shortfalls, and deficiencies of the E-8C fleet of 

aircraft. The briefing should include a strategy that addresses right-sizing and balancing unit manning among

the Total Force; maintaining proficient and current aircrews to meet operational requirements; resolving 

obsolescence and diminishing manufacturing sources of parts and supply; necessary mission system 

upgrades and operational enhancements across the E-8C fleet to keep the aircraft viable and relevant until

the JSTARS Recapitalization aircraft is fielded; standardizing existing aircraft capabilities in areas such as 

imagery servers and the Automated Information System; a basing construct that would allow E-8C aircraft to 

operate simultaneously, if needed, from three forward operating locations, similar to other Air Force aircraft 

like the RC-135 and E-3A; and the associated cost, budget, and timeline required to implement the strategy.

Finally, the committee also directs the Secretary of the Air Force to provide a report to the congressional 

defense committees not later than March 1, 2019, that explains in detail all aspects of how and when the Air 

Force will transition from legacy JSTARS aircraft capability to JSTARS Recapitalization aircraft capability.

HASC Committee Report Language
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F-15C capability, capacity, and recapitalization

The committee notes that during the hearing on March 22, 2017, titled "The Current State of the U.S. Air 

Force,” before the Subcommittee on Readiness of the House Committee on Armed Services, Air Force 

witnesses testified that the Department of the Air Force is likely to decide during fiscal year 2019 budget

deliberations whether or not to proceed with an option of divesting F-15C aircraft from the Air Force inventory 

and replacing those aircraft with upgraded F-16 aircraft. The committee notes that the Air Force is executing 

a service life extension program to upgrade the F-15C with an improved radar and missile warning system,

as well as airframe structural enhancements. The committee strongly supports the Eagle Passive Active 

Warning and Survivability System (EPAWSS) modernization program for the F-15C fleet. The committee 

recalls that the Air Force has previously stated a requirement to extend the service life of the F-15C aircraft 

fleet to fill the air superiority mission capacity gap created by the truncation of the F-22 procurement program 

to only 187 aircraft. Similarly, the committee also recalls that the Air Force planned to keep the F-15C viable 

until the Air Force’s next-generation air dominance aircraft is fielded to avoid a capacity gap in the air 

superiority mission area. Additionally, the committee is unaware of any warfighting analysis within the 

Department of Defense that would validate replacing F-15C capability and capacity with upgraded F-16 

aircraft to fulfill requirements of the air superiority mission area. The committee does not understand how the 

Air Force would grow to its desired number of 60 fighter squadrons by retiring a significant number of F-15C 

aircraft and replacing those with aircraft already in the Air Force inventory. As well, the committee is 

concerned such a decision would exacerbate the substantial personnel shortage that currently exists within 

the F-16 maintenance enterprise by having to retrain and qualify F-15C personnel to maintain F-16 aircraft.

Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of the Air Force to provide a briefing to the House Committee 

on Armed Services not later than February 28, 2018, that provides detailed information on the following: the 

Air Force’s weapon system sustainment and service-life plan for the F-15C aircraft, to include EPAWSS

integration; when and with which material option(s) the Air Force plans to recapitalize air superiority mission 

capability provided by modernized F-15C aircraft, without incurring a reduction in capacity, if the F-15C is 

retired; how and when the Air Force plans to grow, and with which aircraft, to 60 fighter squadrons; any 

analysis completed by the Department of Defense that validates that the air superiority mission capability 

and capacity provided by a modernized F-15C can be supplanted with an upgraded F-16; and forecasted 

mission transition plans for locations and units that currently possess or support F-15C aircraft, personnel,

operations, or maintenance activities if F-15C aircraft are retired.

F-35 Lightning II aircraft program

The committee continues to support the F-35 Lightning II program. The F-35 Lightning II aircraft is the 

Department of Defense's largest acquisition program, which will eventually deliver 2,443 F-35 aircraft to the 

Departments of the Navy and Air Force. The committee notes the Department of Defense has taken delivery

of over 285 F-35 aircraft. The committee believes that the F-35 will form the backbone of U.S. air combat 

superiority for decades to come, replacing or complementing the legacy tactical fighter fleets of the Air Force, 

Navy, and Marine Corps with a dominant, multirole, fifth-generation aircraft capable of projecting U.S. power 

and deterring potential adversaries. The committee notes that, for the F-35 program’s international partners 

and foreign military sales customers, the F-35 will become a cornerstone for future coalition operations and 

will enhance the strength of our security alliances. The committee understands the F-35 Lightning II program 

is approximately 90 percent through its system development and demonstration (SDD) phase, which is 

planned to be completed not later than the second quarter of fiscal year 2018 and will provide capabilities 

required by the Departments of the Navy and Air Force in a final software block known as block 3F. At a 

hearing held by the House Committee on Armed Services’ Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces on 

February 16, 2017, the F-35 program executive officer (PEO) testified that the F-35 program is making solid 

progress as it grows and accelerates. The committee notes that looking beyond completion of the SDD 

phase of the F-35 program, the follow-on effort, known as the follow-on modernization (FOM) or block

4 program, is moving forward and will be executed as a continuation of the F-35 program with full 

transparency and reporting on cost, schedule, and performance as if it were a new program. The committee 

fully supports development and delivery of a FOM software increment that will provide vitally important 

additional combat capabilities such as advanced electronic protection, nuclear weapon delivery, and

additional air-to-ground precision munitions. The committee believes that the FOM is critical to improve the 

F-35’s warfighting capabilities to keep pace with rapidly maturing adversary threat aircraft and integrated air 

defense systems, and expects that the FOM engineering, manufacturing, and development contract award 

will take place as scheduled in late 2018. The committee is aware the budget request for SDD is $231.0 

million over the previous year’s projection for SDD in fiscal year 2018, and that this additional amount is 

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necessary due to delays in software development, the need to address problems found during testing, and 

funding reductions in prior years...The committee understands that such a block buy contracting strategy 

would generate cost savings of approximately $2.0 billion. Accordingly, elsewhere in this Act, the committee 

includes a provision that would authorize the Secretary of Defense to enter into one or more contracts, 

beginning with the fiscal year 2018 program year, for the procurement of economic order quantities for

material and equipment for the F-35 program, to be used in F-35 procurement contracts in fiscal years 2019 

and 2020.

Collaboration with Federal Aviation Administration on Unmanned Aerial Systems (Title XXVII)

The committee believes that the significant military training demand for Unmanned Aerial Systems suggests 

that Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations regarding line-of-sight requirements be reevaluated. 

The committee encourages the Secretary of Defense and the Administrator of the Federal Aviation

Administration to continue to collaborate on the development of plans and policies that would allow the 

Department’s Unmanned Aerial Systems to operate within military operating area airspace contiguous to 

existing restricted airspace without line-of-sight requirements. Furthermore, the committee is interested in

understanding in detail the Department’s current engagement on this issue with the Federal Aviation 

Administration. Therefore, the committee directs the Chair of the Department of Defense’s Policy Board on 

Federal Aviation to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services, not later than March 1, 

2018, detailing the board’s efforts to advocate for the elimination regulatory restrictions that prevent routine 

access to national airspace for the Department of Defenses’ Unmanned Aerial Systems.

High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle external fire suppression systems

The committee is aware that in 2008 the Army pursued Work Directive 379 in response to an operational 

needs statement, and that the purpose of the directive was to explore options for fluid-based fires in the fuel 

tank and engine compartment of Army High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWV). The 

committee is also aware that one of the recommendations resulting from this effort was to continue testing of 

fuel tank, engine, and tire improvements that could potentially reduce the risk of fluid-based fires. However, 

despite this recommendation, the Army chose not to pursue such improvements or validate a requirement for 

an external fire suppression system (EFSS) for Army HMMWVs. Given the evolution of fire suppression 

technology since this evaluation was conducted, the committee believes that the Army should reconsider the 

potential requirement for an EFSS for Army and Army National Guard HMMWVs. Therefore, the committee 

directs the Secretary of the Army, in coordination with the Chief, National Guard Bureau, to provide a briefing 

to the House Committee on Armed Services by September 1, 2017, on the advisability and feasibility of such 

a system being installed on Army and Army National Guard HMMWVs as part of HMMWV modernization 

and recapitalization programs.

Polyfluoroalkyl Substances

The committee notes that perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) are part of 

a class of man-made chemicals that are used in many industrial and consumer products to make the 

products resist heat, stains, water, and grease. In the 1970s, the Department of Defense and commercial

airports began using aqueous film forming foam (AFFF), which contained these chemical compounds, to 

extinguish petroleum fires. The committee notes that on May 19, 2016, the U.S. Environmental Protection 

Agency (EPA) issued new Lifetime Health Advisories (LHAs) under the Safe Drinking Water Act for 

combined PFOS and PFOA concentrations at 70 parts per trillion. Since EPA issued these new LHAs, the 

Department of Defense has completed testing of the 480 drinking water systems at locations where the 

Department supplies drinking water. In addition, the Department is currently working through The 

Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (42 U.S.C. 9601) (CERCLA) 

process to conduct preliminary assessments and site inspections to identify sites where PFOS and PFOA 

may have been released by the Department of Defense. This activity includes performing tests of privately 

owned drinking water wells near military installations where warranted. These efforts will be used to inform 

future cleanup actions, and the Department incorporates LHA information when assessing risk to human 

health under CERCLA. The committee understands that the Department of Defense spent approximately 

$200.0 million through December 31, 2016, in response to PFOS and PFOA. This funding has been used to 

conduct preliminary assessments and site inspections, test drinking water systems, and provide mitigations 

such as bottled water or drinking water filtration systems where water systems tests indicate PFOS/PFOA 

above the LHA levels. The committee notes that the Department was unable to program funds specifically for 

these actions in the fiscal year 2016 or fiscal year 2017 budget requests and have been funding their 

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response to PFOS/PFOA using existing funds originally programmed for other response actions. The 

committee is supportive of the Department’s near-term efforts to respond to PFOS and PFOA and believes it 

is critical for the Department to continue its outreach and engagement with local communities with drinking 

water systems that have PFOS/PFOA detected above the LHAs and may have been impacted by the

Department’s activities. Furthermore, the committee believes it is important for the Department to fully plan, 

program, and budget for actions related to PFOS and PFOA in order to meet its responsibilities under the 

CERCLA, the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300f), and other applicable Federal statutes, rules, and

regulations. Finally, the committee directs the Secretary of Defense to provide a briefing to the House 

Committee on Armed Services not later than September 30, 2017, on the Department’s response to 

PFOS/PFOA. The briefing should provide the following:

(1) the locations on or in proximity to current and former military installations where the Department has 

conducted testing of military, public, and private drinking water systems and a summary of the results of 

those tests where PFOS/PFOA levels were detected in excess of the LHA levels;

(2) the locations on or in proximity to current and former military installations where the Department has 

conducted groundwater testing where PFOS/PFOA may have been released and a summary of the 

results of those tests where PFOS/PFOA levels were detected in excess of the LHA levels;

(3) short-term mitigations that have been funded and provided by the Department, both on military 

installations and in the surrounding communities, where PFOS/PFOA levels were detected in excess of 

the LHA levels;

(4) the process and timeline for identifying and resourcing long-term remediation on military installations 

or in the surrounding communities where PFOS/PFOA levels were detected in excess of the LHA levels; 

and

(5) research conducted in pursuit of less environmentally harmful AFFF blends containing less or no 

PFOS/PFOA.

National Guard CBRN Enterprise Report

The committee is aware that since the 1998 report on National Guard and WMD response, there has not 

been an updated study on the readiness, roles and tasks of the National Guard in both Title 10 and Title 32 

as it relates to the Chemical Biological and Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) threats has not been 

conducted to mirror evolving threats and technology including increased asymmetric threats; new chemical 

and biological threats, UAV and drone technology, and cyber warfare or maturing federal and state

homeland defense architecture and policies. This Committee believes it is appropriate to re-examine our 

National Guard CBRN enterprise and recommends that the Chief of the National Guard Bureau conduct a

comprehensive study of its current federal, state and local Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear 

operations, equipment and training requirements in light of today's threats. The report should highlight 

strengths as well as gaps and seams in the interagency planning and execution process. The committee 

directs the Chief of the National Guard Bureau, working in close coordination with other state and federal 

agencies and stakeholders across multiple levels of government, to provide a report detailing the following, 

no later than September 30, 2019; (1) Define and clarify the roles and missions, structure, capabilities and 

training of the National Guard, as well as identifying emerging gaps and shortfalls in light of current CBRN 

threats to our country (2) By State and territory, comment on the resources each state has (Title 32 and

Title 10) that are available to respond to a CBRN attack, proposing adaptions and updated response plans to 

combat current threats. (3) The readiness and resourcing status of forces listed in (2), (4) Current strengths 

and areas of improvement in working with State and Federal interagency partners, (5) Current assessments 

that are in place that address both readiness and resourcing of Title 32 and Title 10 forces postured to 

respond to CBRN incidents.

Modernization of UH-60 A/L aircraft bound for Afghanistan aviation forces

The committee encourages the office of the secretary of defense (OSD) to develop strategies to modernize 

analog flight and crew advisory instruments in the UH60 A/L aircraft bound for Afghanistan aviation forces. 

The committee understands the aging analog systems in the UH60 A/L are being phased out in favor of 

digital glass flight displays that provide increased situational awareness and avoid growing obsolescence 

and reduced readiness. The committee notes that the digital glass flight displays have the added benefit of 

more efficient delivery of information to the pilot and copilot, easier scan of flight parameters, and more 

intuitive use of this information in the control of safe flight operations. The committee directs the Secretary of 

Defense to provide a briefing to the House committee on Armed Services by December 1, 2017, on OSD's 

strategy to transition UH60 A/L aircraft bound for Afghanistan aviation forces.

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Aircraft Stationing, Basing, and Laydown Process 

The committee directs the Secretary of Defense to provide a report to the House Committee on Armed 

Services by January 31, 2018, on each military service's existing process for stationing, basing, and laydown 

decisions for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. Specifically, the report should detail how the current selection 

criteria take into consideration elements such as capacity, availability, and access to training areas and 

whether military requirements may drive changes to the criteria for future stationing, basing, or laydown 

decisions. The report shall address how each military service assesses the importance of having immediate 

access to training areas and how each service accounts for the impact of weather at the training areas. 

Finally, the report shall also address how current basing criteria consider the capacity, availability, and 

access to training areas in support of the other services or to host joint exercises to fully utilize the F-35 Joint 

Strike Fighter's capabilities when making their basing decision.

Army Aviation Restructure Initiative

The committee is concerned about the status of Army attack aviation following the decision to execute the 

Aviation Restructure Initiative in 2013. The committee is aware that the decision to reduce attack and 

reconnaissance aviation battalions by 37% and realign most attack helicopters from the Army National Guard 

to the active component was made to meet the demands of strategic planning at the time. However, the 

committee notes there is a shortfall of both warrant officer and commissioned officer pilots in the active 

component. Meanwhile, there is a cadre of experienced and qualified Guard pilots that can help bridge this 

gap. The committee is concerned that this cadre may not remain a viable option, as the nation is facing a 

pilot shortage crisis and commercial airlines are now specifically targeting helicopter pilots. This mismatch of 

resources has created a situation where aircraft are assigned to bases with no pilots to fly them. The 

committee believes this scenario could negatively affect the ability of the Army to support combatant 

commanders' future needs. Furthermore, the committee needs to gain a better understanding of the overall 

operational impacts for National Guard Apache battalions given the current plan to retain 18 aircraft per unit 

in the National Guard instead of the 24 that their active-duty counterparts will have.

Accordingly, the committee directs the Secretary of the Army, in coordination with the

Director of the National Guard Bureau, to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed

Services, not later than December 31, 2017, on the status of Army attack aviation readiness. The briefing 

should also provide updates on new factors that affect the Army's ability to maintain a robust attack aviation 

capability over the next 3 years, including a plan to recruit and retain the required number of qualified attack 

helicopter pilots.

LEGISLATIVE PROVISIONS NOT ADOPTED

Authority to increase primary aircraft authorization of Air Force and Air National Guard A–10 aircraft 

units for purposes of facilitating A–10 conversion (Senate Sec. 133)

Authority to carry out environmental restoration activities at National Guard and Reserve locations 

(Senate Sec. 341)

Direct employment pilot program for members of the National Guard and Reserve (House Sec. 504)

Plan to meet demand for cyberspace career fields in the reserve components of the Armed Forces 

(Senate Sec. 515)

Sexual assault prevention and response (House Sec. 532)

Adjustment to Basic Allowance for Housing at with dependents rate of certain members of the 

uniformed services (Senate Sec. 603)

Modification of eligibility for TRICARE Reserve Select and TRICARE Retired Reserve of certain 

members of the reserve components (Senate Sec. 703)
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National Guard flyovers of public events (House Sec. 1037)

Findings and sense of Congress regarding the National Guard Youth Challenge Program (House Sec. 

1071)

Enhancement of database of emergency response capabilities of the Department of Defense (Senate 

Sec. 1442)