(2) there are adequate program resources avail-
able for the member to participate at the location of 
the member. 
(d) LOCATIONS.—The Secretary shall seek to enter 
into a contract under subsection (b) with appropriate non-
government entities located in close proximity to military 
medical treatment facilities. 
(e) TRAINING AREA.—The Secretary shall provide to 
a nongovernment entity with which the Secretary enters 
into a contract under subsection (b) access to a training 
area in a facility of the Department that would be appro-
priate for use in educating members of the Armed Forces 
participating in the program in the art and science of serv-
ice dog training and handling. Such training area shall— 
(1) include a dedicated space that is suitable 
for grooming and training dogs indoors; 
(2) be wheelchair accessible; 
(3) include classroom or lecture space; 
(4) include office space for staff; 
(5) include a suitable space for storing training 
equipment; 
(6) provide for periodic use of other training 
areas for training the dogs with wheelchairs and 
conducting other exercises; 
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(7) include outdoor exercise and toileting space 
for dogs; and 
(8) provide transportation for weekly field trips 
to train dogs in other environments. 
(f) DESIGN OF PROGRAM.—Each contract entered 
into under subsection (b) shall provide that the nongovern-
ment entity shall— 
(1) employ at least one person with clinical ex-
perience related to mental health; 
(2) ensure that members of the Armed Forces 
participating in the program receive training from 
certified service dog training instructors; 
(3) ensure that each service dog in training 
participating in the program is taught all essential 
commands pertaining to service dog skills; 
(4) ensure that the program involves both lec-
ture of service dog training methodologies and prac-
tical hands-on training and grooming of service 
dogs; and 
(5) ensure that the program is designed to— 
(A) maximize the therapeutic benefits to 
members of the Armed Forces participating in 
the program; and 
(B) provide well-trained service dogs to 
veterans with disabilities. 
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(g) ADMINISTRATION.—In order to carry out the pro-
gram under subsection (a), the Secretary shall— 
(1) administer the program through the De-
fense Health Agency under the direction of a cer-
tified occupational recreational therapist with suffi-
cient administrative experience to help oversee the 
program; and 
(2) establish a director of therapeutic service 
dog training with a background working in social 
services, experience in teaching others to train serv-
ice dogs in a military medical treatment facility set-
ting, and at least one year of experience working 
with veterans or active duty service members with 
post-traumatic stress disorder in a clinical setting. 
(h) COLLECTION OF DATA.—The Secretary shall col-
lect data on the program under subsection (a) to deter-
mine how effective the program is for the members of the 
Armed Forces participating in the program. Such data 
shall include data to determine how effectively the pro-
gram assists members in— 
(1) reducing stigma associated with post-trau-
matic stress disorder or other post-deployment men-
tal health conditions; 
(2) improving emotional regulation; 
(3) improving patience; 
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(4) instilling or re-establishing a sense of pur-
pose; 
(5) providing an opportunity to help veterans; 
(6) reintegrating into the community; 
(7) exposing the dog to new environments and 
in doing so, helping the member reduce social isola-
tion and withdrawal; 
(8) building relationship skills, including par-
enting skills; 
(9) relaxing the hyper-vigilant survival state; 
(10) improving sleep patterns; and 
(11) enabling members to decrease the use of 
pain medication. 
(i) REPORTS.—Each year the Secretary shall submit 
to the Committees on Armed Services of the House of 
Representatives and the Senate a report on the program 
under subsection (a). Each such report shall include— 
(1) the number of members of the Armed 
Forces participating in the program; 
(2) a description of the services carried out 
under the program; 
(3) the effects that participating in the program 
has on— 
(A) symptoms of post-traumatic stress dis-
order and post-deployment adjustment difficul-
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ties, including depression, maintenance of sobri-
ety, suicidal ideations, and homelessness; 
(B) potentially relevant physiological mark-
ers that possibly relate to the interactions with 
the service dogs; 
(C) family dynamics; 
(D) insomnia and pain management; and 
(E) overall well-being; and 
(4) the recommendations of the Secretary with 
respect to the expansion of the program. 
(j) SERVICE
DOG
TRAINING
INSTRUCTOR
DE-
FINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘service dog training 
instructor’’ means an instructor who provides the direct 
training of members of the Armed Forces with post-trau-
matic stress disorder and other post-deployment mental 
health conditions in the art and science of service dog 
training and handling. 
Æ 
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