[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 189 (Thursday, September 30, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60434-60435]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-24520]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Navy

[Docket No. USN-2010-0023]


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

ACTION: Notice.

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    The Department of Defense has submitted to OMB for clearance, the 
following proposal for collection of information under the provisions 
of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35).

DATES: Consideration will be given to all comments received by November 
1, 2010.
    Title and OMB Number: Mental Health Issues among Separating 
Marines; OMB Number 0703-0056.
    Type of Request: Extension.
    Number of Respondents: 1,850.
    Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Annual Responses: 1,850.
    Average Burden per Response: 1 hour.
    Annual Burden Hours: 1,850 hours.
    Needs and Uses: Tens of thousands of Marines transition from the 
military to civilian life each year, the majority of whom have been 
exposed to deployment stressors that have put them at high risk for 
stress-related disorders. This longitudinal study builds on a 2008 
pilot study assessing the prevalence of mental health outcomes among 
Sailors and Marines transitioning from the Service, and identifying 
predictors of and changes in mental health and resilience over time. 
For the baseline component of the current study, a paper-and-pencil 
questionnaire was administered to approximately 2,700 active-duty 
Marines in the Transition Assistance Program (TAP) during routine 
mandatory separation counseling via group administration at 6 selected 
installations worldwide. Based on the estimated number of attendees per 
TAP class and the number of classes conducted during the 4-month data 
collection period (January-April 2010), we estimate that approximately 
4,900 Marines were eligible for inclusion into the study, giving us an 
approximate 55 percent response rate. The baseline survey included 
selected items from the post-deployment health reassessment (PDHRA), 
along with additional questions on risk factors for poor civilian 
readjustment, and other biographical and psychological content. DoD 
regulations stipulate that all military personnel must receive pre-
separation counseling no less than 90 days before leaving active duty.
    NHRC proposes tracking over time the mental well-being of eligible 
baseline respondents for the longitudinal portion of the study through 
a follow-on survey 3 to 6 months after separation from military 
service, after they have completed the transition from military to 
civilian life. Data from extant historical personnel and medical files 
will also be combined with survey data to develop models that 
demonstrate the influence of combat, and a variety of covariates, on 
mental health symptoms, resilience, and substance abuse. We estimate 
that approximately 1,850 of the 2,700 baseline participants will be 
eligible for and consent to participate in the follow-up survey. In 
order to facilitate locating these respondents, the baseline 
questionnaire requested participants provide name, relocation

[[Page 60435]]

plans, names and contact information for two friends or relatives who 
always know where the respondent is living, and the respondent's date 
of birth and social security number. The follow-up survey will be sent 
to respondents through the mail. Respondents will also have the option 
of completing this survey via the Web, which will closely simulate the 
hardcopy version of the instrument.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households.
    Frequency: Annually.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    OMB Desk Officer: Ms. Jasmeet Seehra.
    Written comments and recommendations on the proposed information 
collection should be sent to Ms. Seehra at the Office of Management and 
Budget, Desk Officer for DoD, Room 10236, New Executive Office 
Building, Washington, DC 20503.
    You may also submit comments, identified by docket number and 
title, by the following method:
    <bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
    Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency 
name, docket number and title for this Federal Register document. The 
general policy for comments and other submissions from members of the 
public is to make these submissions available for public viewing on the 
Internet at http://www.regulations.gov as they are received without 
change, including any personal identifiers or contact information.
    DOD Clearance Officer: Ms. Patricia Toppings.
    Written requests for copies of the information collection proposal 
should be sent to Ms. Toppings at WHS/ESD/Information Management 
Division, 1777 North Kent Street, RPN, Suite 11000, Arlington, VA 
22209-2133.

    Dated: September 17, 2010.
Patricia L. Toppings,
OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
[FR Doc. 2010-24520 Filed 9-29-10; 8:45 am]
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