[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 236 (Tuesday, December 9, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 73053-73055]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-28795]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary


Renewal of Department of Defense Federal Advisory Committees

AGENCY: DoD.

ACTION: Renewal of Federal Advisory Committee.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Defense is publishing this notice to 
announce that it is renewing the charter for the Department of Defense 
Military Family Readiness Council (``the Council'').

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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jim Freeman, Advisory Committee 
Management Officer for the Department of Defense, 703-692-5952.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This Council's charter is being renewed 
under the provisions of 10 U.S.C. 1781a, as amended, the Federal 
Advisory Committee Act of 1972 (5 U.S.C. Appendix, as amended), the 
Government in the Sunshine Act of 1976 (5 U.S.C. 552b) (``the Sunshine 
Act''), and 41 CFR 102-3.50(a).
    The Council is a statutory Federal advisory committee that will 
review and make recommendations to the Secretary of Defense regarding 
the policy and plans required under 10 U.S.C. 1781b, monitor 
requirements for the support of military family readiness by the 
Department of Defense (DoD), and evaluate and assess the effectiveness 
of the military family readiness programs and activities of the DoD.
    The Council, no later than February 1st of each year, shall submit 
a report to the Secretary of Defense and the congressional defense 
committees on military family readiness. Each report, at a minimum, 
will include the following:
    a. An assessment of the adequacy and effectiveness of the military 
family readiness programs and activities of the DoD during the 
preceding fiscal year in meeting the needs and requirements of military 
families.
    b. Recommendations on actions to be taken to improve the capability 
of the military family readiness programs and activities of the DoD to 
meet the needs and requirements of military families, including actions 
relating to the allocation of funding and other resources to and among 
such programs and activities.
    The annual report referenced above will be submitted to the 
Secretary of Defense and the congressional defense committees. The 
Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness (USD(P&R)), 
pursuant to DoD policy, may act upon the Council's advice and 
recommendations. The DoD, through the Office of the USD(P&R), provides 
support, as deemed necessary, for the Council's performance and 
functions, and ensures compliance with the requirements of the FACA, 
the Government in the Sunshine Act of 1976 (5 U.S.C. 552b, as amended) 
(``the Sunshine Act''), governing Federal statutes and regulations, and 
established DoD policies and procedures.
    The Council, pursuant to 10 U.S.C. 1781a, as amended, will be 
composed of 18 members, appointed as specified below:
    a. The USD(P&R), who shall serve as chair of the Council. The 
Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and 
Readiness, as approved by the Secretary of Defense, may, in the absence 
of the USD(P&R), serve as the Council's chair with all rights and 
privileges thereunto.
    b. One representative from each of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, 
and Air Force, each of whom shall be a member of the armed force to be 
represented.
    c. The Secretary of Defense has approved the following ex officio 
appointments for a two-year term of service with annual renewals:
    1. Army--the Assistant Chief of Staff for Installation Management;
    2. Navy--the Chief of Naval Personnel;
    3. Air Force--the Deputy Chief of Staff for Manpower and Personnel; 
and
    4. Marine Corps--the Deputy Commandant for Manpower and Reserve 
Affairs.
    d. One representative of the Army National Guard or the Air 
National Guard, who may be a member of the National Guard.
    The Secretary of Defense, based upon the recommendation of the 
Chief, National Guard Bureau through the USD(P&R) shall appoint one 
individual to serve on the Council. If the Secretary appoints a person 
who is a full-time or permanent part-time Federal employee, then that 
individual will be appointed as a regular government employee (RGE) 
member. If the Secretary appoints a person who is not a full-time or 
permanent part-time federal officer or employee or a member of the Army 
or Air National Guard, then that individual will be appointed as an 
expert or consultant under the authority of 5 U.S.C. 3109 to serve as a 
special government employee (SGE) member. Representation on the Council 
will rotate between the Army National Guard and Air National Guard 
every two years on a calendar year basis with annual renewals.
    a. One spouse or parent of a member of each of the Army, Navy, 
Marine Corps, and Air Force, two of whom shall be the spouse or parent 
of an active component member and two of whom shall be the spouse or 
parent of a reserve component member.
    The Secretary of Defense shall appoint these individuals based upon 
the recommendation of the USD(P&R). Spouse or parent nominees of 
Regular Component members shall begin with the Army and Navy followed 
by the Air Force and Marine Corps. Spouse or parent nominees of Reserve 
Component members shall begin with the Air Force and Marine Corps 
followed by the Army and the Navy. A spouse or parent of a member of 
the Regular or Reserve Component appointed by the Secretary of Defense, 
unless he or she is a full-time or permanent part-time Federal officer 
or employee, will be appointed to the Council as an expert or 
consultant under the authority of 5 U.S.C. 3109 and serve as a SGE 
member. The term of service for these members shall be two years with 
annual renewals.
    b. Three individuals appointed by the Secretary of Defense from 
among representatives of military family organizations, including 
military family organizations of families of members of the regular 
components and families of members of the reserve components.
    For the period 2012-2015, the following military family 
organizations are invited to serve on the Council: The National 
Military Family Association, the American Red Cross, and the Blue Star 
Families. Individuals appointed by the Secretary of Defense from these 
three organizations who are not full-time or permanent part-time 
federal officers or employees shall be appointed as experts or 
consultants under the authority of 5 U.S.C. 3190 to serve as a SGE 
member. The term of service shall be three years with annual renewals.
    c. The senior enlisted advisors from each of the Army, Navy, Marine 
Corps, and Air Force, except that two of these members may instead be 
selected from among the spouses of the senior enlisted advisors.
    The Secretary of Defense shall appoint two Senior Enlisted Advisors 
beginning with the Navy and Marine Corps and followed by the Army and 
Air Force. The Secretary of Defense shall appoint two spouses of Senior 
Enlisted Advisers beginning with the Army and Air Force and followed by 
the Navy and Marine Corps. A spouse of a Senior Enlisted Advisor of the 
Army, Navy, Air Force or Marine Corps appointed by the Secretary of 
Defense, unless he or she is a full-time or permanent part-time Federal 
officer or employee, shall be appointed to the Council as an expert or 
consultant under the authority of 5 U.S.C. 3109 and serve as a SGE 
member. The term of service for Senior Enlisted Advisors shall be two 
years with annual renewals. The term of service for spouses of Senior 
Enlisted Advisors shall be either two years or until the conclusion of 
the Service member's tour of duty as Senior Enlisted Advisor during 
which the spouse was appointed to the Council, whichever is earlier, 
with annual renewals.
    d. The Director of the Office of Community Support for Military

[[Page 73055]]

Families with Special Needs (``the Director'').
    The Director is appointed as a regular government (ex officio) 
member of the Council. The Director may send someone to attend a 
council meeting if he or she is unable to attend; however, this person 
will not engage in Council deliberations, vote on matters before the 
Council, or count toward a quorum.
    Council members are not compensated for service on the Council, but 
each member is reimbursed for travel and per diem as it pertains to 
official business of the Council. The DoD, when necessary and 
consistent with the Council's mission and DoD policies and procedures, 
may establish subcommittees, task forces, or working groups to support 
the Council. Establishment of subcommittees will be based upon a 
written determination, to include terms of reference, by the Secretary 
of Defense, the Deputy Secretary of Defense, or the USD(P&R), as the 
DoD Sponsor.
    Such subcommittees will not work independently of the Council, and 
will report all of their recommendations and advice solely to the 
Council for full and open deliberation and discussion. Subcommittees, 
task forces, or working groups have no authority to make decisions and 
recommendations, verbally or in writing, on behalf of the Council. No 
subcommittee or any of its members can update or report, verbally or in 
writing, on behalf of the Council, directly to the DoD or any Federal 
officer or employee.
    All subcommittee members must be appointed by the Secretary of 
Defense or the Deputy Secretary of Defense to a term of service of one-
to-four years, with annual renewals, even if the individual in question 
is already a member of the Council, and no subcommittee member will 
serve more than two consecutive terms of service, unless authorized by 
the Secretary of Defense of the Deputy Secretary of Defense. 
Subcommittee members who are not full-time or permanent part-time 
Federal employees will be appointed as experts or consultants pursuant 
to 5 U.S.C. 3109, to serve as SGE members. Subcommittee members who are 
full-time or permanent part-time Federal employees will be appointed 
pursuant to 41 CFR 102-3.130(a), to serve as a RGE member. With the 
exception of reimbursement of official travel and per diem related to 
the Council or its subcommittees, subcommittee members will serve 
without compensation. All subcommittees operate under the provisions of 
FACA, the Sunshine Act, governing Federal statutes and regulations, and 
established DoD policies and procedures.
    The Council's DFO must be a full-time or permanent part-time DoD 
employee, appointed in accordance with established DoD policies and 
procedures.
    The Council's DFO is required to attend all meetings of the Council 
and its subcommittees for the entire duration of each and every 
meeting. However, in the absence of the Council's DFO, a properly 
approved Alternate DFO, duly appointed to the Council according to 
established DoD policies and procedures, must attend the entire 
duration of all meetings of the Council and its subcommittees.
    The DFO, or the Alternate DFO, shall call all meetings of the 
Council and its subcommittees; prepares and approves all meeting 
agendas; and adjourn any meeting when the DFO, or the Alternate DFO, 
determines adjournment to be in the public interest or required by 
governing regulations or DoD policies and procedures.
    Pursuant to 41 CFR 102-3.105(j) and 102-3.140, the public or 
interested organizations may submit written statements to Department of 
Defense Military Family Readiness Council membership about the 
Council's mission and functions. Written statements may be submitted at 
any time or in response to the stated agenda of planned meeting of 
Department of Defense Military Family Readiness Council.
    All written statements shall be submitted to the DFO for the 
Department of Defense Military Family Readiness Council, and this 
individual will ensure that the written statements are provided to the 
membership for their consideration. Contact information for the 
Department of Defense Military Family Readiness Council DFO can be 
obtained from the GSA's FACA Database--http://www.facadatabase.gov/.
    The DFO, pursuant to 41 CFR 102-3.150, will announce planned 
meetings of the Department of Defense Military Family Readiness 
Council. The DFO, at that time, may provide additional guidance on the 
submission of written statements that are in response to the stated 
agenda for the planned meeting in question.

    Dated: December 4, 2014.
Aaron Siegel,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
[FR Doc. 2014-28795 Filed 12-8-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5001-06-P