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Medevac Badge, to each person who while a member of 
the Army served in combat on or after June 25, 1950, 
as a pilot or crew member of a helicopter medical evacu-
ation ambulance and who meets the requirements for the 
award of that badge. 
‘‘(b) The Secretary of the Army shall prescribe re-
quirements for eligibility for the Combat Medevac 
Badge.’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec-
tions at the beginning of such chapter is amended 
by adding at the end the following new item: 
‘‘3757. Combat Medevac Badge.’’. 
(b) NAVY AND MARINE CORPS.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Chapter 567 of title 10, 
United States Code, is amended by adding at the 
end the following new section: 
‘‘§ 6259. Combat Medevac Badge 
‘‘(a) The Secretary of the Navy shall issue a badge 
of appropriate design, to be known as the Combat 
Medevac Badge, to each person who while a member of 
the Navy or Marine Corps served in combat on or after 
June 25, 1950, as a pilot or crew member of a helicopter 
medical evacuation ambulance and who meets the require-
ments for the award of that badge.
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‘‘(b) The Secretary of the Navy shall prescribe re-
quirements for eligibility for the Combat Medevac 
Badge.’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec-
tions at the beginning of such chapter is amended 
by adding at the end the following new item: 
‘‘6259. Combat Medevac Badge.’’. 
(c) AIR FORCE.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Chapter 857 of title 10, 
United States Code, is amended by adding at the 
end the following new section: 
‘‘§ 8757. Combat Medevac Badge 
‘‘(a) The Secretary of the Air Force shall issue a 
badge of appropriate design, to be known as the Combat 
Medevac Badge, to each person who while a member of 
the Air Force served in combat on or after June 25, 1950, 
as a pilot or crew member of a helicopter medical evacu-
ation ambulance and who meets the requirements for the 
award of that badge. 
‘‘(b) The Secretary of the Air Force shall prescribe 
requirements for eligibility for the Combat Medevac 
Badge.’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec-
tions at the beginning of such chapter is amended 
by adding at the end the following new item: 
‘‘8757. Combat Medevac Badge.’’.
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(d) AWARD FOR SERVICE BEFORE DATE OF ENACT-
MENT.—In the case of persons who, while a member of 
the Armed Forces, served in combat as a pilot or crew 
member of a helicopter medical evacuation ambulance dur-
ing the period beginning on June 25, 1950, and ending 
on the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the 
military department concerned shall issue the Combat 
Medevac Badge— 
(1) to each such person who is known to the 
Secretary before the date of enactment of this Act; 
and 
(2) to each such person with respect to whom 
an application for the issuance of the badge is made 
to the Secretary after such date in such manner, 
and within such time period, as the Secretary may 
require. 
SEC. 567. ELIGIBILITY FOR OPERATION ENDURING FREE-
DOM CAMPAIGN MEDAL. 
For purposes of eligibility for the campaign medal for 
Operation Enduring Freedom established pursuant to 
Public Law 108–234 (10 U.S.C. 1121 note), the begin-
ning date of Operation Enduring Freedom is September 
11, 2001.
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Subtitle I—Other Matters 
SEC. 571. EXTENSION OF WAIVER AUTHORITY OF SEC-
RETARY OF EDUCATION WITH RESPECT TO 
STUDENT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE DURING A 
WAR OR OTHER MILITARY OPERATION OR 
NATIONAL EMERGENCY. 
Section 6 of the Higher Education Relief Opportuni-
ties for Students Act of 2003 (20 U.S.C. 1070 note) is 
amended by striking ‘‘September 30, 2005’’ and inserting 
‘‘September 30, 2007’’. 
SEC. 572. ADOPTION LEAVE FOR MEMBERS OF THE ARMED 
FORCES ADOPTING CHILDREN. 
(a) AUTHORITY.—Section 701 of title 10, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new subsection: 
‘‘(i)(1) Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary 
of Defense, a member of the armed forces adopting a child 
in a qualifying child adoption is allowed up to 21 days 
of leave in a calendar year to be used in connection with 
the adoption. 
‘‘(2) For the purpose of this subsection, an adoption 
of a child by a member is a qualifying child adoption if 
the member is eligible for reimbursement of qualified 
adoption expenses for such adoption under section 1052 
of this title.
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‘‘(3) In the event that two members of the armed 
forces who are spouses of each other adopt a child in a 
qualifying child adoption, only one such member shall be 
allowed leave under this subsection. Those members shall 
elect which of them shall be allowed such leave. 
‘‘(4) Leave under paragraph (1) is in addition to 
other leave provided under other provisions of this sec-
tion.’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—Subsection (i) of section 701 
of title 10, United States Code (as added by subsection 
(a)), shall take effect on October 1, 2005. 
SEC. 573. REPORT ON NEED FOR A PERSONNEL PLAN FOR 
LINGUISTS IN THE ARMED FORCES. 
(a) NEED ASSESSMENT.—The Secretary of Defense 
shall review the career tracks of members of the Armed 
Forces who are linguists in an effort to improve the man-
agement of linguists (in enlisted grades or officer grades, 
or both) and to assist them in reaching their full linguistic 
and analytical potential over a 20-year career. As part of 
such review, the Secretary shall assess the need for a com-
prehensive plan to better manage the careers of military 
linguists (in enlisted grades or officer grades, or both) and 
to ensure that such linguists have an opportunity to 
progress in grade and are provided opportunities to en-
hance their language and cultural skills. As part of the
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review, the Secretary shall consider personnel manage-
ment methods such as enhanced bonuses, immersion op-
portunities, specialized career fields, establishment of a 
dedicated career path for linguists, and career monitoring 
to ensure career progress for linguists serving in duty as-
signments that are not linguist related. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense 
shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the 
Senate and House of Representatives a report on the re-
view and assessment conducted under subsection (a). The 
report shall include the findings, results, and conclusions 
of the Secretary’s review and assessment of the careers 
of officer and enlisted linguists in the Armed Forces and 
the need for a comprehensive plan to ensure effective ca-
reer management of linguists. 
SEC. 574. GROUND COMBAT AND OTHER EXCLUSION POLI-
CIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.— 
(1) Chapter 37 of title 10, United States Code, 
is amended by inserting after section 651 the fol-
lowing new section:
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‘‘§ 652. Notice to Congress of proposed changes in 
units, assignments, etc. to which female 
members may be assigned 
‘‘(a) RULE FOR GROUND COMBAT PERSONNEL POL-
ICY.—(1) If the Secretary of Defense proposes to make 
any change described in paragraph (2)(A) or (2)(B) to the 
ground combat exclusion policy or proposes to make a 
change described in paragraph (2)(C), the Secretary shall, 
before any such change is implemented, submit to Con-
gress a report providing notice of the proposed change. 
Such a change may then be implemented only after the 
end of a period of 60 days of continuous session of Con-
gress (excluding any day on which either House of Con-
gress is not in session) following the date on which the 
report is received. 
‘‘(2) A change referred to in paragraph (1) is a 
change that— 
‘‘(A) closes to female members of the armed 
forces any category of unit or position that at that 
time is open to service by such members; 
‘‘(B) opens to service by female members of the 
armed forces any category of unit or position that 
at that time is closed to service by such members; 
or
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‘‘(C) opens or closes to the assignment of fe-
male members of the armed forces any military ca-
reer designator as described in paragraph (6). 
‘‘(3) The Secretary shall include in any report under 
paragraph (1)— 
‘‘(A) a detailed description of, and justification 
for, the proposed change; and 
‘‘(B) a detailed analysis of legal implication of 
the proposed change with respect to the constitu-
tionality of the application of the Military Selective 
Service Act (50 App. U.S.C. 451 et seq.) to males 
only. 
‘‘(4) In this subsection, the term ‘ground combat ex-
clusion policy’ means the military personnel policies of the 
Department of Defense and the military departments, as 
in effect on October 1, 1994, by which female members 
of the armed forces are restricted from assignment to 
units and positions below brigade level whose primary mis-
sion is to engage in direct combat on the ground. 
‘‘(5) For purposes of this subsection, the continuity 
of a session of Congress is broken only by an adjournment 
of the Congress sine die. 
‘‘(6) For purposes of this subsection, a military ca-
reer designator is one that is related to military operations 
on the ground as of May 18, 2005, and applies—
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‘‘(A) for enlisted members and warrant officers, 
to military occupational specialties, specialty codes, 
enlisted designators, enlisted classification codes, ad-
ditional skill identifiers, and special qualification 
identifiers; and 
‘‘(B) for officers (other than warrant officers), 
to officer areas of concentration, occupational spe-
cialties, specialty codes, designators, additional skill 
identifiers, and special qualification identifiers. 
‘‘(b) OTHER PERSONNEL POLICY CHANGES.—(1) 
Except in a case covered by section 6035 of this title or 
by subsection (a), whenever the Secretary of Defense pro-
poses to make a change to military personnel policies de-
scribed in paragraph (2), the Secretary shall, not less than 
30 days before such change is implemented, submit to the 
Committee on Armed Services of the Senate and the Com-
mittee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives 
notice, in writing, of the proposed change. 
‘‘(2) Paragraph (1) applies to a proposed military 
personnel policy change, other than a policy change cov-
ered by subsection (a), that would make available to fe-
male members of the armed forces assignment to any of 
the following that, as of the date of the proposed change, 
is closed to such assignment:
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‘‘(A) Any type of unit not covered by subsection 
(a). 
‘‘(B) Any class of combat vessel. 
‘‘(C) Any type of combat platform.’’. 
(2) The table of sections at the beginning of 
such chapter is amended by inserting after the item 
relating to section 651 the following new item: 
‘‘652. Notice to Congress of proposed changes in units, assignments, etc. to 
which female members may be assigned.’’. 
(b) REPORT ON IMPLEMENTATION OF DEPARTMENT 
OF DEFENSE POLICIES WITH REGARD TO THE ASSIGN-
MENT OF WOMEN.—Not later than March 31, 2006, the 
Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committee on 
Armed Services of the Senate and the Committee on 
Armed Services of the House of Representatives a report 
of the Secretary’s review of the current and future imple-
mentation of the policy regarding the assignment of 
women as articulated in the Secretary of Defense memo-
randum, dated January 13, 1994, and entitled, ‘‘Direct 
Ground Combat Definition and Assignment Rule’’. In con-
ducting that review, the Secretary shall closely examine 
Army unit modularization efforts, and associated per-
sonnel assignment policies, to ensure their compliance with 
the Department of Defense policy articulated in the Janu-
ary 1994 memorandum.
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(c) CONFORMING REPEAL.—Section 542 of the Na-
tional Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1994 (10 
U.S.C. 113 note) is repealed. 
SEC. 575. ELIGIBILITY OF CERTAIN PERSONS FOR SPACE- 
AVAILABLE TRAVEL ON MILITARY AIRCRAFT. 
(a) ELIGIBILITY OF ‘‘GRAY AREA’’ RETIREES AND 
SPOUSES.—Chapter 157 of title 10, United States Code, 
is amended by inserting after section 2641a the following 
new section: 
‘‘§ 2641b. Space-available travel on Department of De-
fense aircraft: Reserve members eligible 
for retired pay but for age; spouses 
‘‘(a) RESERVE RETIREES UNDER AGE 60.—A mem-
ber or former member of a reserve component under 60 
years of age who, but for age, would be eligible for retired 
pay under chapter 1223 of this title shall be provided 
transportation on Department of Defense aircraft, on a 
space-available basis, on the same basis as members of the 
armed forces entitled to retired pay under any other provi-
sion of law. 
‘‘(b) DEPENDENTS.—The dependent of a member or 
former member under 60 years of age who, but for age, 
would be eligible for retired pay under chapter 1223 of 
this title, shall be provided transportation on Department 
of Defense aircraft, on a space-available basis, on the same
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basis as dependents of members of the armed forces enti-
tled to retired pay under any other provision of law.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting 
after the item relating to section 2641a the following new 
item: 
‘‘2641b. Space-available travel on Department of Defense aircraft: Reserve 
members eligible for retired pay but for age; spouses.’’. 
SEC. 576. COMPTROLLER GENERAL STUDY OF MILITARY 
RECRUITING. 
(a) REPORT.—Not later than one year after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall 
submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Sen-
ate and House of Representatives a report on military re-
cruiting. 
(b) MATTERS TO BE INCLUDED.—The Comptroller 
General shall include in the report the following: 
(1) Whether military recruitment criminal viola-
tions have increased in any branches of the Armed 
Forces since the beginning of combat in Iraq. 
(2) Whether policies of the Department of De-
fense or of any of the specific military branches have 
caused or encouraged military recruiters to carry out 
criminal actions to increase recruitment numbers. 
(3) Whether the Department of Justice, De-
partment of Defense, or specific military branches
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have adequately and independently carried out inves-
tigations and prosecutions of all Department of De-
fense officials who are complicit or directly involved 
in criminal actions to increase military recruitment. 
(4) Any recommendations for any legislation or 
administrative actions that the Comptroller General 
considers appropriate. 
(5) Any other matter the Comptroller General 
considers relevant. 
SEC. 577. ADDITION OF INFORMATION CONCERNING MEN-
TAL HEALTH SERVICES AND TREATMENT TO 
SUBJECTS REQUIRED TO BE COVERED IN 
MANDATORY PRESEPARATION COUNSELING. 
Section 1142(b) of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following new para-
graph: 
‘‘(11) Information concerning the availability of 
mental health services and the treatment of post- 
traumatic stress disorder, anxiety disorders, depres-
sion, suicidal ideations, or other mental health condi-
tions associated with service in the armed forces.’’.
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SEC. 578. IMPROVEMENT TO DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 
RESPONSE TO SEXUAL ASSAULT AFFECTING 
MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES. 
(a) ASSESSMENT.—The Secretary of Defense shall 
conduct an inventory of supplies, trained personnel, and 
transportation resources assigned or deployed to deal with 
sexual assault. The Secretary shall assess the availability 
and accessibility within deployed units of rape evidence 
kits, testing supplies for sexually transmitted infections 
and diseases (STIs), including HIV, and for pregnancy, 
transportation resources, and medication. The assessment 
shall be completed not later than 120 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act. 
(b) ACTION PLAN FOR DEPLOYED UNITS.—The Sec-
retary shall develop a plan to enhance accessibility and 
availability of supplies, trained personnel, and transpor-
tation resources in response to sexual assaults occurring 
in deployed units. Such plan shall include the following: 
(1) Training of new and existing first respond-
ers to sexual assaults, including criminal investiga-
tors, medical providers responsible for rape kit evi-
dence collection, and victims advocates, with such 
training to include current techniques on processing 
of evidence, including rape kits, and conducting in-
vestigations.
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(2) Accessibility and availability of supplies for 
victims of sexual assault who present at a military 
hospital, including rape kits, equipment for proc-
essing rape kits, and testing supplies and treatment 
for sexually transmitted infections and diseases, in-
cluding HIV, and pregnancy. 
(c) ANNUAL REPORT.—The Secretary shall include 
in the annual report to the Committees on Armed Services 
of the Senate and House of Representatives on sexual as-
saults a report as to the supply inventory, location, acces-
sibility, and availability of supplies, trained personnel, and 
transportation resources in response to sexual assault in 
deployed units. 
SEC. 579. REPORT ON EMPLOYMENT MATTERS FOR MEM-
BERS OF THE NATIONAL GUARD AND RE-
SERVE. 
(a) REQUIREMENT FOR REPORT.—Not later than 
270 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to 
Congress a report on difficulties faced by members of the 
National Guard and Reserve with respect to employment 
as a result of being ordered to perform full time National 
Guard duty or being ordered to active duty service, respec-
tively.
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(b) SPECIFIC MATTERS.—In preparing the report re-
quired under subsection (a), the Comptroller General shall 
include information on the following matters: 
(1) TYPE OF EMPLOYERS.—An estimate of the 
number of employers of members of the National 
Guard and Reserve who are private sector employers 
and those who are public sector employers. 
(2) SIZE OF EMPLOYERS.—An estimate of the 
number of employers of members of the National 
Guard and Reserve who employ fewer than 50 full- 
time employees. 
(3) SELF-EMPLOYED.—An estimate of the num-
ber of members of the National Guard and Reserve 
who are self-employed. 
(4) NATURE OF BUSINESS.—A description of 
the nature of the business of employers of members 
of the National Guard and Reserve. 
(5) REEMPLOYMENT
DIFFICULTIES.—A de-
scription of difficulties faced by members of the Na-
tional Guard and Reserve in gaining reemployment 
after having performed full time National Guard 
duty or active duty service, including difficulties 
faced by members who are disabled and who are 
Veterans of the Vietnam Era.