333 
Subtitle D—Recruitment and 
Accession 
SEC. 531. RECRUITMENT: IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO 
SECONDARY SCHOOLS AND INSTITUTIONS OF 
HIGHER EDUCATION. 
(a) RECRUITING AT SECONDARY SCHOOLS.—Section 
503(c)(1)(A) of title 10, United States Code, is amend-
ed— 
(1) in clause (i), by striking ‘‘the same access 
to secondary school students as is provided generally 
to postsecondary educational institutions or to pro-
spective employers of those students’’ and inserting 
‘‘meaningful access to secondary schools (including 
at least four visits across each academic year, be-
tween classes, when students are physically present, 
and in a manner that does not interfere with class 
attendance), and, after reasonable notice, in meeting 
spaces including auditoriums, at athletic functions, 
and at other group or social activities’’; and 
(2) in clause (iii)— 
(A) by inserting ‘‘during the first 60 days 
of the academic year, and not later than 30 
days after receiving such request during an-
other period of time’’ after ‘‘receiving such re-
quest’’; and
334 
(B) by inserting ‘‘academic grades, sexes,’’ 
after ‘‘student names,’’. 
(b) RECRUITING AT INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDU-
CATION.—Section 983(b) of title 10, United States Code, 
is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘in a manner 
that is at least equal in quality and scope to the ac-
cess to campuses and to students that is provided to 
any other employer’’ and inserting ‘‘(including at 
least four visits across each academic year, between 
classes, when students are physically present, and in 
a manner that does not interfere with class attend-
ance), and, after reasonable notice, in meeting 
spaces including auditoriums, at athletic functions, 
and at other group or social activities’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (2)— 
(A) in subparagraph (A)— 
(i) by inserting ‘‘academic grades, 
sexes,’’ after ‘‘names,’’; 
(ii) by striking ‘‘60th day following 
the date of a request’’ and inserting ‘‘60 
days after receiving a request during the 
first 60 days of the academic year, and not 
later than 30 days after the date of a re-
quest during another period of time’’; and
335 
(iii) by striking ‘‘; and’’ and inserting 
a semicolon; 
(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking the 
period at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following new 
subparagraph: 
‘‘(C) whether the student submitted a Free 
Application for Federal Student Aid described 
in section 483 of the Higher Education Act of 
1965 (20 U.S.C. 1090) (if collected by the in-
stitution); and’’; 
(3) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(3) access by military recruiters for purposes 
of military recruiting, with respect to students (who 
are 17 years of age or older) not returning to the 
institution after having been enrolled during the pre-
vious semester— 
‘‘(A) the information required under para-
graph (2); and 
‘‘(B) the reason why such students did not 
return, if collected by the institution.’’. 
(c) TYPES OF AFFILIATION FOR JROTC UNITS.— 
(1) AUTHORIZATION.—The Secretary of De-
fense may establish, with regards to the Junior Re-
336 
serve 
Officers’ 
Training 
Corps 
(hereinafter, 
‘‘JROTC’’) , the following types of affiliation: 
(A) HOST UNIT.—A host unit is a unit at 
a secondary educational institution that has at 
least one instructor for the unit and has en-
tered into a memorandum of understanding 
under section 2031(b) of title 10, United States 
Code. 
(B) CROSS-TOWN
UNIT.—A cross-town 
unit is a unit that operates without an instruc-
tor pursuant to section 2035(b)(2)(B) of title 
10, United States Code, and has entered into 
an agreement with a host unit to allow students 
of the cross-town unit to participate in JROTC 
activities at the campus of the host unit. 
(2) GUIDANCE.—If the Secretary establishes 
the types of affiliation under paragraph (1), the Sec-
retary shall prescribe guidance that clarifies the 
roles, responsibilities, and requirements for each 
such type. 
(3) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after 
the Secretary creates such types of affiliation, the 
Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Armed 
Services of the Senate and House of Representatives
337 
a report on such affiliations. Such a report shall in-
clude the following elements: 
(A) The number and locations of cross- 
town units. 
(B) Total enrollment numbers for each 
cross-town units. 
(C) Recommendations for further improve-
ments or changes to enhance the effectiveness 
of JROTC. 
(d) REPORT ON HONOR SCHOOLS.—Not later than 
September 30, 2026, the Secretary of Defense shall sub-
mit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate 
and House of Representatives a report on schools des-
ignated as honor schools by the Secretaries of the Army, 
Navy, and Air Force. Such report shall include the fol-
lowing elements: 
(1) The criteria for such designation. 
(2) A list of schools so designated. 
(3) The percentage of honor graduates of honor 
schools who, after nomination pursuant to sub-
section (b)(4) of section 7442, 8454, or 9442 of title 
10, United States Code, enroll as cadets or mid-
shipmen at a Service Academy (as such term is de-
fined in section 347 of title 10, United States Code).
338 
SEC. 532. ALTERNATIVE SERVICE IN THE DEFENSE INDUS-
TRIAL BASE BY INDIVIDUALS DENIED EN-
LISTMENT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 504 of title 10, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new subsection: 
‘‘(c) ALTERNATIVE SERVICE IN THE DEFENSE IN-
DUSTRIAL BASE.—(1) The Secretary of Defense shall 
carry out a program to provide to an individual described 
in paragraph (2) information about with opportunities to 
work in the defense industrial base. 
‘‘(2) An individual described in this paragraph is an 
individual who seeks to originally enlist in an armed force 
but is denied enlistment. 
‘‘(3) In carrying out the program, the Secretary 
shall— 
‘‘(A) identify job opportunities in the defense 
industrial base; 
‘‘(B) provide available information about train-
ing or certification programs to obtain the skills nec-
essary for such a job; and 
‘‘(C) seek to enter into agreements with entities 
in the defense industrial base. 
‘‘(4) The Secretary of Defense shall submit to the 
Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the 
House of Representatives an annual report on the pro-
339 
gram under this subsection. Such a report shall include, 
with respect to the year preceding the date of the report, 
the following elements: 
‘‘(A) The number of individuals described in 
paragraph (2) provided information described in 
paragraph (3)(A). 
‘‘(B) The number of individuals described in 
paragraph (2) provided information described in 
paragraph (3)(B). 
‘‘(C) The number of agreements described in 
paragraph (3)(C) into which the Secretary entered.’’. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than one year 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 the House of Representatives a report regard-
ing the implementation of subsection (c) of such section, 
as added by subsection (a). 
SEC. 533. MEDICAL ACCESSION STANDARDS FOR MEMBERS 
OF THE ARMED FORCES. 
Chapter 37 of title 10, United States Code, is amend-
ed by adding at the end the following new section: 
‘‘§ 658. Medical accession standards for members of 
the armed forces 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT
OF STANDARDS.—(1) The 
Secretaries concerned shall establish uniform medical ac-
340 
cession standards for each armed force. Such standards 
shall— 
‘‘(A) apply uniformly for all commissioned offi-
cers of an armed force; and 
‘‘(B) apply uniformly for all enlisted members 
of an armed force across each occupational specialty. 
‘‘(2) The Secretary concerned shall make readily 
available and understandable to potential members of the 
armed forces the standards established under paragraph 
(1), including an explanation of the process established 
under subsection (c)(1) and the process for seeking ap-
proval under subsection (c)(2). 
‘‘(b) PROHIBITION ON CERTAIN MEDICAL DISQUALI-
FICATIONS.—No person may be disqualified from serving 
as a member of the armed forces on the sole basis of a 
past diagnosis of a medical condition if— 
‘‘(1) the diagnosis occurred before such person 
reached the age of 13 years old; 
‘‘(2) the condition did not require treatment 
during the five-year period that ends on the date on 
which such person seeks to become a member of the 
armed forces; 
‘‘(3) a licensed medical professional provides a 
current evaluation affirming that such person does 
not meet diagnostic criteria for the condition and is
341 
medically fit for service as a member of the armed 
forces; and 
‘‘(4) the Secretary concerned determines such 
diagnosis is unlikely to impact the health and readi-
ness of the armed force of which such person seeks 
to become a member. 
‘‘(c) PROCESS FOR REVIEW OR WAIVER OF MEDICAL 
DISQUALIFICATIONS.—(1) The Secretary concerned shall 
establish a process for the review of medical disqualifica-
tions of persons seeking to become a member of the armed 
forces. 
‘‘(2) The Secretary concerned may approve the acces-
sion of a person into the armed forces without regard to 
a disqualifying medical diagnosis if the Secretary con-
cerned determines that the accession of such person is in 
the interests of national security. 
‘‘(d) REPORTS.—(1) The Secretary of Defense shall 
submit to the congressional defense committees an annual 
report identifying— 
‘‘(A) the number of persons disqualified from 
service as a member of the armed forces during the 
preceding calendar year due to medical history; 
‘‘(B) the number and type of approvals granted 
under subsection (c)(2) during the preceding cal-
endar year; and
342 
‘‘(C) any updates to the medical standards for 
accession established under subsection (a) or the 
process established under subsection (c)(1) since the 
submission of the preceding report. 
‘‘(2) For any fiscal year in which the Secretary con-
cerned approves the accession of a person into the Coast 
Guard under subsection (c)(2), the Secretary of the de-
partment in which the Coast Guard is operating shall sub-
mit, to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastruc-
ture of the House of Representatives and the Committee 
on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, 
a report identifying the information required under para-
graph (1)(B) with regards to such member.’’. 
SEC. 534. SELECTIVE SERVICE SYSTEM: AUTOMATIC REG-
ISTRATION. 
(a) AUTOMATIC REGISTRATION.—The Military Selec-
tive Service Act (50 U.S.C. 3801 et seq.) is amended by 
striking section 3 (50 U.S.C. 3802) and inserting the fol-
lowing new section 3: 
‘‘SEC. 3. (a)(1) Except as otherwise provided in this 
title, every male citizen of the United States, and every 
other male person residing in the United States, between 
the ages of eighteen and twenty-six, shall be automatically 
registered under this Act by the Director of the Selective 
Service System.
343 
‘‘(2) This section shall not apply to any alien lawfully 
admitted to the United States as a nonimmigrant under 
section 101(a)(15) of the Immigration and Nationality Act 
(8 U.S.C. 1101) for so long as such alien continues to 
maintain a lawful nonimmigrant status in the United 
States. 
‘‘(b) Regulations prescribed pursuant to this section 
(a) may require— 
‘‘(1) a person subject to registration under this 
section to provide, to the Director, information (in-
cluding date of birth, address, social security ac-
count number, phone number, and email address) 
regarding such person; 
‘‘(2) a Federal entity to provide, to the Direc-
tor, information described in paragraph (1) that the 
Director determines necessary to identify or register 
a person subject to registration under this section; 
and 
‘‘(3) the Director to provide, to a person reg-
istered under this section, written notification that— 
‘‘(A) such person has been so registered; 
and 
‘‘(B) if such person is not required to be 
so registered, the procedure by which such per-
son may correct such registration.’’.
344 
(b) TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 
The Military Selective Service Act is further amended— 
(1) in section 4 (50 U.S.C. 3803)— 
(A) in subsection (a)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘required to register’’ 
each place it appears and inserting ‘‘reg-
istered’’; 
(ii) by striking ‘‘at the time fixed for 
his registration,’’; and 
(iii) by striking ‘‘who is required to 
register’’ and inserting ‘‘registered’’; 
(B) in subsection (k)(2), in the matter fol-
lowing subparagraph(B), by striking ‘‘liable for 
registration’’ and inserting ‘‘registered’’; 
(2) in section 6(a) (50 U.S.C. 3806(a))— 
(A) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘required to be’’; 
(ii) by striking ‘‘subject to registra-
tion’’ and inserting ‘‘registered’’; and 
(iii) by striking ‘‘liable for registration 
and training’’ and inserting ‘‘registered 
and liable for training’’; 
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘required 
to be’’ each place it appears;
345 
(3) in section 10(b)(3) (50 U.S.C. 3809(b)(3)) 
by striking ‘‘registration,’’; 
(4) in section 12 (50 U.S.C. 3811)— 
(A) in subsection (d)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘, neglecting, or refus-
ing to perform the duty of registering im-
posed by’’ and inserting ‘‘registration 
under’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘, or within five years 
next after the last day before such person 
does perform his duty to register, which-
ever shall first occur’’; 
(B) in subsection (e)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘the Secretary of 
Health and Human Services’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘Federal agencies’’; 
(ii) by striking ‘‘by a proclamation of 
the President’’ and inserting ‘‘to be reg-
istered’’; 
(iii) by striking ‘‘to present themselves 
for and submit to registration under such 
section’’; and 
(iv) by striking ‘‘by the Secretary’’; 
and
346 
(C) by striking subsection (g) (50 U.S.C. 
3811(g)); and 
(5) in section 15(a) (50 U.S.C. 3813(a)), by 
striking ‘‘upon publication by the President of a 
proclamation or other public notice fixing a time for 
any registration under section 3’’. 
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 
this section shall take effect one year after the date of 
the enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 535. WAIVERS FOR POTENTIAL ENLISTEES INTO THE 
ARMED FORCES TO REAPPLY FOR ENLIST-
MENT FOLLOWING A POSITIVE TOXICOLOGY 
TEST FOR TETRAHYDROCANNABINOL. 
(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS ON WAIVER SYSTEM TO 
REAPPLY
FOR ENLISTMENT FOLLOWING
A POSITIVE 
TETRAHYDROCANNABINOL TOXICOLOGY TEST.—It is the 
sense of Congress that— 
(1) the Departments of the Army and the Navy 
have taken positive steps in their work to design and 
implement a waiver system that permits potential 
enlistees into the Armed Forces to reapply for enlist-
ment following a positive toxicology test for 
tetrahydrocannabinol; 
(2) given the ongoing recruitment and retention 
challenges undermining the Armed Forces readiness
347 
goals, the Departments of the Air Force, Space 
Force, and Marine Corps should develop and imple-
ment their own permanent waiver system commensu-
rate with the process employed by the Army and 
Navy; and 
(3) the Air Force, Space Force, and Marine 
Corps should establish permanent waiver programs. 
(b) WAIVER PROGRAM ON INDIVIDUALS PREVIOUSLY 
TURNED AWAY FOR CANNABIS USE.—The Secretary of 
Defense shall— 
(1) develop a program through which to provide 
waivers for potential enlistees into the Armed Forces 
who were not permitted to enlist following a positive 
toxicology test for tetrahydrocannabinol so that such 
potential enlistees are permitted to reapply for en-
listment; 
(2) assess the feasibility of contacting any such 
potential enlistees who were not permitted to enlist 
following 
a 
positive 
toxicology 
test 
for 
tetrahydrocannabinol in States where marijuna is 
legal under State laws; and 
(3) to the extent feasible, develop a plan to con-
tact such potential enlistees. 
(c) WAIVERED RECRUITS REPORTING REQUIRE-
MENT.—No later than 180 days after the date of the en-
348 
actment of this Act, Secretary of Defense shall submit to 
the congressional defense committees a report that in-
cludes a plan to create, disseminate, and use a clear defini-
tion that highlights that all waivered recruits are qualified 
and eligible to enlist in the Armed Forces, even if they 
do not meet every enlistment standard, and that existing 
standards of enlistment allow for waivers. 
Subtitle E—Member Training and 
Education 
SEC. 541. TRAINING REQUIREMENTS FOR OCCUPATIONAL 
SPECIALTIES WITH CIVILIAN EQUIVALENTS. 
Chapter 101 of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended by inserting after section 2009 the following new 
section: 
‘‘§ 2010. Training requirements for occupational spe-
cialties with civilian equivalents 
‘‘The Secretary concerned shall ensure that training 
provided to a member of the armed forces with respect 
to an occupational specialty in the armed forces for which 
there is a similar civilian occupation includes all training 
and appropriate certifications that will allow such member 
to enter such civilian occupation following separation from 
the armed forces without the need to satisfy any additional 
training or certification requirements.’’.
349 
SEC. 542. INCLUSION OF SPACE FORCE EDUCATION PRO-
GRAMS IN DEFINITIONS REGARDING PROFES-
SIONAL MILITARY EDUCATION. 
(a) SENIOR
AND INTERMEDIATE LEVEL SERVICE 
SCHOOLS.—Section 2151(b) of title 10, United States 
Code, is amended— 
(1) by adding at the end of paragraph (1) the 
following new subparagraph: 
‘‘(E) The Space Force Senior Level Edu-
cation Program.’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end of paragraph (2) the 
following new subparagraph: 
‘‘(E) The Space Force Intermediate Level 
Education Program.’’. 
(b) BUDGET REQUESTS FOR PROFESSIONAL MILI-
TARY EDUCATION.—Section 2162(d) of such title is 
amended by adding at the end the following new para-
graphs: 
‘‘(9) The Space Force Senior Level Education 
Program. 
‘‘(10) The Space Force Intermediate Level 
Education Program.’’.
350 
SEC. 543. CENTER FOR STRATEGIC DETERRENCE AND 
WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION STUDIES. 
Chapter 108 of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended by inserting after section 2165 the following new 
section: 
‘‘§ 2166. National Defense University: Center for Stra-
tegic Deterrence and Weapons of Mass 
Destruction Studies 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary of Defense 
shall establish a Center for Strategic Deterrence and 
Weapons of Mass Destruction Studies within the Institute 
for National Strategic Studies of the National Defense 
University (in this section referred to as the ‘Center’). 
‘‘(b) MISSION.—The Center established under sub-
section (a) shall— 
‘‘(1) prepare national security leaders to ad-
dress the challenges of strategic deterrence and 
weapons of mass destruction through education, re-
search, and outreach activities throughout the Fed-
eral Government; 
‘‘(2) develop leaders with an understanding of 
strategic deterrence and the implications of weapons 
of mass destruction; 
‘‘(3) in accordance with guidance provided by 
the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, develop 
and provide appropriate curricula, learning out-
351 
comes, and educational tools relating to strategic de-
terrence and weapons of mass destruction for use at 
institutions that provide joint professional military 
education; 
‘‘(4) serve as the primary institution within the 
Department for the study of strategic deterrence 
and weapons of mass destruction education in joint 
professional military education; 
‘‘(5) design, develop, and implement studies and 
analyses to enhance understanding of— 
‘‘(A) strategic deterrence; 
‘‘(B) the threat of weapons of mass de-
struction to the security of the United States 
and globally; and 
‘‘(C) responses to prevent, mitigate, or 
eliminate the threat in accordance with Depart-
ment and national security policies and strate-
gies; and 
‘‘(6) provide expert support on strategic deter-
rence and weapons of mass destruction issues to the 
Department of Defense and other Federal Govern-
ment leaders.’’. 
SEC. 544. SERVICE ACADEMIES; APPOINTMENTS AND ADDI-
TIONAL APPOINTEES. 
(a) UNITED STATES MILITARY ACADEMY.—
352 
(1) APPOINTMENTS.—Section 7442 of title 10, 
United States Code, is amended— 
(A) in subsection (a)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘subsection (j)’’ and in-
serting ‘‘subsection (k)’’; 
(ii) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘as 
established by competitive examinations’’ 
and inserting ‘‘as determined by candidate 
composite score rank’’; and 
(iii) in the matter following paragraph 
(10)— 
(I) in the second sentence— 
(aa) by inserting ‘‘(in which 
event selection shall be in order 
of merit as determined by can-
didate composite score rank)’’ 
after ‘‘may be submitted without 
ranking’’; and 
(bb) by striking ‘‘9 ranked’’ 
and inserting ‘‘14 ranked’’; 
(II) by inserting after the second 
sentence the following ‘‘If alternates 
are submitted unranked, any selection 
from among such unranked alternates 
shall be in order of merit as deter-
353 
mined by candidate composite score 
rank.’’; and 
(III) by striking ‘‘shall be consid-
ered qualified alternates for the pur-
pose of selection under other provi-
sions of this chapter’’ and inserting 
‘‘shall be eligible and considered for 
selection under other provisions of 
this chapter, including as qualified al-
ternates and additional appointees’’; 
(B) 
by 
redesignating 
subsections 
(b) 
through (j) as subsections (c) through (k), re-
spectively; 
(C) by inserting after subsection (a) the 
following new subsection: 
‘‘(b) There shall be appointed each year at the Acad-
emy 300 qualified alternates selected in order of merit as 
determined by candidate composite score rank by the Sec-
retary of the Army from qualified candidates nominated 
pursuant to paragraphs (3) through (10) of subsection (a) 
and all other qualified, non-selected candidates holding 
nominations from any other source pursuant to this chap-
ter.’’; 
(D) in subsection (c), as redesignated by 
subparagraph (B)—
354 
(i) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘one 
hundred selected by the President’’ and in-
serting ‘‘up to one hundred qualified can-
didates selected by the President in order 
of merit as determined by candidate com-
posite score rank’’; 
(ii) in paragraph (2)— 
(I) by striking ‘‘85’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘up to 85 qualified candidates’’; 
and 
(II) by inserting ‘‘, selected in 
order of merit as determined by can-
didate composite score rank’’ before 
the period at the end; 
(iii) in paragraph (3)— 
(I) by striking ‘‘85’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘up to 85 qualified candidates’’; 
and 
(II) by inserting ‘‘, selected in 
order of merit as determined by can-
didate composite score rank’’ before 
the period at the end; 
(iv) in paragraph (4)—
355 
(I) by striking ‘‘20’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘up to 20 qualified candidates’’; 
and 
(II) by inserting ‘‘, selected in 
order of merit as determined by can-
didate composite score rank’’ before 
the period at the end; and 
(v) by striking paragraph (5); 
(E) in subsection (f), as redesignated by 
subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘subsection (b)’’ 
and inserting ‘‘subsection (c)’’; 
(F) in subsection (h), as so redesignated— 
(i) by striking ‘‘subsection (b)’’ each 
place it appears and inserting ‘‘subsection 
(c)’’; and 
(ii) in paragraph (4), by striking 
‘‘subsection (e)’’ and inserting ‘‘subsection 
(f)’’; and 
(G) by adding at the end the following new 
subsections: 
‘‘(l) Qualifications of candidates for admission shall 
be determined by use of, among other metrics, a candidate 
composite score uniformly calculated for each applicant. 
The academic component of such composite score shall be 
weighted at not less than 60 percent of the overall com-
356 
posite score and shall include the candidate’s standardized 
test scores, which shall be weighted at not less than 45 
percent of the overall composite score. The total of all sub-
jective components, if any, of the composite score shall be 
weighted at not more than 10 percent of the overall com-
posite score. Any subjectively based adjustment of the can-
didate composite score shall be limited to not more than 
10 percent of the score before such adjustment. Can-
didates’ composite scores, only, shall be used to determine 
order of merit. 
‘‘(m) Not later than October 1 of each year, the Sec-
retary of the Army shall submit to the Committees on 
Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Represent-
atives a report, including— 
‘‘(1) with respect to the preceding admissions 
cycle— 
‘‘(A) the established minimum candidate 
composite score and college entrance examina-
tion rank (CEER) score used in such cycle; and 
‘‘(B) the total number of waivers of such 
minimum candidate composite score or CEER 
score, including the candidate composite score 
and CEER score of each cadet to whom a waiv-
er relates, a brief explanation of the reasons for 
such waiver, and the category of appointment
357 
under which each such cadet was appointed 
(and if congressional, the type of slate that 
nominated the waived appointee); and 
‘‘(2) for each cadet who, during the four-year 
period preceding the date of the report, received a 
waiver for the established minimum candidate com-
posite score or CEER score, the status of each such 
cadet, including whether the cadet is still at the 
Academy, the circumstances of such cadet’s depar-
ture (if applicable), the cumulative academic GPA, 
cumulative military GPA, any major conduct or 
honor violations, any remedial measures undertaken, 
and any other noteworthy information concerning 
such cadet.’’. 
(2) ADDITIONAL APPOINTEES.—Section 7443 of 
title 10, United States Code, is amended— 
(A) in the section heading, by striking 
‘‘appointment’’ and inserting ‘‘additional 
appointments’’; 
(B) in the first sentence— 
(i) by inserting ‘‘(a)’’ before ‘‘If it is 
determined’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘ who competed for 
nomination’’ and inserting ‘‘who were eligi-
358 
ble and competed unsuccessfully for nomi-
nation under any other provision of law’’; 
(C) in the second sentence— 
(i) by striking ‘‘(8)’’ and inserting 
‘‘(10)’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘holding competitive 
nominations’’ and inserting ‘‘who were eli-
gible and competed unsuccessfully for nom-
ination’’; and 
(D) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘All provisions relating to candidate composite 
score in section 7442 of this title shall apply to 
calculation and use of candidate composite 
score as that term is used in this section. 
‘‘(b) Not later than October 1 of each year, the Sec-
retary of the Army shall submit to the congressional de-
fense committees a report that includes, with respect to 
the preceding admissions cycle— 
‘‘(1) the candidate composite scores and college 
entrance examination rank (CEER) scores of the ten 
candidates appointed under this section and under 
section 7442(e) of this title who had the lowest can-
didate composite scores;
359 
‘‘(2) the total number of qualified and nomi-
nated (by any source), but not selected, candidates; 
and 
‘‘(3) the candidate composite scores and CEER 
scores of the ten qualified and nominated candidates 
having the highest candidate composite scores and 
who were not selected for appointment.’’. 
(b) UNITED STATES NAVAL ACADEMY.— 
(1) APPOINTMENTS.—Section 8454 of title 10, 
United States Code, is amended— 
(A) in subsection (a)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘subsection (h)’’ and 
inserting ‘‘subsection (i)’’; 
(ii) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘as 
established by competitive examination’’ 
and inserting ‘‘as determined by candidate 
composite score rank’’; and 
(iii) in the matter following paragraph 
(10)— 
(I) in the second sentence— 
(aa) by inserting ‘‘(in which 
event selection shall be in order 
of merit as determined by can-
didate composite score rank)’’
360 
after ‘‘may be submitted without 
ranking’’; and 
(bb) by striking ‘‘9 ranked’’ 
and inserting ‘‘14 ranked’’; 
(II) by inserting after the second 
sentence the following ‘‘If alternates 
are submitted unranked, any selection 
from among such unranked alternates 
shall be in order of merit as deter-
mined by candidate composite score 
rank.’’; and 
(III) by striking ‘‘shall be consid-
ered qualified alternates for the pur-
pose of selection under other provi-
sions of this chapter’’ and inserting 
‘‘shall be eligible and considered for 
selection under other provisions of 
this chapter, including as qualified al-
ternates and additional appointees’’; 
(B) 
by 
redesignating 
subsections 
(b) 
through (h) as subsections (c) through (i), re-
spectively; 
(C) by inserting after subsection (a) the 
following new subsection:
361 
‘‘(b) There shall be appointed each year at the Acad-
emy 300 qualified alternates selected in order of merit as 
determined by candidate composite score rank by the Sec-
retary of the Navy from qualified candidates nominated 
pursuant to paragraphs (3) through (10) of subsection (a) 
and all other qualified, non-selected candidates holding 
nominations from any other source pursuant to this chap-
ter.’’; 
(D) in subsection (c), as redesignated by 
subparagraph (B)— 
(i) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘one 
hundred selected by the President’’ and in-
serting ‘‘up to one hundred qualified can-
didates selected by the President in order 
of merit as determined by candidate com-
posite score rank’’; 
(ii) in paragraph (2)— 
(I) by striking ‘‘85’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘up to 85 qualified candidates’’; 
and 
(II) by inserting ‘‘, selected in 
order of merit as determined by can-
didate composite score rank’’ before 
the period at the end; 
(iii) in paragraph (3)—
362 
(I) by striking ‘‘85’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘up to 85 qualified candidates’’; 
and 
(II) by inserting ‘‘, selected in 
order of merit as determined by can-
didate composite score rank’’ before 
the period at the end; 
(iv) in paragraph (4)— 
(I) by striking ‘‘20’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘up to 20 qualified candidates’’; 
and 
(II) by inserting ‘‘, selected in 
order of merit as determined by can-
didate composite score rank’’ before 
the period at the end; and 
(v) by striking paragraph (5); 
(E) in subsection (f), as redesignated by 
subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘subsection (b)’’ 
both places it appears and inserting ‘‘subsection 
(c)’’; and 
(F) by adding at the end the following new 
subsections: 
‘‘(j) Qualifications of candidates for admission shall 
be determined by use of, among other metrics, a candidate 
composite score uniformly calculated for each applicant.
363 
The academic component of such composite score shall be 
weighted at not less than 60 percent of the overall com-
posite score and shall include the candidate’s standardized 
test scores, which shall be weighted at not less than 45 
percent of the overall composite score. The total of all sub-
jective components, if any, of the composite score shall be 
weighted at not more than 10 percent of the overall com-
posite score. Any subjectively based adjustment of the can-
didate composite score shall be limited to not more than 
10 percent of the score before such adjustment. Can-
didates’ composite scores, only, shall be used to determine 
order of merit. 
‘‘(k) Not later than October 1 of each year, the Sec-
retary of the Navy shall submit to the Committees on 
Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Represent-
atives a report, including— 
‘‘(1) with respect to the preceding admissions 
cycle— 
‘‘(A) the established minimum candidate 
composite score and college entrance examina-
tion rank (CEER) score used in such cycle; and 
‘‘(B) the total number of waivers of such 
minimum candidate composite score or CEER 
score, including the candidate composite score 
and CEER score of each midshipman to whom
364 
a waiver relates, a brief explanation of the rea-
sons for such waiver, and the category of ap-
pointment under which each such midshipman 
was appointed (and if congressional, the type of 
slate that nominated the waived appointee); and 
‘‘(2) for each midshipman who, during the four- 
year period preceding the date of the report, received 
a waiver for the established minimum candidate 
composite score or CEER score, the status of each 
such midshipman, including whether the mid-
shipman is still at the Academy, the circumstances 
of such midshipman’s departure (if applicable), the 
cumulative academic GPA, cumulative military GPA, 
any major conduct or honor violations, any remedial 
measures undertaken, and any other noteworthy in-
formation concerning such midshipman.’’. 
(2) ADDITIONAL APPOINTEES.—Section 8456 of 
title 10, United States Code, is amended— 
(A) in the section heading, by inserting ‘‘, 
additional appointments’’ after ‘‘Mid-
shipmen’’; and 
(B) in subsection (b)— 
(i) in the first sentence, by striking 
‘‘who competed for nomination’’ and in-
serting ‘‘who were eligible and competed
365 
unsuccessfully for nomination under any 
other provision of law’’; 
(ii) in the second sentence— 
(I) by striking ‘‘(8)’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘(10)’’; and 
(II) by striking ‘‘who competed 
for appointment’’ and inserting ‘‘who 
were eligible and competed unsuccess-
fully for nomination’’; and 
(iii) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: ‘‘All provisions relating to can-
didate composite score in section 8454 of 
this title shall apply to calculation and use 
of candidate composite score as that term 
is used in this section. 
‘‘(d) Not later than October 1 of each year, the Sec-
retary of the Navy shall submit to the congressional de-
fense committees a report that includes, with respect to 
the preceding admissions cycle— 
‘‘(1) the candidate composite scores and college 
entrance examination rank (CEER) scores of the ten 
candidates appointed under this section and under 
section 8454(e) of this title who had the lowest can-
didate composite scores;
366 
‘‘(2) the total number of qualified and nomi-
nated (by any source), but not selected, candidates; 
and 
‘‘(3) the candidate composite scores and CEER 
scores of the ten qualified and nominated candidates 
having the highest candidate composite scores and 
who were not selected for appointment.’’. 
(c) UNITED STATES AIR FORCE ACADEMY.— 
(1) APPOINTMENTS.—Section 9442 of title 10, 
United States Code, is amended— 
(A) in subsection (a)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘subsection (j)’’ and in-
serting ‘‘subsection (k)’’; 
(ii) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘as 
established by competitive examination’’ 
and inserting ‘‘as determined by candidate 
composite score rank’’; and 
(iii) in the matter following paragraph 
(10)— 
(I) in the second sentence— 
(aa) by inserting ‘‘(in which 
event selection shall be in order 
of merit as determined by can-
didate composite score rank)’’
367 
after ‘‘may be submitted without 
ranking’’; and 
(bb) by striking ‘‘9 ranked’’ 
and inserting ‘‘14 ranked’’; 
(II) by inserting after the second 
sentence the following ‘‘If alternates 
are submitted unranked, any selection 
from among such unranked alternates 
shall be in order of merit as deter-
mined by candidate composite score 
rank.’’; and 
(III) by striking ‘‘shall be consid-
ered qualified alternates for the pur-
pose of selection under other provi-
sions of this chapter’’ and inserting 
‘‘shall be eligible and considered for 
selection under other provisions of 
this chapter, including as qualified al-
ternates and additional appointees’’; 
(B) 
by 
redesignating 
subsections 
(b) 
through (j) as subsections (c) through (k), re-
spectively; 
(C) by inserting after subsection (a) the 
following new subsection:
368 
‘‘(b) There shall be appointed each year at the Acad-
emy 300 qualified alternates selected in order of merit as 
determined by candidate composite score rank by the Sec-
retary of the Air Force from qualified candidates nomi-
nated pursuant to paragraphs (3) through (10) of sub-
section (a) and all other qualified, non-selected candidates 
holding nominations from any other source pursuant to 
this chapter.’’; 
(D) in subsection (c), as redesignated by 
subparagraph (B)— 
(i) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘one 
hundred selected by the President’’ and in-
serting ‘‘up to one hundred qualified can-
didates selected by the President in order 
of merit as determined by candidate com-
posite score rank’’; 
(ii) in paragraph (2)— 
(I) by striking ‘‘85’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘up to 85 qualified candidates’’; 
and 
(II) by inserting ‘‘, selected in 
order of merit as determined by can-
didate composite score rank’’ before 
the period at the end; 
(iii) in paragraph (3)—
369 
(I) by striking ‘‘85’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘up to 85 qualified candidates’’; 
and 
(II) by inserting ‘‘, selected in 
order of merit as determined by can-
didate composite score rank’’ before 
the period at the end; 
(iv) in paragraph (4)— 
(I) by striking ‘‘20’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘up to 20 qualified candidates’’; 
and 
(II) by inserting ‘‘, selected in 
order of merit as determined by can-
didate composite score rank’’ before 
the period at the end; and 
(v) by striking paragraph (5); 
(E) in subsection (f), as redesignated by 
subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘subsection (b)’’ 
and inserting ‘‘subsection (c)’’; 
(F) in subsection (h), as so redesignated— 
(i) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘sub-
section (b)’’ each place it appears and in-
serting ‘‘subsection (c)’’; 
(ii) in paragraph (3)—
370 
(I) 
by 
striking 
‘‘subsection 
(b)(5)’’ and insert ‘‘subsection (b)’’; 
(II) 
in 
subparagraphs 
(A) 
through (C), by striking ‘‘subsection 
(b)’’ each place it appears and insert-
ing ‘‘subsection (c)’’; and 
(iii) in paragraph (4), by striking 
‘‘subsection (e)’’ and inserting ‘‘subsection 
(f)’’; and 
(G) by adding at the end the following new 
subsections: 
‘‘(l) Qualifications of candidates for admission shall 
be determined by use of, among other metrics, a candidate 
composite score uniformly calculated for each applicant. 
The academic component of such composite score shall be 
weighted at not less than 60 percent of the overall com-
posite score and shall include the candidate’s standardized 
test scores, which shall be weighted at not less than 45 
percent of the overall composite score. The total of all sub-
jective components, if any, of the composite score shall be 
weighted at not more than 10 percent of the overall com-
posite score. Any subjectively based adjustment of the can-
didate composite score shall be limited to not more than 
10 percent of the score before such adjustment. Can-
371 
didates’ composite scores, only, shall be used to determine 
order of merit. 
‘‘(m) Not later than October 1 of each year, the Sec-
retary of the Air Force shall submit to the Committees 
on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Rep-
resentatives a report, including— 
‘‘(1) with respect to the preceding admissions 
cycle— 
‘‘(A) the established minimum candidate 
composite score and college entrance examina-
tion rank (CEER) score used in such cycle; and 
‘‘(B) the total number of waivers of such 
minimum candidate composite score or CEER 
score, including the candidate composite score 
and CEER score of each cadet to whom a waiv-
er relates, a brief explanation of the reasons for 
such waiver, and the category of appointment 
under which each such cadet was appointed 
(and if congressional, the type of slate that 
nominated the waived appointee); and 
‘‘(2) for each cadet who, during the four-year 
period preceding the date of the report, received a 
waiver for the established minimum candidate com-
posite score or CEER score, the status of each such 
cadet, including whether the cadet is still at the
372 
Academy, the circumstances of such cadet’s depar-
ture (if applicable), the cumulative academic GPA, 
cumulative military GPA, any major conduct or 
honor violations, any remedial measures undertaken, 
and any other noteworthy information concerning 
such cadet.’’. 
(2) ADDITIONAL APPOINTEES.—Section 9443 of 
title 10, United States Code, is amended— 
(A) in the section heading, by striking 
‘‘appointment’’ and inserting ‘‘additional 
appointments’’; 
(B) in the first sentence— 
(i) by inserting ‘‘(a)’’ before ‘‘If it is 
determined’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘who competed for 
nomination’’ and inserting ‘‘who were eligi-
ble and competed unsuccessfully for nomi-
nation under any other provision of law’’; 
(C) in the second sentence— 
(i) by striking ‘‘(8)’’ and inserting 
‘‘(10)’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘holding competitive 
nominations’’ and inserting ‘‘who were eli-
gible and competed unsuccessfully for nom-
ination’’; and
373 
(D) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘All provisions relating to candidate composite 
score in section 9442 of this title shall apply to 
calculation and use of candidate composite 
score as that term is used in this section. 
‘‘(b) Not later than October 1 of each year, the Sec-
retary of the Air Force shall submit to the congressional 
defense committees a report that includes, with respect to 
the preceding admissions cycle— 
‘‘(1) the candidate composite scores and college 
entrance examination rank (CEER) scores of the ten 
candidates appointed under this section and under 
section 9442(e) of this title who had the lowest can-
didate composite scores; 
‘‘(2) the total number of qualified and nomi-
nated (by any source), but not selected, candidates; 
and 
‘‘(3) the candidate composite scores and CEER 
scores of the ten qualified and nominated candidates 
having the highest candidate composite scores and 
who were not selected for appointment.’’. 
SEC. 545. MODIFICATIONS TO ALTERNATIVE OBLIGATION 
FOR CADETS AND MIDSHIPMEN. 
(a) UNITED STATES MILITARY ACADEMY.—Section 
7448(b)(4) of title 10, United States Code, is amended
374 
in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) by striking 
‘‘three’’ and inserting ‘‘five’’. 
(b) UNITED STATES NAVAL ACADEMY.—Section 
8459(b)(4) of title 10, United States Code, is amended 
in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) by striking 
‘‘three’’ and inserting ‘‘five’’. 
(c) UNITED STATES AIR FORCE ACADEMY.—Section 
9448(b)(4) of title 10, United States Code, is amended 
in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) by striking 
‘‘three’’ and inserting ‘‘five’’. 
SEC. 546. MODIFICATION TO THE DESIGNATION OF MEM-
BERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
TO THE BOARDS OF VISITORS OF SERVICE 
ACADEMIES. 
(a) UNITED STATES MILITARY ACADEMY.—Section 
7455(a)(8) of title 10, United States Code, is amended 
by striking ‘‘one other member’’ and inserting ‘‘two other 
members’’. 
(b) UNITED STATES NAVAL ACADEMY.—Section 
8468(a)(8) of title 10, United States Code, is amended 
by striking ‘‘one other member’’ and inserting ‘‘two other 
members’’. 
(c) UNITED STATES AIR FORCE ACADEMY.—Section 
9455(a)(8) of title 10, United States Code, is amended
375 
by striking ‘‘one other member’’ and inserting ‘‘two other 
members’’. 
SEC. 547. DETAIL OF MEMBERS OF THE SPACE FORCE AS 
INSTRUCTORS AT AIR FORCE INSTITUTE OF 
TECHNOLOGY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 9414 of title 10, United 
States Code, is amended— 
(1) by striking the heading and inserting the 
following new heading: 
‘‘§ 9414. United States Air Force Institute of Tech-
nology: degree granting authority; fac-
ulty, reimbursement and tuition; accept-
ance of research grants’’; 
(2) by redesignating subsections (e) and (f) as 
subsections (f) and (g), respectively; and 
(3) by inserting after subsection (d) the fol-
lowing new subsection: 
‘‘(e) SPACE FORCE FACULTY.—(1) The Secretary 
shall detail members of the Space Force as instructors at 
the United States Air Force Institute of Technology to 
provide instruction in areas that support the mission of 
the Space Force. 
‘‘(2) The number of members of the Space Force de-
tailed by the Secretary to the United States Air Force In-
376 
stitute of Technology as instructors during an academic 
year shall be equal to or greater than the product of— 
‘‘(A) the total number of members of the Space 
Force divided by the total number of members of the 
Space Force and the Air Force; and 
‘‘(B) the total number of instructors at the 
United States Air Force Institute of Technology.’’. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than two years after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Air 
Force shall submit to the congressional defense commit-
tees a report on the implementation of subsection (e) of 
section 9414 of title 10, United States Code, as added by 
subsection (a) of this section, including— 
(1) an identification of the number, academic 
specialties, and courses of instruction of the mem-
bers of the Space Force detailed as instructors at 
the United States Air Force Institute of Technology; 
and 
(2) an assessment of the contributions of those 
instructors to Space Force objectives.
377 
SEC. 548. REPEAL OF ANNUAL CERTIFICATIONS RELATED 
TO THE READY, RELEVANT LEARNING INITIA-
TIVE OF THE NAVY. 
Section 545 of the National Defense Authorization 
Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (Public Law 115–91; 10 U.S.C. 
8431 note prec.) is repealed. 
SEC. 549. PILOT PROGRAM FOR GENERATIVE ARTIFICIAL 
INTELLIGENCE AND SPATIAL COMPUTING 
FOR PERFORMANCE TRAINING AND PRO-
FICIENCY ASSESSMENT. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 90 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
the Navy shall develop and implement pilot program to 
optimize the use of generative artificial intelligence and 
spatial computing for immersive training and assessment. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The pilot program required by sub-
section (a) shall include— 
(1) the development of content with respect to 
not less than 5 occupational specialties; and 
(2) methods to assess the feasibility and effec-
tiveness of the use of generative artificial intelligence 
and spatial computing training methods in compari-
son to other training methods, particularly with re-
spect to cost and time required to achieve training 
goals.
378 
(c) TERMINATION.—The pilot program required by 
subsection (a) shall terminate on the date that is one year 
after the date of the establishment of the program. 
(d) REPORT.—Not later than 90 days after the termi-
nation of the pilot program required by subsection (a), the 
Secretary of the Navy shall submit to the congressional 
defense committees a report describing the results of the 
pilot program, including an analysis of the effectiveness 
of the use of generative artificial intelligence and spatial 
computing for training and a description of any cost sav-
ings and savings in time required to achieve training goals. 
SEC. 549A. PROHIBITION ON USE OF FEDERAL FUNDS TO 
ENDORSE CRITICAL RACE THEORY. 
(a) PROHIBITION.—No funds authorized to be appro-
priated by this Act may be used to endorse critical race 
theory— 
(1) at an academic institution operated by the 
Department of Defense; 
(2) in training provided to a member of the 
Armed Forces; or 
(3) in professional military education. 
(b) PROTECTION OF ACADEMIC FREEDOM.—Nothing 
in this section shall be construed to supersede the institu-
tional autonomy or academic freedom of instructors in-
volved in the selection of textbooks, supplemental mate-
379 
rials, or other classroom materials, or in the preparation 
or presentation of classroom instruction or lectures. 
(c) CRITICAL RACE THEORY DEFINED.—In this sec-
tion, the term ‘‘critical race theory’’ means the theory that 
individuals, by virtue of race, ethnicity, color, or national 
origin, bear collective guilt and are inherently responsible 
for actions committed in the past by other individuals of 
such race, ethnicity, color, or national origin. 
SEC. 549B. PROHIBITION ON THE REDUCTION OF FUNDING 
FOR FOREIGN LANGUAGE TRAINING FOR 
MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES. 
(a) PROHIBITION.—None of the funds authorized to 
be appropriated by this Act or otherwise made available 
for fiscal year 2026 may be obligated or expended by the 
Department of Defense to terminate, replace, reduce, or 
prepare to terminate, replace, or reduce a program of for-
eign language training or instruction until the Secretary 
of Defense submits to the congressional defense commit-
tees a report on the planned termination, replacement, or 
reduction, including— 
(1) an identification of the programs the Sec-
retary is seeking to terminate, replace, or reduce; 
(2) the intent, scope, and impact of any funding 
reductions to foreign language training or instruc-
380 
tion in relation to the national security interests of 
the United States; 
(3) the impact of the termination, replacement, 
or reduction of the program on existing military lin-
guists and Foreign Area Officers; and 
(4) a certification that any termination, replace-
ment, or reduction will not negatively impact the op-
erations and mission of the Defense Language Insti-
tute Foreign Language Center. 
(b) PROGRAMS INCLUDED.—For purposes of sub-
section (a), a program of foreign language training or in-
struction includes— 
(1) institutional language training programs 
conducted by the Defense Language Institute For-
eign Language Center; 
(2) unit-level or operational foreign language 
instruction and sustainment training; 
(3) immersive or in-country language training 
programs; 
(4) associated curriculum development, instruc-
tional staffing, and digital language training sup-
port; and 
(5) any other program or activity of the De-
partment of Defense that provides foreign language
381 
training or instruction to members of the Armed 
Forces. 
SEC. 549C. LIMITATION ON AUTHORITY TO REORGANIZE 
THE SENIOR RESERVE OFFICERS’ TRAINING 
CORPS OF THE ARMY. 
(a) LIMITATION.—The Secretary of the Army may 
not reorganize a unit of the program of the Army until 
90 days after the Secretary, acting through the Army 
Cadet Command, submits to the Committees on Armed 
Services of the Senate and House of Representatives a 
briefing. Elements of such a briefing shall specify the fol-
lowing, with regards to such proposed reorganization: 
(1) Each position to be eliminated. 
(2) A risk analysis regarding Army officer ac-
cessions that justifies such reorganization. 
(3) Potential cost savings or expenses to the 
United States. 
(4) The number of members of the program af-
fected by the reorganization, including travel re-
quired travel. 
(5) Any change to a scholarship awarded under 
section 2107 or 2107a of title 10, United States 
Code. 
(b) DEFINITIONS.—In this section:
382 
(1) The terms ‘‘program’’ and ‘‘member of the 
program’’ have the meanings given such terms in 
section 2101 of title 10, United States Code. 
(2) The term ‘‘reorganize’’, with respect to a 
unit of the program, includes closing, restructuring, 
reclassifying, merging, or realigning. 
SEC. 549D. REPORT ON INTEROPERABILITY OF CYBER 
TRAINING OF THE ARMED FORCES. 
Not later than one year after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit 
to the congressional defense committees a report on the 
interoperability of the cyber training programs of the 
Armed Forces. Such report shall include— 
(1) the extent to which each of the Armed 
Forces use a standardized, common core curriculum 
for training members of such Armed Force; and 
(2) the recommendation of the Secretary as to 
whether establishment of a Department of Defense 
cyber academy to provide common training to all of 
the Armed Forces would improve the cyber pre-
paredness of the United States.
383 
SEC. 549E. MODIFICATION TO MAXIMUM YEARS OF SERV-
ICE FOR ELIGIBILITY DETAIL AS A STUDENT 
AT A LAW SCHOOL. 
(a) MODIFICATION.—Section 2004(b)(1) of title 10, 
United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (A)— 
(A) in the matter preceding clause (i), by 
striking 
‘‘detailed 
pursuant 
to 
subsection 
(a)(1)’’ and inserting ‘‘with respect to whom 
the Secretary of a military department is pro-
viding funding for educational expenses in ac-
cordance with subsection (a)(2)’’; and 
(B) in clause (ii), by striking ‘‘eight years’’ 
and inserting ‘‘10 years’’; and 
(2) in subparagraph (B) in the matter pre-
ceding clause (i), by striking ‘‘detailed pursuant to 
subsection (a)(2)’’ and inserting ‘‘with respect to 
whom the Secretary of a military department is not 
providing funding for educational expenses in ac-
cordance with subsection (a)(3)’’. 
(b) TECHNICAL AMENDMENT.— 
(1) CORRECTION
TO
AMENDMENT.—Section 
552(a)(2)(B) of the Servicemember Quality of Life 
Improvement and National Defense Authorization 
Act for Fiscal Year 2025 (Public Law 118-159; 138 
Stat. 1894) is amended to read as follows:
384 
‘‘(B) in paragraph (3)(C), by striking ‘pe-
riod of two years for each year or part thereof 
of his legal training under subsection (a).’ and 
inserting the following: ‘period of— 
‘‘ ‘(i) two years for each year or part 
thereof of legal training under subsection 
(a)(2); or 
‘‘ ‘(ii) one year for each year or part 
thereof of legal training under subsection 
(a)(3).’.’’. 
(2) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made 
by paragraph (1) shall take effect as if included in 
the enactment of the Servicemember Quality of Life 
Improvement and National Defense Authorization 
Act for Fiscal Year 2025 (Public Law 118-159). 
SEC. 549F. DIRECTOR OF ADMISSIONS OF THE UNITED 
STATES NAVAL ACADEMY. 
Chapter 853 of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended by inserting after section 8451a the following 
new section: 
‘‘§ 8451b. Director of admissions 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT AND APPOINTMENT.—There is 
a director of admissions of the Naval Academy. The direc-
tor of admissions shall be appointed by the President, by 
and with the advice and consent of the Senate, and shall
385 
perform such duties as the Superintendent of the Naval 
Academy may prescribe with the approval of the Secretary 
of the Navy. 
‘‘(b) GRADE.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), a person 
appointed as director of admissions of the Naval Academy 
has the regular grade of commander in the Navy or lieu-
tenant colonel in the Marine Corps. 
‘‘(2) A person serving as director of admissions shall 
have the regular grade of captain in the Navy or colonel 
in the Marine Corps upon the earlier of— 
‘‘(A) the date on which such person completes 
six years of service as the director of admissions; 
and 
‘‘(B) the date on which such person would have 
been promoted had the person been selected for pro-
motion from among officers in the promotion zone. 
‘‘(c) DETAIL.—The President may detail any officer 
of the Navy or the Marine Corps in a grade above lieuten-
ant or captain, respectively, to perform the duties of direc-
tor of admissions without appointing the officer as director 
of admissions. Such a detail does not affect the position 
of the officer on the active-duty list.’’.
386 
SEC. 549G. REPORT ON AIR NATIONAL GUARD C-130J FOR-
MAL TRAINING UNIT. 
No later than 180 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretary of the Air Force, in con-
sultation with the Chief of the National Guard Bureau, 
shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the 
House of Representatives and Senate a written report re-
garding the Air National Guard C-130J Formal Training 
Unit. Elements of such report shall include the following: 
(1) The determination and reasoning of the 
Secretary whether such unit is adequate for the Air 
National Guard pilot and loadmaster throughputs. 
(2) The determination of the Secretary whether 
there is a backlog of C-130J pilots and loadmasters 
in the Air Force and Air National Guard. 
(3) How many pilots and loadmasters are 
trained through such unit each year. 
(4) The determination of the Secretary whether 
the plan for training through such unit for fiscal 
years 2027 through 2030 is adequate for the Air 
National Guard recapitalization to C-130Js. 
SEC. 549H. ACCREDITATION OF NATIONAL GUARD MARKS-
MANSHIP TRAINING CENTER. 
(a) ACCREDITATION.—The Secretary of the Army 
shall accredit the National Guard Marksmanship Training 
Center (hereinafter, ‘‘NGMTC’’), located at Robinson Ma-
387 
neuver Training Center, Arkansas, as a U.S. Army Train-
ing and Doctrine Command institution. 
(b) VALIDATION.—Upon accreditation, the Secretary 
shall designate the Small Arms Weapons Expert and 
Squad Designated Marksman programs of instruction 
taught at NGMTC as Training Operations Management 
Activity validated, National Guard-centric courses. 
(c) ADDITIONAL SKILL IDENTIFIER.—The Secretary 
shall award the Master Marksman Training additional 
skill identifier to members of the Army National Guard 
who successfully complete both programs specified in sub-
section (b). 
(d) INTEGRATION
WITH
PROGRAM
OBJECTIVE 
MEMORANDUM .—The Secretary shall— 
(1) integrate such programs into the Army Pro-
gram Objective Memorandum; and 
(2) consider establishing a Modified Table of 
Organization and Equipment requirement associated 
with the additional skill identifier described in sub-
section (c) to ensure enduring demand and 
sustainment. 
(e) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this sec-
tion shall be construed to transfer operational control, ad-
ministrative authority, or ownership of the facility of the 
National Guard Marksmanship Training Center from the
388 
Arkansas National Guard to the Department of Defense, 
the Department of the Army, or the National Guard Bu-
reau. 
SEC. 549I. REQUIREMENTS WITH RESPECT TO MOTOR-
CYCLE SAFETY TRAINING. 
The Secretaries of the military departments shall en-
sure that all beginner motorcycle safety training provided 
to members of the Armed Forces meets the motorcycle 
safety training requirements for licensing of the State in 
which the permanent station of the member receiving the 
training is located. 
SEC. 549J. PILOT PROGRAM ON PSYCHOLOGICAL PER-
FORMANCE 
TRAINING 
AT 
THE 
UNITED 
STATES AIR FORCE ACADEMY. 
(a) PILOT PROGRAM REQUIRED.—The Secretary of 
Defense, acting through the Superintendent of the United 
States Air Force Academy, shall establish a pilot program 
to integrate psychological performance training into the 
curriculum and cadet development model at the United 
States Air Force Academy. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The pilot program established pur-
suant to subsection (a) shall include— 
(1) training for cadets, faculty, Commanders, 
and Academy Military Trainers in scientifically re-
searched and evidence-based psychological perform-
389 
ance skills focused on development of a high-per-
formance mindset to increase readiness, warfighter 
lethality, and leadership under stress; 
(2) the use of cognitive training tools and re-
sources, including technologies and structured skill- 
building workshops, to improve resilience, focus, de-
cision-making, and recovery under pressure; 
(3) a leadership development component equip-
ping faculty, Commanders, and Academy Military 
Trainers to mentor cadets in psychological perform-
ance skills across the course of the cadet experience; 
and 
(4) collection and analysis of data on training 
effectiveness using established cadet performance 
and attrition measures. 
(c) METRICS.—The Secretary shall ensure the pilot 
program established pursuant to subsection (a) includes 
evaluation of the following metrics: 
(1) Attrition rates during Basic Cadet Train-
ing, the fourth class (freshman) year, and the third 
class (sophomore) year. 
(2) Cadet testing and performance indicators, 
including graded review, grade point average, mili-
tary performance average, and physical fitness test-
ing.
390 
(3) Counseling center utilization rates, self-re-
ported stress and sleep quality metrics, and meas-
ures of cadet well-being. 
(4) Utilization and results of cognitive training 
tools, including data on attention, relaxation, and 
workload regulation. 
(d) TERMINATION.—The pilot program established 
pursuant to subsection (a) shall terminate on the date that 
is one year after the date of the establishment of such 
pilot program. 
(e) REPORT.—Not later than 60 days after the termi-
nation of the pilot program under subsection (d), the Sec-
retary shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services 
of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report 
that includes— 
(1) the evaluation of the metrics described in 
subsection (c); 
(2) an assessment of whether the pilot program 
reduced attrition and improved cadet performance 
and resilience; and 
(3) the recommendation of the Secretary as to 
whether the Department of Defense should establish 
a Department-wide program for psychological per-
formance training in accession programs.
391 
SEC. 549K. PROHIBITION OF PARTICIPATION BY MEN IN 
WOMEN’S SPORTS AT THE SERVICE ACAD-
EMIES. 
(a) PROHIBITION.—The Superintendent of a Service 
Academy may not allow a cadet or midshipman who is 
male to participate in an athletic program or activity at 
such Service Academy that is designated exclusively for 
cadets or midshipmen who are female. 
(b) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘female’’ refers to an individual 
who naturally has, had, will have, or would have, but 
for a developmental or genetic anomaly or historical 
accident, the reproductive system that at some point 
produces, transports, and uses eggs for fertilization. 
(2) The term ‘‘male’’ refers to an individual 
who naturally has, had, will have, or would have, but 
for a developmental or genetic anomaly or historical 
accident, the reproductive system that at some point 
produces, transports, and uses sperm for fertiliza-
tion. 
(3) The term ‘‘Service Academy’’ has the mean-
ing given such term in section 347 of title 10, 
United States Code.
392 
Subtitle F—Military Justice and 
Other Legal Matters 
SEC. 551. ENSURING THE AVAILABILITY OF LEGAL ADVICE 
TO COMMANDERS. 
Section 162(a) of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following new para-
graph: 
‘‘(5) In all cases, forces assigned to a combatant com-
mand or to the United States element of the North Amer-
ican Aerospace Defense Command under this subsection 
shall include qualified judge advocates in numbers suffi-
cient to provide legal advice to all commanders responsible 
for planning and organizing military operations and all 
commanders authorized to convene courts-martial under 
sections 822 through 824 of this title. The qualifications 
of judge advocates assigned under this paragraph shall in-
clude— 
‘‘(A) the qualifications set forth in section 827 
of this title; and 
‘‘(B) any additional education, expertise, or ex-
perience determined to be necessary to fulfill the re-
quirements of this paragraph by the Judge Advocate 
General of the armed force concerned, or in the case 
of the Marine Corps, by the Staff Judge Advocate 
to the Commandant of the Marine Corps.’’.
393 
SEC. 552. MODIFICATIONS TO OFFENSE OF WRONGFUL 
BROADCAST OR DISTRIBUTION OF INTIMATE 
VISUAL IMAGES UNDER THE UNIFORM CODE 
OF MILITARY JUSTICE. 
Section 917a of title 10, United States Code (article 
117a of the Uniform Code of Military Justice) is amended 
to read as follows: 
‘‘§ 917a. Art. 117a. Wrongful broadcast, distribution, 
or publication of intimate visual images 
‘‘(a) PROHIBITION.—Any person subject to this chap-
ter— 
‘‘(1) who knowingly broadcasts, distributes, or 
uses a communication service to publish an authen-
tic intimate visual depiction of an identifiable indi-
vidual who is not a minor if— 
‘‘(A) the intimate visual depiction was ob-
tained or created under circumstances in which 
the person knew or reasonably should have 
known the identifiable individual had a reason-
able expectation of privacy; 
‘‘(B) the authentic intimate visual depic-
tion was broadcast, distributed, or published 
without the consent of the identifiable indi-
vidual;
394 
‘‘(B) what is depicted was not voluntarily 
exposed by the identifiable individual in a public 
or commercial setting; 
‘‘(C) what is depicted is not a matter of 
public concern; and 
‘‘(D) the broadcast, distribution, or publi-
cation of the intimate visual depiction— 
‘‘(i) is intended to cause harm; or 
‘‘(ii) causes harm, including psycho-
logical, financial, or reputational harm, to 
the identifiable individual; 
‘‘(2) who knowingly broadcasts, distributes, or 
uses a communication service to publish an authen-
tic intimate visual depiction of an identifiable indi-
vidual who is a minor with intent to— 
‘‘(A) abuse, humiliate, harass, or degrade 
the minor; or 
‘‘(B) arouse or gratify the sexual desire of 
any person; 
‘‘(3) who knowingly broadcasts, distributes, or 
uses a communication service to publish a digital 
forgery of an identifiable individual who is not a 
minor if—
395 
‘‘(A) the digital forgery was broadcast, dis-
tributed, or published without the consent of 
the identifiable individual; 
‘‘(B) what is depicted was not voluntarily 
exposed by the identifiable individual in a public 
or commercial setting; 
‘‘(C) what is depicted is not a matter of 
public concern; and 
‘‘(D) the broadcast, distribution, or publi-
cation of the digital forgery— 
‘‘(i) is intended to cause harm; or 
‘‘(ii) causes harm, including psycho-
logical, financial, or reputational harm, to 
the identifiable individual; or 
‘‘(4) who knowingly broadcasts, distributes, or 
uses a communication service to publish a digital 
forgery of an identifiable individual who is a minor 
with intent to— 
‘‘(A) abuse, humiliate, harass, or degrade 
the minor; or 
‘‘(B) arouse or gratify the sexual desire of 
any person, 
is guilty of wrongful distribution of intimate visual images 
or visual images of sexually explicit conduct and shall be 
punished as a court-martial may direct.
396 
‘‘(b) EXCEPTIONS.—Subsection (a) shall not apply 
to— 
‘‘(1) a lawfully authorized investigative, protec-
tive, or intelligence activity of— 
‘‘(A) a law enforcement agency of the 
United States, a State, or a political subdivision 
of a State; or 
‘‘(B) an intelligence agency of the United 
States; 
‘‘(2) a disclosure made reasonably and in good 
faith— 
‘‘(A) to a law enforcement officer or agen-
cy; 
‘‘(B) as part of a document production or 
filing associated with a legal proceeding; 
‘‘(C) as part of medical education, diag-
nosis, or treatment or for a legitimate medical, 
scientific, or educational purpose; 
‘‘(D) in the reporting of unlawful content 
or unsolicited or unwelcome conduct or in pur-
suance of a legal, professional, or other lawful 
obligation; or 
‘‘(E) to seek support or help with respect 
to the receipt of an unsolicited intimate visual 
depiction;
397 
‘‘(3) a disclosure reasonably intended to assist 
the identifiable individual; or 
‘‘(4) a person who possesses or publishes an in-
timate visual depiction of himself or herself engaged 
in nudity or sexually explicit conduct. 
‘‘(c) CONSENT.—For the purposes of subsection 
(a)— 
‘‘(1) the fact that the depicted individual con-
sented to the creation of the intimate visual depic-
tion shall not establish that the person consented to 
its disclosure; and 
‘‘(2) the fact that the depicted individual dis-
closed the intimate visual depiction to another per-
son shall not establish that the depicted individual 
consented to the further disclosure of the intimate 
visual depiction. 
‘‘(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) CONSENT.—The term ‘consent’ means an 
affirmative, conscious, and voluntary authorization 
made by an individual free from force, fraud, duress, 
misrepresentation, or coercion. 
‘‘(2) DIGITAL FORGERY.—The term ‘digital for-
gery’ means any intimate visual depiction of an iden-
tifiable individual created through the use of soft-
ware, machine learning, artificial intelligence, or any
398 
other computer-generated or technological means, in-
cluding by adapting, modifying, manipulating, or al-
tering an authentic visual depiction, that, when 
viewed as a whole by a reasonable person, is indis-
tinguishable from an authentic visual depiction of 
the individual. 
‘‘(3) IDENTIFIABLE
INDIVIDUAL.—The term 
‘identifiable individual’ means an individual— 
‘‘(A) who appears in whole or in part in an 
intimate visual depiction; and 
‘‘(B) whose face, likeness, or other distin-
guishing characteristic (including a unique 
birthmark or other recognizable feature) is dis-
played in connection with such intimate visual 
depiction. 
‘‘(4) VISUAL DEPICTION.—The term ‘visual de-
piction’ includes undeveloped film and videotape, 
data stored on computer disk or by electronic means 
which is capable of conversion into a visual image, 
and data which is capable of conversion into a visual 
image that has been transmitted by any means, 
whether or not stored in a permanent format. 
‘‘(5) INTIMATE VISUAL DEPICTION.—The term 
‘intimate visual depiction’—
399 
‘‘(A) means a visual depiction that de-
picts— 
‘‘(i) the uncovered genitals, pubic 
area, anus, or female nipple of an identifi-
able individual; or 
‘‘(ii) the display or transfer of bodily 
sexual fluids— 
‘‘(I) on to any part of the body 
of an identifiable individual; 
‘‘(II) from the body of an identi-
fiable individual; or 
‘‘(iii) an identifiable individual engag-
ing in sexually explicit conduct; and 
‘‘(B) includes any visual depictions de-
scribed in subparagraph (A) produced while the 
identifiable individual was in a public place only 
if the individual did not— 
‘‘(i) voluntarily display the content de-
picted; or 
‘‘(ii) consent to the sexual conduct de-
picted. 
‘‘(6) SEXUALLY EXPLICIT CONDUCT.—The term 
‘sexually explicit conduct’ means actual or simu-
lated—
400 
‘‘(A) sexual intercourse, including genital- 
genital, oral-genital, anal-genital, or oral-anal, 
whether between persons of the same or oppo-
site sex; 
‘‘(B) bestiality; 
‘‘(C) masturbation; 
‘‘(D) sadistic or masochistic abuse; or 
‘‘(E) lascivious exhibition of the genitals or 
pubic area of any person. 
‘‘(7) MINOR.—The term ‘minor’ means any in-
dividual under the age of 18 years. 
‘‘(8) BROADCAST.—The term ‘broadcast’ means 
to electronically transmit a visual image with the in-
tent that it be viewed by a person or persons. 
‘‘(9) 
DISTRIBUTE.—The 
term 
‘distribute’ 
means to deliver to the actual or constructive posses-
sion of another person, including transmission by 
mail or electronic means. 
‘‘(10) COMMUNICATIONS
SERVICE.—The term 
‘communications service’ means— 
‘‘(A) a service provided by a person that is 
a common carrier; 
‘‘(B) an electronic communication service; 
‘‘(C) an information service; or 
‘‘(D) an interactive computer service.
401 
‘‘(11) COMMON CARRIER.—The term ‘common 
carrier’ means any person engaged as a common 
carrier for hire, in interstate or foreign communica-
tion by wire or radio or interstate or foreign radio 
transmission of energy, but a person engaged in 
radio broadcasting shall not, insofar as such person 
is so engaged, be deemed a common carrier. 
‘‘(12) ELECTRONIC
COMMUNICATION
SERV-
ICE.—The term ‘electronic communication service’ 
means any service which provides to users thereof 
the ability to send or receive wire or electronic com-
munications. 
‘‘(13) INFORMATION SERVICE.—The term ‘in-
formation service’ means the offering of a capability 
for generating, acquiring, storing, transforming, 
processing, retrieving, utilizing, or making available 
information via telecommunications, and includes 
electronic publishing, but does not include any use 
of any such capability for the management, control, 
or operation of a telecommunications system or the 
management of a telecommunications service. 
‘‘(14) INTERACTIVE COMPUTER SERVICE.—The 
term ‘interactive computer service’ means any infor-
mation service, system, or access software provider 
that provides or enables computer access by multiple
402 
users to a computer server, including specifically a 
service or system that provides access to the Inter-
net and such systems operated or services offered by 
libraries or educational institutions.’’. 
SEC. 553. PUNITIVE ARTICLE UNDER THE UNIFORM CODE 
OF MILITARY JUSTICE FOR OFFENSES RE-
LATING TO CHILD PORNOGRAPHY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 47 of title 10, United 
States Code (the Uniform Code of Military Justice) is 
amended by inserting after section 917a (article 117a) the 
following new section (article): 
‘‘§ 917b. Art. 117b. Child pornography 
‘‘(a) PROHIBITION.—Any person subject to this chap-
ter who knowingly and wrongfully— 
‘‘(1) possesses, receives, or views child pornog-
raphy; 
‘‘(2) possesses child pornography with the in-
tent to distribute; 
‘‘(3) distributes child pornography; or 
‘‘(4) produces child pornography, 
shall be punished as a court-martial may direct, subject 
to the applicable limits specified in subsection (b). 
‘‘(b) MAXIMUM PUNISHMENTS.— 
‘‘(1) The maximum punishment for the offense 
of possessing, receiving, or viewing child pornog-
403 
raphy under subsection (a)(1) shall be dishonorable 
discharge, forfeiture of all pay and allowances, and 
confinement for 10 years. 
‘‘(2) The maximum punishment for the offense 
of possessing child pornography with intent to dis-
tribute under subsection (a)(2) shall be dishonorable 
discharge, forfeiture of all pay and allowances, and 
confinement for 15 years. 
‘‘(3) The maximum punishment for the offense 
of distributing child pornography under subsection 
(a)(3) shall be dishonorable discharge, forfeiture of 
all pay and allowances, and confinement for 20 
years. 
‘‘(4) The maximum punishment for the offense 
of producing child pornography under subsection 
(a)(4) shall be dishonorable discharge, forfeiture of 
all pay and allowances, and confinement for 30 
years. 
‘‘(c) TREATMENT
OF PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE 
INFORMATION.—On motion of the Government, in any 
prosecution under this section, except for good cause 
shown, the name, address, social security number, or other 
nonphysical identifying information, other than the age or 
approximate age, of any minor who is depicted in any child 
pornography or visual depiction or copy thereof shall not
404 
be admissible and may be redacted from any otherwise ad-
missible evidence, and the panel shall be instructed, upon 
request of the Government, that it can draw no inference 
from the absence of such evidence. 
‘‘(d) DETERMINATION WRONGFULNESS.—Any facts 
or circumstances that show that a visual depiction of child 
pornography was unintentionally or inadvertently acquired 
are relevant to wrongfulness, including, the method by 
which the visual depiction was acquired, the length of time 
the visual depiction was maintained, and whether the vis-
ual depiction was promptly, and in good faith, destroyed 
or reported to law enforcement. 
‘‘(e) DETERMINATION
OF KNOWING.—An accused 
may not be convicted of an offense under subsection (a) 
if the accused was not aware that the visual depiction in-
volved was of a minor or what appeared to be a minor, 
engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Awareness may be 
inferred from circumstantial evidence such as the name 
of a computer file or folder, the name of the host website 
from which a visual depiction was viewed or received, 
search terms used, and the number of images possessed. 
‘‘(f) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) The term ‘child pornography’ means mate-
rial that contains either an obscene visual depiction 
of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct or
405 
a visual depiction of an actual minor engaging in 
sexually explicit conduct. 
‘‘(2) The term ‘distribute’ means to deliver to 
the actual or constructive possession of another. 
‘‘(3) The term ‘minor’ means any person under 
the age of 18 years. 
‘‘(4) The term ‘possess’ means to exercise con-
trol of something. Possession may be direct physical 
custody like holding an item in one’s hand, or it may 
be constructive, as in the case of a person who hides 
something in a locker or a car to which that person 
may return to retrieve it. Possession must be know-
ing and conscious. Possession inherently includes the 
power or authority to preclude control by others. It 
is possible for more than one person to possess an 
item simultaneously, as when several people share 
control over an item. 
‘‘(5) The term ‘produce’— 
‘‘(A) means to create or manufacture child 
pornography that did not previously exist; and 
‘‘(B) does not include reproducing or copy-
ing child pornography. 
‘‘(6) The term ‘sexually explicit conduct’ means 
actual or simulated—
406 
‘‘(A) sexual intercourse or sodomy, includ-
ing genital to genital, oral to genital, anal to 
genital, or oral to anal, whether between per-
sons of the same or opposite sex; 
‘‘(B) bestiality; 
‘‘(C) masturbation; 
‘‘(D) sadistic or masochistic abuse; or 
‘‘(E) lascivious exhibition of the genitals, 
anus, or pubic area of any person. 
‘‘(7) The term ‘visual depiction’ includes— 
‘‘(A) any developed or undeveloped photo-
graph, picture, film, or video; any digital or 
computer image, picture, film, or video made by 
any means, including those transmitted by any 
means including streaming media, even if not 
stored in a permanent format; or 
‘‘(B) any digital or electronic data capable 
of conversion into a visual image.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT TO DEFINITION OF 
COVERED OFFENSE.—Section 801(17)(A) of title 10, 
United States Code (article 1(17)(A) of the Uniform Code 
of Military Justice), is amended— 
(1) by inserting ‘‘section 917b (article 117b),’’ 
after ‘‘section 917a (article 117a),’’; and
407 
(2) by striking ‘‘the standalone offense of child 
pornography punishable under section 934 (article 
134),’’. 
SEC. 554. AUTHORIZATION OF DEATH PENALTY FOR OF-
FENSE OF RAPE OF A CHILD UNDER THE UNI-
FORM CODE OF MILITARY JUSTICE. 
Section 920b(a) of title 10, United States Code (arti-
cle 120b(a) of the Uniform Code of Military Justice), is 
amended by inserting ‘‘by death, or such other punish-
ment’’ after ‘‘shall be punished’’. 
SEC. 555. INCREASE IN MAXIMUM SENTENCE FOR THE OF-
FENSE 
OF 
VOLUNTARY 
MANSLAUGHTER 
UNDER THE UNIFORM CODE OF MILITARY 
JUSTICE. 
(a) REVIEW
AND RECOMMENDATION.—Not later 
than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, 
the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Joint 
Service Committee on Military Justice, shall review and 
recommend to the President an increase for the maximum 
sentence for voluntary manslaughter under section 919(a) 
of title 10, United States Code (article 119(a) of the Uni-
form Code of Military Justice). 
(b) IMPLEMENTATION.—Following receipt of the rec-
ommendation under subsection (a) but not later than one 
year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Presi-
408 
dent shall prescribe regulations updating the maximum 
sentence for voluntary manslaughter under section 919(a) 
of title 10, United States Code (article 119(a) of the 
Unform Code of Military Justice), in accordance with such 
recommendation. 
SEC. 556. ANALYSIS OF THE ADVISABILITY OF MODIFYING 
THE DEFINITION OF ABUSIVE SEXUAL CON-
TACT UNDER THE UNIFORM CODE OF MILI-
TARY JUSTICE. 
(a) ANALYSIS REQUIRED.—The Secretary of De-
fense, in coordination with the Joint Service Committee 
on Military Justice, shall analyze the advisability of modi-
fying the definition of abusive sexual contact under section 
920 of title 10, United States Code (article 120 of the 
Uniform Code of Military Justice), to address the full 
range of harmful behaviors associated with sexual assault 
and to prevent misapplication of the offense to acts that 
are not inherently abusive. 
(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 the House of Representatives a report detail-
ing the results of the analysis under subsection (a) and 
any associated recommendations.
409 
SEC. 557. REVISION TO SEXUAL ASSAULT PREVENTION AND 
RESPONSE TRAINING GUIDANCE. 
(a) REVISION REQUIREMENT.—Not later than 180 
days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Under 
Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, in co-
ordination with the Director of the Sexual Assault Preven-
tion and Response Office of the Department of Defense, 
shall revise sexual assault prevention and response train-
ing guidance to require that information on the resources 
of the Department of Veterans Affairs to address experi-
ences with unwanted sexual behavior be included in the 
annual or periodic sexual assault prevention and response 
training that is administered to all members of the Armed 
Forces. 
(b) IMPLEMENTATION OVERSIGHT.—The Secretary 
of Defense shall ensure that each Secretary of a military 
department— 
(1) incorporates the revised guidance under 
subsection (a) into the formal training curricula of 
the military department concerned; 
(2) provides documented confirmation to the 
Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Read-
iness that the revised training has been delivered to 
all currently serving members of the Armed Forces 
within one year of the approval of such revised guid-
ance; and
410 
(3) establishes a mechanism to verify continued 
compliance with the revised guidance. 
(c) REPORTING.—Not later than one year after the 
date on which the revised guidance is issued under sub-
section (a), the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the 
congressional defense committees a report that includes— 
(1) an assessment of the extent to which each 
military department has implemented the guidance; 
and 
(2) statistics on number of members of the 
Armed Forces trained under the revised guidance. 
(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘unwanted sexual behavior’’ 
means any sexual contact or interaction to which an 
individual does not or could not freely consent, in-
cluding harassment, coercion, assault, or abuse. 
(2) The term ‘‘sexual assault prevention and re-
sponse training’’ means any training, instruction, or 
education provided pursuant to Department of De-
fense Instruction 6495.02, Volume 2 or any suc-
cessor guidance.
411 
SEC. 558. REPORTS AND BRIEFINGS ON EFFORTS TO PRE-
VENT AND RESPOND TO SEXUAL ASSAULT, 
SEXUAL HARASSMENT, AND INTIMATE-PART-
NER VIOLENCE WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT 
OF DEFENSE. 
(a) QUARTERLY REPORTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, and on a 
quarterly basis thereafter, the Secretary of Defense, 
acting through the Executive Director of Force Re-
siliency, shall submit to the committees on Armed 
Services of the Senate and the House of Representa-
tives a report on the efforts of the Department of 
Defense to prevent and respond to sexual assault, 
sexual harassment, and intimate-partner violence. 
(2) ELEMENTS.—Each report under paragraph 
(1) shall include the following: 
(A) An overview of the efforts of the De-
partment of Defense to prevent and respond to 
sexual assault, sexual harassment, and intimate 
partner violence. 
(B) With respect to the period covered by 
the report, the most recently available data 
on— 
(i) reports of sexual assault; 
(ii) reports of sexual harassment;
412 
(iii) reports of intimate partner vio-
lence; 
(iv) staffing of the primary prevention 
workforce, including filled and unfilled po-
sitions disaggregated by the Army, Air 
Force, Navy, and Marine Corps; 
(v) staffing of the sexual assault and 
harassment response workforce, including 
filled and unfilled positions disaggregated 
by the Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marine 
Corps; 
(vi) staffing of the family advocacy 
program, including filled and unfilled posi-
tions disaggregated by the Army, Air 
Force, Navy, and Marine Corps; 
(vii) staffing of the offices of special 
trial counsel, including filled and unfilled 
positions disaggregated by the Army, Air 
Force, Navy, and Marine Corps; and 
(viii) staffing of the Army Criminal 
Investigation Division, Air Force Office of 
Special Investigations, and Naval Criminal 
Investigative Service, including filled and 
unfilled positions dedicated to covered of-
413 
fenses under the jurisdiction of special trial 
counsels. 
(b) SPECIAL TRIAL COUNSEL BRIEFINGS.—Not later 
than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, 
and on an annual basis thereafter, the lead special trial 
counsels of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps 
shall jointly provide to the Committees on Armed Services 
of the Senate and the House of Representatives a briefing 
on the progress of special trial counsels in prosecuting cov-
ered offenses. 
(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section, the terms ‘‘cov-
ered offense’’ and ‘‘special trial counsel’’ have the mean-
ings given those terms in section 801 of title 10, United 
States Code (article 1 of the Uniform Code of Military 
Justice). 
SEC. 559. STUDY AND RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING 
MISCONDUCT 
PREVENTION 
IN 
OKINAWA, 
JAPAN. 
(a) STUDY.—Not later than 90 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense 
shall seek to enter into a contract or other agreement with 
a federally funded research and development center pursu-
ant to which the center shall— 
(1) conduct a study to evaluate the effectiveness 
of programs, policies, and practices of the covered
414 
Armed Forces to prevent criminal activity and other 
misconduct by members stationed in Okinawa, 
Japan; and 
(2) develop evidence-based options and rec-
ommendations for changes to programs, policies, and 
practices to prevent criminal activity and other mis-
conduct by members of the covered Armed Forces 
stationed in Okinawa, Japan. 
(b) REPORT TO SECRETARIES.—The federally funded 
research and development center that carries out the study 
and analysis under subsection (a) shall submit to the Sec-
retary of Defense and the Secretaries of the military de-
partments a report on the results of such study. 
(c) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 30 days 
after receiving the report under subsection (b), the Sec-
retary of Defense shall submit an unaltered copy of the 
report to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate 
and the House of Representatives. 
(d) IMPROVEMENT PLANS FOR MILITARY DEPART-
MENTS.—Not later than 180 days after receiving the re-
port under subsection (b), each Secretary of a military de-
partment shall— 
(1) review the findings of the report and, based 
on such findings, develop a plan to improve preven-
tion of criminal activity and other misconduct by
415 
members of the covered Armed Forces under the ju-
risdiction of that Secretary who are stationed in 
Okinawa, Japan; and 
(2) provide to the Committees on Armed Serv-
ices of the Senate and the House of Representatives 
a briefing on the plan. 
(e) COVERED ARMED FORCES DEFINED.—In this 
section, the term ‘‘covered Armed Forces’’ means the 
Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Space Force. 
SEC. 560. AUTOMATIC EXPUNGEMENT OF CERTAIN TITLING 
AND INDEXING RECORDS. 
(a) AUTOMATIC EXPUNGEMENT.—A titling or index-
ing record pertaining to a covered person in a covered 
database shall be expunged automatically 10 years after 
the date on which such person separates from military 
service, unless— 
(1) a finding of guilt by court-martial was made 
in connection with the conduct to which the record 
pertains; or 
(2) the service member is reasonably expected 
to be prosecuted for such conduct by court-martial 
or in a civilian court within one year following the 
expiration of such 10-year period. 
(b) REVISION TO GUIDANCE.—The Secretary of De-
fense shall revise Department of Defense Instruction
416 
5505.07 and any other related or successor guidance, as 
necessary, to implement the requirements of subsection 
(a). 
(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘covered person’’ means any indi-
vidual subject to the jurisdiction of chapter 47 of 
title 10, United States Code (the Uniform Code of 
Military Justice), who is— 
(A) a current or former civilian employee 
of the Department of Defense; or 
(B) a current or former member of the 
Armed Forces. 
(2) The term ‘‘covered database’’ means the 
Department of Defense Central Index of Investiga-
tions (DCII) or any equivalent investigatory system 
under the control of the Department of Defense. 
(3) The term ‘‘titled’’ or ‘‘titling’’ means the 
placement of a person’s name in the subject or title 
block of a criminal investigative report or indexing 
system, including the DCII. 
(4) The term ‘‘expungement’’ means the com-
plete and permanent removal of any identifying and 
investigative information pertaining to a covered per-
son from all covered investigative databases, includ-
ing any retained, archived, hidden, derivative, or
417 
‘‘shadow’’ records. Expungement shall be total, irre-
versible, and render the record indistinguishable 
from one that never existed. 
Subtitle G—Career Transition 
SEC. 561. ESTABLISHMENT OF SEPARATION OATH FOR 
MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF SEPARATION OATH.—Sec-
tion 502 of title 10, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘The oath’’ 
and inserting ‘‘An oath established by this section’’; 
(2) by redesignating subsection (b), as amend-
ed, as subsection (c); and 
(3) by inserting after subsection (a) the fol-
lowing new subsection (b): 
‘‘(b) SEPARATION OATH.—Prior to retirement or 
other separation from the armed forces, other than sepa-
ration pursuant to the sentence of a court-martial, a mem-
ber of an armed force may take the following oath: 
‘‘ ‘I, llllllllll, recognizing that 
my oath to support and defend the Constitution of 
the United States against all enemies, foreign and 
domestic, has involved me and my fellow members in 
experiences that few persons, other than our peers, 
can understand, do solemnly swear (or affirm) to 
continue to be the keeper of my brothers- and sis-
418 
ters-in-arms and protector of the United States and 
the Constitution; to preserve the values I have 
learned; to maintain my body and my mind; to give 
help to, and seek help from, my fellow veterans; and 
to not bring harm to myself or others. I take this 
oath freely and without purpose of evasion, so help 
me God.’ ’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The heading of section 
502 of title 10, United States Code, is amended to read 
as follows: 
‘‘§ 502. Enlistment oath and separation oath: who 
may administer’’. 
SEC. 562. PRESENTATION BY A VETERANS SERVICE ORGA-
NIZATION IN TAP PRESEPARATION COUN-
SELING. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1142(b) of title 10, 
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
following new paragraph: 
‘‘(20) A presentation that promotes the benefits 
available to veterans under laws administered by the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Such presentation— 
‘‘(A) shall be standardized; 
‘‘(B) shall be previously reviewed and ap-
proved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs;
419 
‘‘(C) shall be submitted by the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs to the Committees on Vet-
erans’ Affairs of the Senate and House of Rep-
resentatives for review at least 90 days before 
implementation; 
‘‘(D) shall be presented by— 
‘‘(i) a national representative of a vet-
erans 
service 
organization 
recognized 
under section 5902 of title 38; or 
‘‘(ii) if a national representative is un-
available, a State or local representative of 
such an organization authorized by the 
Secretary concerned to so present; 
‘‘(E) shall include information on how a 
veterans service organization may assist the 
member in filing a claim described in paragraph 
(19); 
‘‘(F) may not encourage the member to 
join a particular veterans service organization; 
and 
‘‘(G) may not exceed one hour in length.’’. 
(b) ANNUAL REPORT.—Not less than once each year 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Serv-
ices of the Senate and House of Representatives, and to
420 
the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and 
House of Representatives, a report— 
(1) that identifies each veterans service organi-
zation that presented under paragraph (20) of sec-
tion 1142(b) of title 10, United States Code, as 
added by subsection (a); 
(2) that contains the number of members of the 
Armed Forces who attended such presentations; and 
(3) that includes any recommendations of the 
Secretary regarding changes to such presentation or 
to such paragraph. 
SEC. 563. EXPANSION OF ELIGIBILITY OF VETERANS FOR 
CERTAIN MILITARY ADAPTIVE SPORTS PRO-
GRAM. 
Section 2564a of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended in subsection (a)(1)(B), in the matter preceding 
clause (i), by striking ‘‘, during the one-year period fol-
lowing the veteran’s date of separation,’’. 
SEC. 564. TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM: DEPART-
MENT OF LABOR EMPLOYMENT NAVIGATOR 
AND PARTNERSHIP PILOT PROGRAM. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than one year after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
Labor, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, the 
Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is
421 
operating when it is not operating as a service in the Navy, 
and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, shall carry out a 
pilot program to be known as the ‘‘Employment Navigator 
and Partnership Pilot Program’’. The pilot program shall 
supplement the program under section 1144 of title 10, 
United States Code. 
(b) ACTIVITIES.—In carrying out the pilot program 
under this section, the Secretary of Labor, in consultation 
with the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of the depart-
ment in which the Coast Guard is operating when it is 
not operating as a service in the Navy, and the Secretary 
of Veterans Affairs, shall— 
(1) seek to enter into contracts with public, pri-
vate, and nonprofit entities under which such enti-
ties provide individualized employment counseling 
for members of the Armed Forces and their spouses; 
(2) prioritize entering into contracts with quali-
fied private entities that have experience providing 
instruction to members of the Armed Forces eligible 
for assistance under the pilot program carried out 
under this section on— 
(A) private sector culture, resume writing, 
career networking, and training on job search 
technologies;
422 
(B) academic readiness and educational 
opportunities; or 
(C) other relevant topics, as determined by 
the Secretary; 
(3) give a preference to any private entity 
that— 
(A) has a national or international geo-
graphical area of service; 
(B) provides multiple forms of career as-
sistance and placement services to— 
(i) active duty members of the Armed 
Forces; 
(ii) spouses of active duty members of 
the Armed Forces; 
(iii) veterans; and 
(iv) spouses of veterans; 
(C) provides services to at least 1,000 indi-
viduals who are— 
(i) active duty members of the Armed 
Forces; 
(ii) spouses of active duty members of 
the Armed Forces; 
(iii) veterans; or 
(iv) spouses of veterans;
423 
(D) has continuously, for at least the 
three-year period immediately preceding the 
date of the contract, provided services to indi-
viduals who are— 
(i) active duty members of the Armed 
Forces; 
(ii) spouses of active duty members of 
the Armed Forces; 
(iii) veterans; and 
(iv) spouses of veterans; and 
(E) has a demonstrated record of success 
in providing assistance with employment serv-
ices, as indicated by— 
(i) the average wages or earnings of 
people who receive employment services 
provided by the entity; 
(ii) prior completion of Federal grants 
or contracts; 
(iii) having at least 75 percent of its 
participants find full-time employment 
within six months of initially receiving em-
ployment services provided by the entity; 
and
424 
(iv) other employment performance in-
dicators, as determined by the Secretary; 
and 
(4) seek to enter into contracts with not fewer 
than 10, but not more than 60, private entities 
under which each such entity is compensated at a 
rate agreed upon between the Secretary and the en-
tity for each individual who receives employment 
services provided by the entity and is in unsub-
sidized employment during the second quarter after 
exit from the program; and 
(5) conduct such other activities as may be nec-
essary for the delivery of individualized employment 
counseling and other employment services under this 
section. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than October 1 of each year 
during the term of the pilot program, the Secretary of 
Labor, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, the 
Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is 
operating when it is not operating as a service in the Navy, 
and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, shall submit to the 
Committees on Armed Services, the Committee on Trans-
portation and Infrastructure of the House of Representa-
tives, and the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Sen-
ate and House of Representatives a report on the pilot
425 
program under this section, including the employment out-
comes for members of the Armed Forces and their spouses 
who receive employment services under the program on 
the following indicators of performance— 
(1) the percentage of program participants who 
are in unsubsidized employment during the second 
quarter after exit from the program; 
(2) the percentage of program participants who 
are in unsubsidized employment during the fourth 
quarter after exit from the program; and 
(3) the median earnings of program partici-
pants who are in unsubsidized employment during 
the second quarter after exit from the program. 
(d) TERMINATION.—The pilot program shall termi-
nate five years after the date on which the Secretary of 
Labor begins to carry out the pilot program. 
SEC. 565. SKILLBRIDGE: APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS. 
(a) STUDY.—Not later than September 30, 2026, the 
Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary 
of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating 
when not operating as a service in the Department of the 
Navy, shall conduct a study to identify the private entities 
participating in Skillbridge that offer positions in reg-
istered apprenticeship programs to covered members.
426 
(b) RECRUITMENT.—The Secretary of Defense shall 
consult with officials and employees of the Department of 
Labor who have experience with registered apprenticeship 
programs to facilitate the Secretary entering into agree-
ments with entities that offer positions described in sub-
section (a) in areas where the Secretary determines few 
such positions are available to covered members. 
(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘covered member’’ means a mem-
ber of the Armed Forces eligible for Skillbridge. 
(2) The term ‘‘registered apprenticeship pro-
gram’’ means an apprenticeship program registered 
under the Act of August 16, 1937 (commonly known 
as the ‘‘National Apprenticeship Act’’; 50 Stat. 664, 
chapter 663; 29 U.S.C. 50 et seq.). 
(3) The term ‘‘Skillbridge’’ means an employ-
ment skills training program under section 1143(e) 
of title 10, United States Code. 
SEC. 566. FEMALE MEMBERS OF CERTAIN ARMED FORCES 
AND CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES OF THE DEPART-
MENT OF DEFENSE IN STEM. 
(a) STUDY; REPORT.—Not later than September 30, 
2025, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Com-
mittees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of
427 
Representatives a report containing the results of a study 
on how to— 
(1) increase participation of covered individuals 
in positions in the covered Armed Forces or Depart-
ment of Defense and related to STEM; and 
(2) change Skillbridge to help covered individ-
uals eligible for Skillbridge find civilian employment 
in positions related to STEM. 
(b) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘covered Armed Force’’ means 
the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, or Space 
Force. 
(2) The term ‘‘covered individual’’ means a fe-
male— 
(A) member of a covered Armed Force; or 
(B) civilian employee of the Department of 
Defense. 
(3) The term ‘‘Skillbridge’’ means an employ-
ment skills training program under section 1143(e) 
of title 10, United States Code. 
(4) The term ‘‘STEM’’ means science, tech-
nology, engineering, and mathematics.
428 
SEC. 567. TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM: AMEND-
MENTS; PILOT PROGRAM; REPORTS. 
(a) REQUIREMENT
OF
PRESEPARATION
COUN-
SELING: NUMBER OF DAYS.—Subsection (a) of section 
1142 of title 10, United States Code, is amended, in para-
graph (1)— 
(1) by inserting ‘‘(A)’’ before ‘‘Within’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following new sub-
paragraph: 
‘‘(B) The Secretary concerned shall ensure that a 
member 
described 
in 
subparagraph 
(A) 
receives 
preseparation counseling in the following amounts: 
‘‘(i) In the case of a member who has accepted 
an offer of full-time employment, or has enrolled in 
a program of education or vocational training, that 
shall commence after the member separates, retires, 
or is discharged, not fewer than three days. 
‘‘(ii) In the case of a member other than a 
member described in clause (i), not fewer than five 
days.’’. 
(b) PROVISION
OF PRESEPARATION COUNSELING: 
IN-PERSON TO THE EXTENT PRACTICABLE.—Such sub-
section is further amended, in paragraph (2)— 
(1) by inserting ‘‘(A)’’ before ‘‘In carrying’’; 
and
429 
(2) by adding at the end the following new sub-
paragraph: 
‘‘(B) Preseparation counseling shall be provided in 
person to the extent practicable. If the Secretary con-
cerned determines that a member cannot attend such 
counseling in person, such member may receive such coun-
seling remotely, with online access to modules and reading 
materials.’’. 
(c) TRACKING OF TIMELINESS.—Such subsection is 
further amended, in paragraph (3), by adding at the end 
the following new subparagraph: 
‘‘(C) The Secretary of Defense shall implement a sys-
tem to track how many, and what percentage of, members 
begin to receive preseparation counseling within time peri-
ods specified in this paragraph.’’. 
(d) WAIVER FOR CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THE RE-
SERVE COMPONENTS.—Such subsection is further amend-
ed, in paragraph (4), by adding at the end the following 
new subparagraph: 
‘‘(D) The Secretary concerned may waive the require-
ment for preseparation counseling under paragraph (1) in 
the case of a member of the reserve components if— 
‘‘(i) the member requests such a waiver;
430 
‘‘(ii) the member received preseparation coun-
seling during the period of three years preceding the 
date of such request; and 
‘‘(iii) matters covered by such counseling, speci-
fied in subsection (b), have not changed since the 
member last received such counseling.’’. 
(e) ELIGIBILITY OF A MEMBER WHO REENLISTS TO 
RECEIVE
PRESEPARATION
COUNSELING.—Such sub-
section is further amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new paragraph: 
‘‘(5) The commanding officer of a member described 
in this subsection may, on a space available basis, author-
ize such member to receive preseparation counseling, re-
gardless of whether such member reenlists or agrees to 
a new period of obligated service.’’. 
(f) REPEAT ATTENDANCE.—Such subsection is fur-
ther amended by adding at the end the following new para-
graph: 
‘‘(6) A member who received preseparation coun-
seling under this section may, before separation, retire-
ment, or discharge, request to receive, on a space-available 
basis, such preseparation counseling a second time.’’. 
(g) ELECTIVE INCLUSION OF THE SPOUSE OF A 
MEMBER.—Such section is further amended, in subsection
431 
(b), in paragraph (5), by striking ‘‘regarding the matters 
covered by paragraphs (9), (10), and (16)’’. 
(h) MINIMUM AMOUNT OF COUNSELING REGARDING 
FINANCIAL
PLANNING.—Such subsection is further 
amended, in paragraph (9)— 
(1) by inserting ‘‘(A)’’ before ‘‘Financial’’; 
(2) by striking ‘‘loans’’ and inserting ‘‘loans, 
debt management, investing’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following new sub-
paragraphs: 
‘‘(B) Individualized assistance regarding mat-
ters described in subparagraph (A). 
‘‘(C) Counseling under subparagraph (A) or (B) 
shall be provided by an individual who has signifi-
cant experience in financial planning.’’. 
(i) PATHWAYS: STANDARDIZATION; ESTABLISHMENT 
OF PATHWAY FOR MEMBERS OF THE RESERVE COMPO-
NENTS.—Such section is further amended, in paragraph 
(1) of subsection (c), in the matter preceding subpara-
graph (A)— 
(1) by striking ‘‘Each Secretary concerned’’ and 
inserting ‘‘The Secretaries of Defense and Homeland 
Security’’; and 
(2) by striking ‘‘pathways for members of the 
military department concerned (including one path-
432 
way for members of the reserve components)’’ and 
inserting ‘‘pathways, standardized across the armed 
forces and including one pathway for members of 
the reserve components, for members’’. 
(j) PATHWAYS: RECORD
OF
PATHWAY
ASSIGN-
MENT.—Such subsection is further amended by adding at 
the end the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(4) The Secretary concerned shall ensure that the 
pathway in which a member is placed, and the reasons 
for such placement, are noted in the service record of such 
member.’’. 
(k) COORDINATION BETWEEN DEPARTMENTS
OF 
DEFENSE, VETERANS AFFAIRS, AND LABOR.—Such sec-
tion is further amended, in subsection (d)— 
(1) by striking the heading and inserting 
‘‘TRANSMISSION
OF
CERTAIN
INFORMATION
TO 
OTHER DEPARTMENTS’’; 
(2) by inserting ‘‘(1)’’ before ‘‘In the case’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraphs: 
‘‘(2) Before a member described in subsection (a) 
separates, retires, or is discharged, the Secretary con-
cerned shall transmit to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
the following information: 
‘‘(A) The contact information of such member.
433 
‘‘(B) The Department of Defense Form DD- 
2648 regarding such member. 
‘‘(3)(A) In the case of a member described in sub-
section (a) whom the Secretary concerned determines is 
at risk for a difficult transition to civilian life, the Sec-
retary concerned shall, before the member separates, re-
tires, or is discharged, provide— 
‘‘(i) such member with the contact information 
of an employee of the Department of Veterans Af-
fairs and an employee of the Department of Labor; 
and 
‘‘(ii) such employees with the contact informa-
tion of such member. 
‘‘(B) Each employee described in subparagraph (A) 
shall contact the member described in such subparagraph 
not later than 60 days after such member separates, re-
tires, or is discharged. 
‘‘(C) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Sec-
retary of Labor shall each submit to the Committees on 
Armed Services and on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate 
and House of Representatives an annual report that iden-
tifies the number of times, and reasons why, an employee 
of the department under the jurisdiction of such Secretary 
failed to carry out subparagraph (B) in the year preceding 
the date of the report.
434 
‘‘(D) The Secretary of Defense and Secretary of 
Homeland Security shall prescribe regulations to ensure 
that, for purposes of this paragraph, each Secretary con-
cerned uses the same definition of the term ‘at risk for 
a difficult transition to civilian life’.’’. 
(l) YEARLY SURPRISE AUDITS.—Such section is fur-
ther amended by adding at the end the following new sub-
section: 
‘‘(f) AUDITS.—(1)(A) Not less than once each year, 
an employee or contractor of each department specified 
in subparagraph (B) shall make unannounced visits to 
preseparation counseling under this section in order to 
audit such counseling. 
‘‘(B) The departments specified in this subparagraph 
are the Department of Defense, the Department of Vet-
erans Affairs, and the Department of Labor. 
‘‘(2) Not later than 90 days after such a visit, the 
employee or contractor shall submit to the Committees on 
Armed Services and on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate 
and House of Representatives a report regarding such 
audit. 
‘‘(3) Such employees or contractors shall have exper-
tise regarding matters described in subsection (b).’’.
435 
(m) UPDATE OF TAP CURRICULA.—Such section is 
further amended by adding at the end the following new 
subsection: 
‘‘(g) CURRICULA.—Not less than once each year, the 
Secretaries of Defense, Veterans Affairs, and Labor shall 
review and update curricula for counseling and services 
under this section and section 1144 of this title.’’. 
(n) WEBSITE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 
AFFAIRS REGARDING PROGRAMS FOR NEW VETERANS.— 
Section 523 of title 38, United States Code, is amended 
by adding at the end the following new subsection: 
‘‘(c) The Secretary shall maintain a publicly available 
website of the Department through which a veteran or de-
pendent of a veteran may search by ZIP code for pro-
grams for— 
‘‘(1) veterans who recently separated from ac-
tive military, naval, air, or space service; or 
‘‘(2) dependents of veterans described in para-
graph (1).’’. 
(o) EXPANSION
OF ELIGIBILITY
FOR
A CERTAIN 
PROGRAM OF JOB COUNSELING, TRAINING, AND PLACE-
MENT SERVICE FOR VETERANS.— 
(1) DEFINITION.—Section 4101 of title 38, 
United States Code, is amended in paragraph (5)—
436 
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking the 
comma at the end and inserting a semicolon; 
(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking 
‘‘power, or’’ and inserting ‘‘power;’’ 
(C) in subparagraph (C), by striking the 
period at the end and inserting ‘‘; or’’; and 
(D) by adding at the end the following new 
subparagraph: 
‘‘(D) a member of the Armed Forces eligi-
ble for the Transition Assistance Program 
under sections 1142 and 1144 of title 10.’’. 
(2) OUTREACH.—Section 4103A(a)(1) of such 
title is amended— 
(A) in the matter preceding subparagraph 
(A), by inserting ‘‘and certain eligible persons’’ 
after ‘‘eligible veterans’’; 
(B) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as 
subparagraph (D); and 
(C) by inserting after subparagraph (B) 
the following new subparagraph (C): 
‘‘(C) Eligible persons described in paragraph 
(5)(D) of section 4101 of this title.’’. 
(p) SOLID START PROGRAM: INTERACTION WITH 
TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.—
437 
(1) CLARIFICATION OF REFERENCE TO TAP.— 
Subsection (b) of section 6320 of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended, in of paragraph (1), by 
striking ‘‘transition classes or separation’’ and in-
serting ‘‘TAP classes or preseparation counseling’’. 
(2) ASSESSMENT OF TAP.—Such paragraph is 
further amended, in subparagraph (H), by inserting 
‘‘and of TAP’’ before the period. 
(3) DEFINITIONS.—Such section is further 
amended— 
(A) by striking paragraph (3) of subsection 
(b); and 
(B) by adding at the end the following new 
subsection: 
‘‘(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) The term ‘TAP’ means the Transition As-
sistance Program under sections 1142 and 1144 of 
title 10. 
‘‘(2) The term ‘Vet Center’ has the meaning 
given such term in section 1712A(h) of this title. 
‘‘(3) The term ‘veterans service organization’ 
means an organization recognized by the Secretary 
for the representation of veterans under section 
5902 of this title.’’.
438 
(q) INFORMATION PROVIDED TO STATE VETERANS 
AGENCIES REGARDING MEMBERS SEPARATING FROM 
THE ARMED FORCES.— 
(1) EXPANSION.—Section 570F of the National 
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 
(Public Law 116–92; 10 U.S.C. 1142 note) is 
amended, in subsection (a)— 
(A) by redesignating paragraph (8) as 
paragraph (9); and 
(B) by inserting, after paragraph (7), the 
following new paragraph (8): 
‘‘(8) Benefits for low-income households, includ-
ing the supplemental nutrition assistance program 
(as such term is defined in section 3 of the Food 
and Nutrition Act of 2008 (Public Law 88–525; 7 
U.S.C. 2012)).’’. 
(2) LIMITATION
OF
VOLUNTARY
PARTICIPA-
TION.—Such section is further amended, in sub-
section (d), by striking ‘‘Information’’ and inserting 
‘‘Except for information related to whether an indi-
vidual is eligible for benefits described in paragraph 
(8) of subsection (a), information’’. 
(r) PILOT PROGRAM FOR MILITARY SPOUSES.— 
(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than one year 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec-
439 
retary of Defense shall establish a pilot program for 
spouses of members of the covered Armed Forces 
who are eligible to receive preseparation counseling 
under TAP. 
(2) VOLUNTARY
BASIS.—Participation in the 
pilot program shall be on a voluntary basis. 
(3) CURRICULUM.—The Secretary of Defense, 
in coordination with the Secretary of Veterans Af-
fairs and the Secretary of Labor, shall establish a 
curriculum based on TAP for the pilot program. 
(4) COUNSELING.—Counseling under the pilot 
program shall— 
(A) be tailored to the military spouse and 
family; 
(B) be offered at least once per calendar 
quarter at each location selected under para-
graph (5); 
(C) be offered at times including nights 
and weekends; and 
(D) include at least one hour regarding 
benefits and assistance available to military 
families and veterans from each department 
under the jurisdiction of the Secretaries speci-
fied in subparagraph (C).
440 
(5) LOCATIONS.—The Secretary of Defense 
shall carry out the pilot program at not fewer than 
five military installations of each of the covered 
Armed Forces. One such location shall be located 
outside the continental United States. 
(6) REPORT.—Not later than one year before 
the pilot program terminates, the Secretary of De-
fense shall submit to the Committees on Armed 
Services of the Senate and House of Representatives 
a report to the regarding the pilot program. Such re-
port shall include elements the Secretary determines 
appropriate, including whether the pilot program 
should be made permanent. 
(7) TERMINATION.—The pilot program shall 
terminate three years after the Secretary of Defense 
establishes the pilot program. 
(8) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection: 
(A) The term ‘‘covered Armed Force’’ 
means the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air 
Force, or Space Force. 
(B) The term ‘‘TAP’’ means the Transi-
tion Assistance Program under sections 1142 
and 1144 of title 10, United States Code. 
(s) ANNUAL REPORT ON TAP PARTICIPATION.—Not 
later than one year after the date of the enactment of this
441 
Act, and annually thereafter for four years, the Secretary 
of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Serv-
ices and on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and House 
of Representatives a report on the Transition Assistance 
Program at military installations where at least 250 mem-
bers per year receive preseparation counseling under sec-
tion 1142 of title 10, United States Code. Such report 
shall include the following elements with regards to the 
year preceding the date of such report, disaggregated by 
military installation: 
(1) The number of members described in sub-
section (a)(1)(B)(ii) of such section 1142, as added 
by subsection (a), who received fewer than five days 
of preseparation counseling under such section. 
(2) The average period of time between when a 
member begins to receive preseparation counseling 
and the day the member separates, retires, or is dis-
charged. 
(3) The number of members who began to re-
ceive preseparation counseling and then re-enlisted 
or agreed to a new period of obligated service. 
(4) The number of members who began to re-
ceive preseparation counseling and then were de-
ployed.
442 
(5) The number of members assigned to each 
pathway under subsection (c) of such section. 
(6) The number of members who, in the course 
of such preseparation counseling, were referred to 
another Federal agency or department. 
(7) The Federal agencies or departments to 
which members were so referred. 
(8) The number of members who should have 
been, but were not, so referred, and reasons why 
such referrals did not occur. 
(9) The number of members who receive such 
preseparation counseling and apply for unemploy-
ment compensation under subchapter II of chapter 
85 of title 5, United States Code. 
(10) The total amount of such unemployment 
compensation paid to members separating from the 
Armed Forces. 
SEC. 568. ASSISTANCE TO MEMBERS WITH SPECIAL OPER-
ATIONS MEDICAL TRAINING IN OBTAINING 
CREDIT TOWARDS A DEGREE IN A MEDICAL 
FIELD. 
Chapter 58 of title 10, United States Code, is amend-
ed by adding at the end the following new section:
443 
‘‘§ 1156. Assistance to members with special oper-
ations medical training in obtaining cred-
it towards a degree in a medical field 
‘‘The Secretary of Defense shall seek to enter into 
agreements with institutions of higher education (as de-
fined in section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
(20 U.S.C. 1002)) to provide credit towards a degree in 
a medical field at such institutions for members of the 
armed forces who have received special operations medical 
training.’’. 
SEC. 569. IMPROVEMENT OF TRANSITION OF AIR TRAFFIC 
CONTROLLERS IN THE ARMED FORCES TO 
THE CIVILIAN WORKFORCE IN AIR TRAFFIC 
CONTROL OCCUPATIONS. 
(a) RECOMMENDATIONS
REQUIRED.—Within 180 
days of passage, the Secretary of Defense, in consultation 
with each of the States (through the Defense-State Liai-
son Office of the Department of Defense), the Secretary 
of Veterans Affairs, the Secretary of Transportation, and 
the Secretary of Labor, shall develop recommendations to 
improve the transition of military air traffic controllers 
under the jurisdiction of the Secretary into the civilian 
workforce in air traffic control occupations. 
(b) CONSIDERATIONS.—In carrying out subsection 
(a), the Secretary shall identify any barriers—
444 
(1) to improving the ability of the Secretary to 
determine and communicate how the military cre-
dentials and experience of a controller separating 
from the Armed Forces translate to credentialed ci-
vilian employment in air traffic control occupations; 
(2) that exist to the standardization among the 
Armed Forces of military controller credentials and 
experience and the alignment of such credentials and 
experience to credentialed civilian employment in air 
traffic control occupations; and 
(3) that exist to ensuring members of the 
Armed Forces with military controller credentials 
and experience have earned the equivalent civilian 
credential prior to separation from the Armed 
Forces in addition to receiving their military creden-
tials. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary concerned shall 
submit to the relevant committees of Congress a report 
containing— 
(1) the recommendations developed under sub-
section (a); and 
(2) a plan to implement those recommenda-
tions.
445 
SEC. 570. EXTENSION OF PERIOD OF AVAILABILITY OF 
MILITARY ONESOURCE PROGRAM FOR RE-
TIRED AND DISCHARGED MEMBERS OF THE 
ARMED FORCES AND THEIR IMMEDIATE FAM-
ILIES. 
Section 558(a) of the John S. McCain National De-
fense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (Public Law 
115–232; 10 U.S.C. 1781 note) is amended by striking 
‘‘one-year period’’ and inserting ‘‘18-month period’’. 
SEC. 570A. AMENDMENTS TO PATHWAYS FOR COUNSELING 
IN TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. 
Section 1142(c)(1) of title 10, United States Code, 
is amended— 
(1) by redesignating subparagraph (M) as sub-
paragraph (R); and 
(2) by inserting after subparagraph (L) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(M) Child care requirements of the member 
(including whether a dependent of the member is en-
rolled in the Exceptional Family Member Program). 
‘‘(N) The employment status of other adults in 
the household of the member. 
‘‘(O) The location of the duty station of the 
member (including whether the member was sepa-
rated from family while on duty).
446 
‘‘(P) The effects of operating tempo and per-
sonnel tempo on the member and the household of 
the member.’’. 
Subtitle H—Family Programs and 
Child Care 
SEC. 571. NOTIFICATION OF SUSPECTED CHILD ABUSE AT 
PROVIDERS OF CHILD CARE SERVICES OR 
YOUTH PROGRAMS. 
Section 1794 of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following new sub-
section: 
‘‘(g) NOTIFICATION OF SUSPECTED CHILD ABUSE.— 
(1) The Secretary of Defense shall prescribe a policy that 
requires covered child and youth programs to— 
‘‘(A) not later than 24 hours after a program 
becomes aware of alleged or suspected abuse or ne-
glect of a child occurring in such program, notify the 
parents and guardians of such child of such alleged 
or suspected abuse or neglect; and 
‘‘(B) not later than 72 hours after a program 
becomes aware of alleged abuse or neglect of a child 
occurring in such program, provide notice of such al-
leged abuse or neglect to— 
‘‘(i) the Committees on Armed Services of 
the Senate and the House of Representatives;
447 
‘‘(ii) if the alleged abuse or neglect occurs 
in one of the several States, the Senators that 
represent the State in which the alleged abuse 
or neglect occurred; and 
‘‘(iii) if the alleged abuse or neglect occurs 
in a location represented by a Member of, or 
Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, the 
House of Representatives, the Member of, or 
Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, the 
House of Representatives that represents such 
location. 
‘‘(2) In this subsection, the term ‘covered child and 
youth program’ means a military child development cen-
ter, a Department of Defense youth program, a family 
home day care, or a provider of child care services or youth 
program services that receives financial assistance under 
section 1798.’’. 
SEC. 572. PILOT PROGRAM TO INCREASE PAYMENTS FOR 
CHILD CARE SERVICES IN HIGH-COST AREAS. 
Section 1798 of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following new sub-
section: 
‘‘(d) PILOT PROGRAM FOR INCREASED PAYMENTS IN 
HIGH-COST AREAS.—(1) Beginning on January 1, 2027, 
the Secretary shall establish a pilot program to increase
448 
the maximum amount of financial assistance per month 
per child that the Secretary authorizes to be provided to 
eligible providers under this section as of December 31, 
2026, by 30 percent for services provided to children who 
are two years old or younger in accordance with this sub-
section. 
‘‘(2) The Secretary— 
‘‘(A) shall provide for an increased maximum 
amount of financial assistance under the pilot pro-
gram established under this subsection in each area 
with high child care services costs, as determined by 
the Secretary; and 
‘‘(B) may provide for such increased maximum 
amount of financial assistance in other areas as the 
Secretary considers appropriate. 
‘‘(3) Not later than one year after the establishment 
of the pilot program under this subsection, and semiannu-
ally thereafter until the date of the termination of the pilot 
program, the Secretary shall submit to the congressional 
defense committees a report on the pilot program that in-
cludes— 
‘‘(A) the number of families with respect to 
whom the Secretary has increased the maximum 
amount of financial assistance per month per child
449 
being 
provided 
under 
the 
pilot 
program, 
disaggregated by location; 
‘‘(B) the total amount of financial assistance 
provided under the pilot program with respect to 
such families, disaggregated by location; 
‘‘(C) the total amount of financial assistance 
that would have been provided with respect to such 
families without the increase under the pilot pro-
gram, disaggregated by location; 
‘‘(D) the determination of the Secretary as to 
whether additional funding under the pilot pro-
gram— 
‘‘(i) helped reduce child care costs for ap-
plicable military families; 
‘‘(ii) increased child care provider partici-
pation in the financial assistance available 
under this section; and 
‘‘(iii) increased access to infant and toddler 
care for military families; 
‘‘(E) the determination of the Secretary with 
respect to the feasibility of expanding the pilot pro-
gram to all communities; 
‘‘(F) any challenges identified by the Secretary 
in carrying out the pilot program;
450 
‘‘(G) legislation or administrative action that 
the Secretary determines necessary to make the pilot 
program permanent; and 
‘‘(H) any other information the Secretary deter-
mines appropriate. 
‘‘(4) Not later than 90 days after the date of the ter-
mination of the pilot program, the Secretary shall submit 
to the congressional defense committees a report that in-
cludes— 
‘‘(A) the elements specified in subparagraphs 
(A) through (H) of paragraph (3); and 
‘‘(B) the recommendation of the Secretary as to 
whether to make the pilot program permanent. 
‘‘(5) The pilot program established under this sub-
section shall terminate on the date that is five years after 
the date on which such program is established.’’. 
SEC. 573. PILOT PROGRAM TO INCREASE PAYMENTS FOR 
CHILD CARE SERVICES IN HIGH-COST AREAS. 
Section 1798 of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) by redesignating subsection (c) as sub-
section (d); and 
(2) by inserting after subsection (b) the fol-
lowing new subsection:
451 
‘‘(c) PILOT PROGRAM FOR GRANTS TO INCREASE IN-
FANT AND TODDLER CAPACITY IN HIGH-COST AREAS.— 
(1) The Secretary of Defense may establish a pilot pro-
gram to provide grants to eligible providers seeking to ex-
pand the capacity of such providers to provide care for 
infants and toddlers. 
‘‘(2) A grant awarded under the pilot program estab-
lished under paragraph (1) shall— 
‘‘(A) be in an amount determined by the Sec-
retary, but in no case more than 75 percent of the 
estimated cost of the expansion for which the grant 
is provided; and 
‘‘(B) require the recipient of a grant to— 
‘‘(i) make available not less than half of 
any additional capacity for infants and toddlers 
to children of members of the armed forces that 
results from the expansion for which a grant is 
awarded for the 10-year period that begins on 
the date on which such expansion is completed; 
and 
‘‘(ii) certify that the recipient will not dis-
place children enrolled on the date described in 
clause (i) who are not children of members of 
the armed forces to meet the requirement of 
clause (i).
452 
‘‘(3) The Secretary— 
‘‘(A) shall award grants under the pilot pro-
gram established under paragraph (1) to not less 
than 10 eligible providers located in areas with high 
child care services costs, as determined by the Sec-
retary; and 
‘‘(B) may award grants under the pilot pro-
gram established under paragraph (1) to eligible 
providers located in other areas as the Secretary 
considers appropriate. 
‘‘(4) Not later than one year after the establishment 
of the pilot program under this subsection, and semiannu-
ally thereafter until the date of the termination of the pilot 
program, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate 
congressional committees a report on the pilot program 
that includes— 
‘‘(A) the number of eligible providers partici-
pating in the pilot program, disaggregated by loca-
tion; 
‘‘(B) the number of additional infant and tod-
dler enrollments at eligible providers made available 
under the pilot program, disaggregated by loacation; 
‘‘(C) the determination of the Secretary as to 
whether grants provided under the pilot program—
453 
‘‘(i) helped reduce child care costs for ap-
plicable military families; 
‘‘(ii) increased child care provider partici-
pation in the financial assistance available 
under this section; and 
‘‘(iii) increased access to infant and toddler 
care for military families; 
‘‘(D) the determination of the Secretary with 
respect to the feasibility of expanding the pilot pro-
gram to all communities; 
‘‘(E) any challenges identified by the Secretary 
in carrying out the pilot program; 
‘‘(F) legislation or administrative action that 
the Secretary determines necessary to make the pilot 
program permanent; and 
‘‘(G) any other information the Secretary deter-
mines appropriate. 
‘‘(5) Not later than 90 days after the date of the ter-
mination of the pilot program, the Secretary shall submit 
to the appropriate congressional committees a report that 
includes— 
‘‘(A) the elements specified in subparagraphs 
(A) through (G) of paragraph (4); and 
‘‘(B) the recommendation of the Secretary as to 
whether to make the pilot program permanent.
454 
‘‘(6) The pilot program established under this sub-
section shall terminate on the date that is five years after 
the date on which such program is established. 
‘‘(7) In this subsection, the term ‘appropriate con-
gressional committees’ means— 
‘‘(A) the congressional defense committees; 
‘‘(B) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate; and 
‘‘(C) the Committee on Transportation and In-
frastructure of the House of Representatives.’’. 
SEC. 574. EXTENSION OF PILOT PROGRAM TO PROVIDE FI-
NANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO MEMBERS OF THE 
ARMED FORCES FOR IN-HOME CHILD CARE. 
(a) EXTENSION.—Subsection (d) of section 589 of 
the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Au-
thorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (10 U.S.C. 1791 
note) is amended by striking ‘‘five years after’’ and all 
that follows and inserting ‘‘on December 31, 2029.’’. 
(b) FINAL REPORT.—Subsection (c)(2) of such sec-
tion is amended by striking ‘‘90 days after’’ and inserting 
‘‘one year before’’.
455 
SEC. 575. MILITARY ONESOURCE: INFORMATION REGARD-
ING MATERNAL HEALTH CARE. 
Section 561 of the National Defense Authorization 
Act for Fiscal Year 2010 (Public Law 111–84; 10 U.S.C. 
1781 note) is amended, in subsection (b)— 
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (4) through 
(17) as paragraphs (5) through (18), respectively; 
and 
(2) by striking paragraphs (2) and (3) and in-
serting after paragraph (1) the following new para-
graphs: 
‘‘(2) Health care. 
‘‘(3) Maternal health care, including the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(A) A list of maternal health services, in-
cluding pre- and post-natal care. 
‘‘(B) A guide to continuity of such care 
through a permanent change of station. 
‘‘(C) With regards to a pregnant member, 
relevant regulations, options for leave, and uni-
form resources and requirements. 
‘‘(4) Death benefits and life insurance pro-
grams.’’.
456 
SEC. 576. PROHIBITION ON AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS FOR 
TERMINATION OF DODEA AND CHILD CARE 
WORKERS. 
None of the funds authorized to be appropriated by 
this Act or otherwise made available for fiscal year 2026 
for the Department of Defense may be obligated or ex-
pended to terminate employees of Military Child Develop-
ment Programs or employees of the Department of De-
fense Education Activity, regardless of whether such posi-
tions are funded by appropriated or nonappropriated 
funds, unless the employee was documented as not per-
forming or engaging in misconduct. 
SEC. 577. REPORT ON MILITARY CHILD DEVELOPMENT 
CENTER STAFFING AND ACCESS ACROSS THE 
ARMED FORCES. 
(a) REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
of Defense, in coordination with the Secretary of Home-
land Security with respect to the Coast Guard, shall sub-
mit to the congressional defense committees a report on 
the staffing of, and access to, military child development 
centers (as such term is defined in section 1800 of title 
10, United States Code) for members of the Armed Forces 
and their families. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The report required under sub-
section (a) shall include the following elements:
457 
(1) An assessment of staffing levels at child de-
velopment centers across the Armed Forces, includ-
ing factors contributing to any staffing shortages. 
(2) An evaluation of how staffing shortages af-
fect the availability of child care for members and 
their families. 
(3) An analysis of how limited access to child 
care impacts unit readiness and morale. 
(4) A description of actions the Secretary of 
Defense is taking, or plans to take, to address such 
staffing shortages. 
SEC. 578. PROHIBITIONS ON PROVISION OF GENDER TRAN-
SITION 
SERVICES 
THROUGH 
AN 
EXCEP-
TIONAL FAMILY MEMBER PROGRAM OF THE 
ARMED FORCES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—No gender transition procedures, 
including surgery or medication, may be provided to a 
minor dependent child through an EFMP. 
(b) REFERRALS.—No referral for procedures de-
scribed in subsection (a) may be provided to a minor de-
pendent child through an EFMP. 
(c) REASSIGNMENT.—No change of duty station may 
be approved through an EFMP for the purpose of pro-
viding a minor dependent child with access to procedures 
described in subsection (a).
458 
(d) EFMP DEFINED.—In this section, the term 
‘‘EFMP’’ means the program referred to as the Excep-
tional 
Family 
Member 
Program 
under 
section 
1781c(d)(4)(I) of title 10, United States Code. 
Subtitle I—Dependent Education 
SEC. 581. ENSURING ACCESS TO DODEA SCHOOLS FOR CER-
TAIN MEMBERS OF THE RESERVE COMPO-
NENTS. 
Section 2164 of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following new sub-
section: 
‘‘(n) ELIGIBILITY
OF DEPENDENTS
OF CERTAIN 
MEMBERS OF THE RESERVE COMPONENTS.—(1) A de-
pendent of a member described in paragraph (2) shall be 
eligible to attend a school established under this section 
at the military installation that is the permanent station 
of such member and such dependent shall automatically 
be granted enrollment at such school at the request of 
such member if there is sufficient space in the school to 
accommodate the dependent. In the event there is not suf-
ficient space available at such school at the time the de-
pendent seeks to enroll, the dependent shall be place on 
a wait-list for enrollment in the school. 
‘‘(2) A member described in this paragraph is a mem-
ber—
459 
‘‘(A) of a reserve component; 
‘‘(B) performing active service; and 
‘‘(C) pursuant to an order for accompanied per-
manent change of station.’’. 
SEC. 582. CERTAIN ASSISTANCE TO LOCAL EDUCATIONAL 
AGENCIES THAT BENEFIT DEPENDENTS OF 
MILITARY AND CIVILIAN PERSONNEL. 
(a) CONTINUATION OF AUTHORITY TO ASSIST LOCAL 
EDUCATIONAL AGENCIES THAT BENEFIT DEPENDENTS 
OF MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES AND DEPARTMENT 
OF DEFENSE CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES.— 
(1) ASSISTANCE
TO
SCHOOLS
WITH
SIGNIFI-
CANT
NUMBERS
OF
MILITARY
DEPENDENT
STU-
DENTS.—Of the amount authorized to be appro-
priated for fiscal year 2026 by section 301 and 
available for operation and maintenance for Defense- 
wide activities as specified in the funding table in 
section 4301, $35,000,000 shall be available only for 
the purpose of providing assistance to local edu-
cational agencies under subsection (a) of section 572 
of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 
Year 2006 (Public Law 109–163; 20 U.S.C. 7703b). 
(2) LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCY DEFINED.— 
In this subsection, the term ‘‘local educational agen-
cy’’ has the meaning given that term in section
460 
7013(9) of the Elementary and Secondary Edu-
cation Act of (20 U.S.C. 7713(9)). 
(b) IMPACT AID FOR CHILDREN WITH SEVERE DIS-
ABILITIES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Of the amount authorized to 
be appropriated for fiscal year 2026 pursuant to sec-
tion 301 and available for operation and mainte-
nance for Defense-wide activities as specified in the 
funding table in section 4301, $5,000,000 shall be 
available for payments under section 363 of the 
Floyd D. Spence National Defense Authorization 
Act for Fiscal Year 2001 (as enacted into law by 
Public Law 106–398; 114 Stat. 1654A-77; 20 
U.S.C. 7703a). 
(2) ADDITIONAL AMOUNT.—Of the amount au-
thorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 2026 pur-
suant to section 301 and available for operation and 
maintenance for Defense-wide activities as specified 
in the funding table in section 4301, $5,000,000 
shall be available for use by the Secretary of Defense 
to make payments to local educational agencies de-
termined by the Secretary to have higher concentra-
tions of military children with severe disabilities. 
(3) BRIEFING.—Not later than March 31, 
2026, the Secretary of Defense shall provide to the
461 
Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and 
the House of Representatives a briefing on the De-
partment of Defense’s evaluation of each local edu-
cational agency with higher concentrations of mili-
tary children with severe disabilities and subsequent 
determination of the amounts of impact aid each 
such agency shall receive. 
SEC. 583. VERIFICATION OF REPORTING OF ELIGIBLE FED-
ERALLY CONNECTED CHILDREN FOR PUR-
POSES OF FEDERAL IMPACT AID PROGRAMS. 
(a) CERTIFICATION.—On an annual basis, each com-
mander of a military installation under the jurisdiction of 
the Secretary of a military department shall submit to 
such Secretary a written certification verifying whether 
the commander has confirmed the information contained 
in all impact aid source check forms received from local 
educational agencies as of the date of such certification. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than June 30 of each year, 
each Secretary of a military department shall submit to 
the congressional defense committees a report, based on 
the information received under subsection (a), that identi-
fies— 
(1) each military installation under the jurisdic-
tion of such Secretary that has confirmed the infor-
mation contained in all impact aid source check
462 
forms received from local educational agencies as of 
the date of the report; and 
(2) each military installation that has not con-
firmed the information contained in such forms as of 
such date. 
(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘impact aid source check form’’ 
means a form submitted to a military installation by 
a local educational agency to confirm the number 
and identity of children eligible to be counted for 
purposes of the Federal impact aid program under 
section 7003(a) of the Elementary and Secondary 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7703(a)). 
(2) The term ‘‘local educational agency’’ has 
the meaning given that term in section 8101 of the 
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 
(20 U.S.C. 7801). 
SEC. 584. AUTHORIZATION OF DUAL OR CONCURRENT EN-
ROLLMENT PROGRAMS FOR STUDENTS OF 
DEFENSE DEPENDENT SCHOOLS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense, acting 
through the Director of the Department of Defense Edu-
cation Activity, may— 
(1) enter into arrangements with institutions of 
higher education to provide students of Defense De-
463 
pendent Schools with access to postsecondary course 
credit through dual or concurrent enrollment pro-
grams; and 
(2) provide financial assistance to cover the 
costs associated with such programs. 
(b) CREDIT TRANSFERABILITY.—The Secretary of 
Defense shall, to the greatest extent practicable, ensure 
that the Department of Defense Education Activity, in fa-
cilitating dual or concurrent enrollment programs with in-
stitutions of higher education under this section— 
(1) establishes articulation or credit transfer 
agreements that promote the transferability of aca-
demic credits earned by participating students; and 
(2) prioritizes agreements with institutions that 
offer broad acceptance of such credits across degree 
programs. 
(c) INSTITUTIONAL INTEGRITY.—In entering into 
contracts or other agreements with institutions of higher 
education for purposes of dual or concurrent enrollment 
programs under this section, the Secretary of Defense 
shall ensure that such institutions— 
(1) are accredited and in good standing with 
recognized institutional accrediting agencies;
464 
(2) maintain a record of compliance with appli-
cable Federal and State education laws and regula-
tions; and 
(3) to the greatest extent practicable, have a 
demonstrable record of reliability and excellence in 
matters of financial integrity, academic standards, 
and student protections. 
(d) PREPARATION AND INFORMING FAMILIES AND 
EDUCATORS.—The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that 
funds made available to the Department of Defense Edu-
cation Activity for the purposes of supporting dual or con-
current enrollment programs are used, to the extent prac-
ticable, for the following: 
(1) COURSE SEQUENCE ALIGNMENT.—Design-
ing a sequence of courses for such programs to 
match the academic content standards and level of 
rigor of the corresponding postsecondary courses, in 
consultation and collaboration with— 
(A) educators from Defense Dependent 
Schools serving the military-connected commu-
nity; 
(B) faculty members from institutions of 
higher education offering dual or concurrent en-
rollment programs; and
465 
(C) the school advisory committee (or the 
equivalent advisory body) of each Defense De-
pendent School. 
(2) OUTREACH AND INFORMATION DISSEMINA-
TION.—Establishing outreach and awareness efforts 
targeted toward elementary and secondary school 
students, particularly those in the middle grades and 
their families, educators, school counselors, and 
principals, to provide— 
(A) general information regarding the 
availability and benefits of dual or concurrent 
enrollment programs; 
(B) guidance on eligibility requirements, 
academic expectations, and necessary pre-
paratory coursework for such programs; and 
(C) resources to support informed decision- 
making and successful student participation in 
such programs. 
(e) TEACHER CERTIFICATION.—The Secretary of De-
fense shall ensure that all dual or concurrent enrollment 
courses facilitated by the Department of Defense Edu-
cation Activity are taught by— 
(1) a postsecondary faculty member who—
466 
(A) is employed by two-year or four-year 
institution of higher education (which may in-
clude a community college); and 
(B) meets the applicable postsecondary ac-
creditation standards for instructional staff; or 
(2) a classroom teacher employed by a local 
educational agency or by the Department of Defense 
Education Activity, who— 
(A) has met the certification and content- 
area qualifications necessary to teach at the 
secondary level; and 
(B) has received training or certification to 
deliver the dual or concurrent enrollment course 
curriculum in alignment with the standards of 
the partnering institution of higher education. 
(f) PROTECTING STATE RESIDENCY.—The Secretary 
of Defense shall ensure that the Department of Defense 
Education Activity, in administering or facilitating access 
to dual or concurrent enrollment programs under this sec-
tion, makes every reasonable effort to ensure that partici-
pating students retain their State of legal residence as es-
tablished prior to enrollment in such programs, for pur-
poses of— 
(1) eligibility for in-State tuition rates at public 
institutions of higher education;
467 
(2) qualification for State-based financial aid, 
scholarships, or academic recognition; 
(3) uninterrupted access to dual or concurrent 
enrollment opportunities made available through 
State or institutional partnerships; and 
(4) other educational benefits connected to 
State residency. 
(g) ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS.—In carrying out 
this section, the Secretary of Defense shall— 
(1) consult with the School Advisory Commit-
tees (or the equivalent advisory bodies) and Parent 
Teacher Associations of participating Defense De-
pendent Schools; and 
(2) to the maximum extent practicable, use and 
certify licensed teachers already employed at De-
fense Dependent Schools to teach courses offering 
postsecondary credit unless doing so would nega-
tively affect the transferability of such credits. 
(h) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘Defense Dependent School’’ 
means— 
(A) a school operated under the Defense 
Dependents’ Education System, as authorized 
under the Defense Dependents’ Education Act 
of 1978 (20 U.S.C. 921 et seq.); or
468 
(B) a Department of Defense domestic de-
pendent elementary and secondary school, as 
authorized under section 2164 of title 10, 
United States Code. 
(2) The term ‘‘dual or concurrent enrollment 
program’’ means a program offered by an arrange-
ment between the Department of Defense Education 
Activity and an institution of higher education and 
through which a student enrolled in a Defense De-
pendent School who has not graduated from high 
school with a regular high school diploma is able to 
enroll in one or more postsecondary courses and 
earn credit that applies— 
(A) toward completion of a postsecondary 
degree or recognized educational credential as 
described in the Higher Education Act of 1965 
(20 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.); and 
(B) toward completion of high school. 
(3) The term ‘‘institution of higher education’’ 
has the meaning given that term in section 102 of 
the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
1002). 
(4) The term ‘‘recognized institutional accred-
iting agency’’ means an agency or association recog-
nized by the Secretary of Education under section
469 
496 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
U.S.C. 1099b). 
Subtitle 
J—Decorations 
and 
Awards, 
Reports, 
and 
Other 
Matters 
SEC. 591. AUTHORIZATION FOR AWARD OF MEDAL OF 
HONOR TO JAMES CAPERS, JR., FOR ACTS OF 
VALOR AS A MEMBER OF THE MARINE CORPS 
DURING THE VIETNAM WAR. 
(a) AUTHORIZATION.—Notwithstanding the time lim-
itations specified in section 8298 of title 10, United States 
Code, or any other time limitation with respect to the 
awarding of certain medals to persons who served in the 
Armed Forces, the President is authorized to award the 
Medal of Honor, under section 8291 of such title, to 
James Capers, Jr., for the acts of valor described in sub-
section (b). 
(b) ACTS OF VALOR DESCRIBED.—The acts of valor 
described in this subsection are the actions of James Ca-
pers, Jr., as a member of the Marine Corps, during the 
period of March 31 through April 3, 1967, during the 
Vietnam War, for which he was previously awarded the 
Silver Star.
470 
SEC. 592. AUTHORIZATION TO AWARD THE MEDAL OF 
HONOR TO RETIRED COLONEL PHILIP J. 
CONRAN FOR ACTS OF VALOR IN LAOS DUR-
ING THE VIETNAM WAR. 
Notwithstanding the time limitations specified in sec-
tion 9274 of title 10, United States Code, or any other 
time limitation with respect to the awarding of certain 
medals to persons who served in the Armed Forces, the 
President is authorized to award the Medal of Honor, 
under section 9271 of such title, to retired Colonel Philip 
J. Conran for the acts of valor in Laos during the Vietnam 
war, for which he was previously awarded the Air Force 
Cross. 
SEC. 593. AUTHORIZATION OF AWARD OF MEDAL OF 
HONOR TO GREGORY MCMANUS FOR ACTS 
OF VALOR. 
(a) WAIVER
OF
TIME
LIMITATIONS.—Notwith-
standing the time limitations specified in section 7274 of 
title 10, United States Code, or any other time limitation 
with respect to the awarding of certain medals to persons 
who served in the Armed Forces, the President is author-
ized to award the Medal of Honor, under section 7271 
of such title, to Gregory McManus for the acts of valor 
described in subsection (b). 
(b) ACTS OF VALOR DESCRIBED.—The acts of valor 
described in this subsection are the following:
471 
(1) Chief Warrant Officer Gregory McManus 
distinguished himself for his brave acts of valor 
while serving in the United States Army by risking 
his life to save the lives of his fellow servicemembers. 
(2) Chief Warrant Officer McManus deserves 
recognition for his acts of valor while serving as the 
commander of a single helicopter gunship on an im-
portant mission north of Chai Duc. 
(3) Discovering an envoy of hundreds of enemy 
troops along the Cambodian border, Chief Warrant 
Officer McManus attacked the enemy without hesi-
tation. 
(4) Chief Warrant Officer McManus dis-
regarded the tracers that rose to meet him, firing 
rockets the entire length of the convoy, confusing 
the enemy, and scattering the troop column. 
(5) Chief Warrant Officer McManus then at-
tacked an armored vehicle with a mounted machine 
gun, destroying it and a large artillery piece which 
it was towing. 
(6) Over and over, Chief Warrant Officer 
McManus flew through heavy automatic weapons 
and machine gun fire to attack the enemy, only de-
ciding to return when his ordinance was expended,
472 
and his ship had taken so much damage that further 
flight was inadvisable. 
(7) With this noble deed, Chief Warrant Officer 
McManus was able to destroy the enemy unit and 
scattered the rest in disorder with a single ship. 
(8) Disregarding the size and scope of the 
enemy troop’s convoy, Chief Warrant Officer 
McManus put his own life in danger, all in the serv-
ice of his country and members of the Armed 
Forces. 
(9) Because of the heroic actions of Chief War-
rant Officer McManus, countless American soldier’s 
lives were saved. 
(10) These actions of heroism by Chief Warrant 
Officer McManus deserves recognition and dem-
onstrates this hero of the United States more than 
deserve the medal of honor. 
SEC. 594. BRIEFING ON SUPPORT NEEDED FOR JOINT TASK 
FORCE-SOUTHERN BORDER. 
Not later than 90 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall provide 
to the congressional defense committees a briefing on 
housing and other quality-of-life needs of members of the 
Armed Forces deployed in support of Joint Task Force- 
Southern Border.
473 
SEC. 595. REPORT ON ADEQUACY OF COMMISSARIES AND 
DINING FACILITIES ON MILITARY INSTALLA-
TIONS THAT SUPPORT CERTAIN MISSIONS. 
(a) REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense com-
mittees a report on the adequacy of commissaries, dining 
facilities, and alternatives to dining facilities on military 
installations that support— 
(1) missions along the southern border of the 
United States; or 
(2) arctic missions. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The report required under sub-
section (a) shall include the following elements: 
(1) An assessment of the adequacy of existing 
commissary and dining facility infrastructure at 
such military installations, including capacity, hours 
of operation, and quality of food service. 
(2) An evaluation of whether current com-
missary and dining facilities meet the needs of mem-
bers and their families on such military installations. 
(3) An analysis of how any inadequacies in such 
facilities impact readiness, morale, and retention. 
SEC. 596. OPERATION MIDNIGHT HAMMER MEDAL. 
(a) MEDAL AUTHORIZED.—The Secretary concerned 
shall authorize the award of an Armed Forces Expedi-
474 
tionary Medal, to be known as the ‘‘Operation Midnight 
Hammer Medal’’, to any person eligible under subsection 
(c). 
(b) DESIGN.—The medal shall be of an appropriate 
design approved by the Secretary of Defense and shall in-
clude ribbons, lapel pins, and other appurtenances. 
(c) ELIGIBILITY.—Subject to subsection (e), a person 
shall be eligible for the medal if the person— 
(1) served on active duty, including as a mem-
ber of a reserve component under orders to active 
duty, in the Armed Forces in support of a des-
ignated operation during the armed conflict between 
Iran and Israel in 2025 (including Operation Mid-
night Hammer, conducted on June 22, 2025); 
(2) was deployed in an area of operations des-
ignated by the Secretary concerned as eligible for 
award of the medal; or 
(3) performed such other service as the Sec-
retary concerned may prescribe for purposes of this 
section. 
(d) ONE MEDAL AUTHORIZED.—Not more than one 
medal may be awarded to any person. 
(e) ISSUANCE TO NEXT-OF-KIN.—If a person de-
scribed in subsection (c) is deceased, the Secretary may
475 
provide for the issuance of the medal to the next-of-kin 
of that person. 
(f) REGULATIONS.—The issuance of a medal under 
this section shall be subject to such regulations as the Sec-
retaries concerned shall prescribe for purposes of this sec-
tion. The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that any regu-
lations prescribed under this subsection are uniform to the 
extent practicable. 
(g) SECRETARY CONCERNED DEFINED.—In this sec-
tion, the term ‘‘Secretary concerned’’ has the meaning 
given the term in section 101(a) of title 10, United States 
Code. 
SEC. 597. AUTHORIZATION FOR AWARD OF MEDAL OF 
HONOR TO E. ROYCE WILLIAMS FOR ACTS OF 
VALOR DURING THE KOREAN WAR. 
(a) WAIVER
OF
TIME
LIMITATIONS.—Notwith-
standing the time limitations specified in section 8298 of 
title 10, United States Code, or any other time limitation 
with respect to the awarding of certain medals to persons 
who served in the Armed Forces, the President may award 
the Medal of Honor under section 8291 of such title to 
E. Royce Williams for the acts of valor described in sub-
section (b). 
(b) ACTS OF VALOR DESCRIBED.—The acts of valor 
described in this subsection are the actions of E. Royce
476 
Williams, as a lieutenant in the Navy, on November 18, 
1952. 
SEC. 598. EXTENSION AND MODIFICATION OF PROGRAM TO 
COMMEMORATE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF VIET-
NAM WAR. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 598 of the National De-
fense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 (Public Law 
110–181; 10 U.S.C. 113 note) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘may con-
duct’’ and inserting ‘‘shall conduct’’; 
(2) in subsection (c), by striking ‘‘may’’ and in-
serting ‘‘shall’’; 
(3) in subsection (e)(1), by striking ‘‘If the Sec-
retary establishes’’ and inserting ‘‘For purposes of 
carrying out’’; and 
(4) in subsection (g)(1)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘if established by the Sec-
retary of Defense under subsection (a),’’; and 
(B) by inserting ‘‘of Defense’’ after ‘‘Sec-
retary’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 
subsection (a) shall take effect on November 11, 2025.
477 
SEC. 599. AUTHORIZATION OF AWARD OF MEDAL OF 
HONOR TO THOMAS HELMUT GRIFFIN FOR 
ACTS OF VALOR AS A MEMBER OF THE ARMY 
DURING THE VIETNAM WAR. 
(a) AUTHORIZATION.—Notwithstanding the time lim-
itations specified in section 7274 of title 10, United States 
Code, or any other time limitation with respect to the 
awarding of certain medals to persons who served in the 
Armed Forces, the President is authorized to award the 
Medal of Honor, under section 7271 of such title, to 
Thomas Helmut Griffin for the acts of valor described in 
subsection (b). 
(b) ACTS OF VALOR DESCRIBED.—The acts of valor 
described in this subsection are the actions of Thomas H. 
Griffin during the period of March 1 through March 3, 
1969, while serving as a captain in the Army during the 
Vietnam War, for which he was previously awarded the 
Silver Star. 
SEC. 599A. PROHIBITIONS RELATING TO QUESTIONS AND 
ANSWERS ABOUT SEX, GENDER, AND GENDER 
IDENTITY IN FORMS AND SURVEYS OF THE 
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE. 
(a) PROHIBITION.—With respect to the collection of 
information conducted by or for the Secretary of Defense 
through a form or survey, the Secretary— 
(1) may not—
478 
(A) solicit or obtain any information re-
garding the gender identity of an individual; or 
(B) provide an option to indicate that the 
sex or gender of an individual is something 
other than male or female; and 
(2) shall reject a response other than male or 
female to a required question regarding sex or gen-
der. 
(b) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘female’’ means an individual who 
naturally has, had, will have, or would have, but for 
a developmental or genetic anomaly or historical ac-
cident, the reproductive system that, at some point, 
produces, transports, and utilizes eggs for fertiliza-
tion. 
(2) The term ‘‘gender’’— 
(A) means male or female; and 
(B) does not mean gender identity, experi-
enced gender, gender expression, or gender 
roles. 
(3) The term ‘‘gender identity’’ does not mean 
sex or gender. 
(4) The term ‘‘male’’ means an individual who 
naturally has, had, will have, or would have, but for 
a developmental or genetic anomaly or historical ac-
479 
cident, the reproductive system that, at some point, 
produces, transports, and utilizes sperm for fertiliza-
tion. 
(5) The term ‘‘sex’’ means the biological deter-
mination as to whether an individual is male or fe-
male. 
TITLE VI—COMPENSATION AND 
OTHER PERSONNEL BENEFITS 
Subtitle A—Basic Pay and Retired 
Pay 
SEC. 601. CODIFICATION OF APPLICABILITY TO SPACE 
FORCE OF CERTAIN PAY AND ALLOWANCE 
AUTHORITIES. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—Section 101 of title 37, United 
States Code, is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (22), by inserting ‘‘, or for 
members of the Space Force in space force active 
status not on sustained duty,’’ after ‘‘reserve compo-
nent’’ in subparagraphs (A) and (B); and 
(2) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraphs: 
‘‘(27) The term ‘space force active status’ has 
the meaning given that term in section 101 of title 
10.
480 
‘‘(28) The term ‘sustained duty’ has the mean-
ing given that term in section 101 of title 10.’’. 
(b) BASIC PAY.—Chapter 3 of such title is amended 
as follows: 
(1) REFERENCES TO OFFICER GRADES.—Sec-
tion 201(a) of such title is amended— 
(A) by striking ‘‘(1) Subject to paragraph 
(2), for the’’ and inserting ‘‘For the’’; 
(B) by striking ‘‘and Marine Corps’’ in the 
heading of the second column of the table and 
inserting ‘‘Marine Corps, and Space Force’’; 
and 
(C) by striking paragraph (2). 
(2) APPLICABLE
PAY
AND
ALLOWANCES
FOR 
CERTAIN SPACE FORCE MEMBERS WHO ARE PHYS-
ICALLY DISABLED OR INCUR LOSS OF EARNED IN-
COME
WHEN
NOT
ON
SUSTAINED
DUTY.—Sub-
sections (g)(1) and (h)(1) of section 204 of such 
title are amended by inserting ‘‘, or a member of the 
Space Force in space force active status not on sus-
tained duty,’’ after ‘‘of a reserve component of a 
uniformed service’’. 
(3) SERVICE
CREDITABLE
FOR
COMPUTA-
TION.—Section 205(a)(2) of such title is amended—
481 
(A) by transferring subparagraph (F) to 
appear after subparagraph (A) and redesig-
nating that subparagraph as subparagraph (B); 
(B) by redesignating subparagraphs (D) 
and (E) as subparagraphs (E) and (F), respec-
tively; 
(C) by striking subparagraph (C) and re-
designating the original subparagraph (B) as 
subparagraph (D); and 
(D) by inserting after subparagraph (B), 
as transferred and redesignated by subpara-
graph (A) of this paragraph, the following new 
subparagraph (C): 
‘‘(C) the Space Force;’’. 
(4) INACTIVE-DUTY
TRAINING
PAY.—Section 
206 of such title is amended— 
(A) in subsection (a), in the matter pre-
ceding paragraph (1)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘Guard or a’’ and in-
serting ‘‘Guard, a’’; and 
(ii) by inserting ‘‘, or a member of the 
Space Force’’ after ‘‘uniformed service’’ 
the first place it appears; 
(B) in subsection (d)—
482 
(i) in paragraph (1), by inserting ‘‘, 
by a member of the Space Force,’’ after 
‘‘reserve component’’; and 
(ii) in paragraph (2), by inserting ‘‘or 
the Space Force,’’ after ‘‘Ready Reserve’’; 
(C) in subsection (e)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘Guard or of a’’ and 
inserting ‘‘Guard, a’’; and 
(ii) by inserting ‘‘, or the Space 
Force’’ after ‘‘uniformed services’’; and 
(D) in the section heading, by inserting ‘‘; 
MEMBERS
OF
THE
SPACE
FORCE’’ before 
the colon. 
(5) 
PARTICIPATION
IN
THRIFT
SAVINGS 
PLAN.—Section 211(a)(2) of such title is amended 
by inserting ‘‘or the Space Force’’ after ‘‘member of 
the Ready Reserve’’. 
(c) SPECIAL PAY, INCENTIVE PAY, AND BONUS AU-
THORITIES.—Subchapter II of chapter 5 of such title is 
amended as follows: 
(1) GENERAL
BONUS
AUTHORITY
FOR
EN-
LISTED
MEMBERS.—Section 331 of such title is 
amended— 
(A) in subsection (a)—
483 
(i) by striking ‘‘or’’ at the end of 
paragraph (4); 
(ii) by striking the period at the end 
of paragraph (5) and inserting ‘‘; or’’; and 
(iii) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new paragraph: 
‘‘(6) transfers from a regular component or re-
serve component of an armed force to the Space 
Force or from the Space Force to a regular compo-
nent or reserve component of another armed force, 
subject to the approval of the Secretary with juris-
diction over the armed force to which the member is 
transferring.’’; and 
(B) in subsection (c)(1)— 
(i) in subparagraph (B), by inserting 
‘‘, or in the Space Force on sustained duty 
under section 20105 of title 10,’’ after ‘‘in 
a regular component’’; 
(ii) in subparagraph (C), by inserting 
‘‘, or in the Space Force in space force ac-
tive status not on sustained duty under 
section 20105 of title 10,’’ after ‘‘in a re-
serve component’’; and
484 
(iii) in subparagraph (D), by striking 
‘‘paragraph (4) or (5)’’ and inserting 
‘‘paragraph (4), (5), or (6)’’. 
(2) GENERAL
BONUS
AUTHORITY
FOR
OFFI-
CERS.—Section 332 of such title is amended— 
(A) in subsection (a)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘or’’ at the end of 
paragraph (4); 
(ii) by striking the period at the end 
of paragraph (5) and inserting ‘‘; or’’; and 
(iii) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new paragraph: 
‘‘(6) transfers from a regular component or re-
serve component of a uniformed service to the Space 
Force or from the Space Force to a regular compo-
nent or reserve component of another uniformed 
service, subject to the approval of the Secretary with 
jurisdiction over the uniformed service to which the 
member is transferring.’’; and 
(B) in subsection (c)(1)— 
(i) in subparagraph (C), by inserting 
‘‘, or in the Space Force on sustained duty 
under section 20105 of title 10,’’ after ‘‘in 
a regular component’’;
485 
(ii) in subparagraph (D), by inserting 
‘‘, or in the Space Force in space force ac-
tive status not on sustained duty under 
section 20105 of title 10,’’ after ‘‘in a re-
serve component’’ and 
(iii) in subparagraph (E), by striking 
‘‘paragraph (4) or (5)’’ and inserting 
‘‘paragraph (4), (5), or (6)’’. 
(3) SPECIAL
AVIATION
INCENTIVE
PAY
OR 
BONUS FOR OFFICERS.—Section 334 of such title is 
amended— 
(A) by striking ‘‘in a regular or reserve 
component’’ in subsections (a)(1), (b), (h)(1), 
(h)(2), and (h)(3); 
(B) in subsection (b)(3), by inserting ‘‘, or, 
in the case of an officer of the Space Force, to 
remain in space force active status,’’ after ‘‘in 
a reserve component’’; and 
(C) in subsection (e)— 
(i) in the subsection heading, by strik-
ing ‘‘RESERVE COMPONENT’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘A reserve component 
officer’’ and inserting ‘‘An officer.’’.
486 
(4) SPECIAL
PAYS.—Sections 351(a), 352(a), 
353(a), and 353(b) of such title are amended by 
striking ‘‘of a regular or reserve component’’. 
(5) RETENTION
INCENTIVES
FOR
MEMBERS 
QUALIFIED IN CRITICAL MILITARY SKILLS OR AS-
SIGNED TO HIGH PRIORITY UNITS.—Section 355 of 
such title is amended— 
(A) in subsection (a)— 
(i) in the matter preceding paragraph 
(1)— 
(I) by striking ‘‘An officer or en-
listed member’’ and inserting ‘‘A 
member’’; and 
(II) by inserting ‘‘, or a member 
the Space Force who is serving in 
space force active status,’’ after ‘‘in a 
reserve component’’; and 
(ii) in paragraph (1), by inserting ‘‘or 
to remain in space force active status for 
at least one year’’ before the semicolon at 
the end; 
(B) in subsection (d)(1), by inserting ‘‘or 
a member of the Space Force not on sustained 
duty’’ in the second sentence after ‘‘reserve 
component member’’; and
487 
(C) in subsection (e)— 
(i) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘ac-
tive duty or service in an active status in 
a reserve component’’ in subparagraph (A) 
and the first place it appears in subpara-
graph (B) and inserting ‘‘a specified form 
of service (or combination thereof)’’; 
(ii) in paragraphs (1)(B), (2), (3), 
and (4), by striking ‘‘active duty or service 
in an active status in a reserve component 
for which’’ and inserting ‘‘service for 
which’’; and 
(iii) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new paragraph: 
‘‘(5) In this subsection, the term ‘specified form 
of service’ means— 
‘‘(A) service on active duty; 
‘‘(B) service in an active status in a re-
serve component; or 
‘‘(C) service in the Space Force in space 
force active status.’’. 
(6) CONTINUATION PAY FOR FULL TSP MEM-
BERS WITH 7 TO 12 YEARS OF SERVICE.—Section 
356(b) of such title is amended—
488 
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph 
(1)— 
(i) in the second sentence, by striking 
‘‘or a reserve component’’ and inserting ‘‘, 
a member of the Space Force on sustained 
duty, or a member of a reserve compo-
nent’’; and 
(ii) in the third sentence, by inserting 
‘‘or a member of the Space Force in space 
force active status not on sustained duty’’ 
after ‘‘(as so defined)’’; 
(B) in paragraph (1), by inserting ‘‘or a 
member of the Space Force on sustained duty’’ 
in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) after 
‘‘of a regular component’’; and 
(C) in paragraph (2)— 
(i) by inserting ‘‘or a member of the 
Space Force in space force active status 
and not on sustained duty’’ in the matter 
preceding subparagraph (A) after ‘‘of a re-
serve component’’; and 
(ii) by inserting ‘‘or a member of the 
Space Force on sustained duty, respec-
tively,’’ in subparagraph (A) after ‘‘of a 
regular component’’.
489 
(d) ADMINISTRATION OF SPECIAL PAY, INCENTIVE 
PAY, AND BONUS AUTHORITIES.—Subchapter III of chap-
ter 5 of such title is amended as follows: 
(1) CONTINUATION OF PAY AND ALLOWANCES 
DURING CERTAIN HOSPITALIZATION AND REHABILI-
TATION.—Section 372(a) of such title is amended by 
striking ‘‘of a regular or reserve component’’. 
(2) REPAYMENT
OF
UNEARNED
PORTION
OF 
BONUS
OR
SPECIAL
OR
INCENTIVE
PAY.—Section 
373(d)(2)(A) of such title is amended by striking ‘‘in 
a regular or reserve component who remains on ac-
tive duty or in an active status’’ and inserting ‘‘who 
remains on active duty, in an active status in a re-
serve component, or in space force active status’’. 
(e) ALLOWANCES OTHER THAN TRAVEL AND TRANS-
PORTATION ALLOWANCES.—Section 416 of such title is 
amended by inserting ‘‘an officer of the Space Force not 
on sustained duty,’’ after ‘‘of component,’’. 
(f) LEAVE.—Section 501 of such title is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) by inserting ‘‘, or of the Space Force,’’ 
in paragraphs (4) and (5) after ‘‘of a reserve 
component’’; and
490 
(B) by inserting ‘‘, or from the Space 
Force,’’ in paragraph (4) after ‘‘from the re-
serve component’’; and 
(2) in subsection (b)(5)— 
(A) in subparagraphs (A) and (D), by in-
serting ‘‘, or a member of the Space Force in 
space force active status not on sustained 
duty,’’ after ‘‘of a reserve component’’; and 
(B) in subparagraph (C), by striking ‘‘Reg-
ular’’ before ‘‘Space Force’’. 
(g) MISCELLANEOUS
RIGHTS
AND
BENEFITS.— 
Chapter 17 of such title is amended as follows: 
(1) Section 908(a)(2) of such title is amended 
by inserting ‘‘and members of the Space Force in 
space force active status not on sustained duty’’ 
after ‘‘of the armed forces’’. 
(2) Section 910 of such title is amended— 
(A) by inserting ‘‘or of the Space Force’’ 
after ‘‘of the armed forces’’ in subsection (a); 
(B) by inserting ‘‘or the Space Force’’ 
after ‘‘a reserve component’’ in subsections 
(b)(1), (b)(2), (b)(3), and (e)(1); and 
(C) in the heading of such section by in-
serting ‘‘AND
MEMBERS
OF
THE
SPACE
491 
FORCE’’ 
after 
‘‘RESERVE
COMPONENT 
MEMBERS’’. 
(h) ADMINISTRATION.—Section 1002 of such title is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘of the National Guard, or 
of a reserve component of a uniformed service,’’ 
and inserting ‘‘of a reserve component of a uni-
formed service, or of the Space Force’’; 
(B) by striking ‘‘his consent’’ and inserting 
‘‘the member’s consent’’; and 
(C) in subsection (c), by inserting ‘‘or the 
Space Force’’ after ‘‘of a reserve component’’; 
and 
(2) in the heading, by striking ‘‘AND MEM-
BERS
OF
NATIONAL
GUARD’’ and inserting ‘‘; 
MEMBERS
OF
THE
NATIONAL
GUARD; MEM-
BERS OF THE SPACE FORCE’’. 
(i) CONFORMING AMENDMENT TO REFLECT CHANGE 
OF NAME OF SPACE AND MISSILE SYSTEMS CENTER TO 
SPACE SYSTEMS COMMAND.—Section 2273a(a) of title 
10, United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘Air 
Force Space and Missile Systems Center’’ and inserting 
‘‘Space Force Space Systems Command’’.
492 
Subtitle B—Bonus and Incentive 
Pays 
SEC. 611. ONE-YEAR EXTENSION OF CERTAIN EXPIRING 
BONUS AND SPECIAL PAY AUTHORITIES. 
(a) 
AUTHORITIES
RELATING
TO
RESERVE 
FORCES.—Section 910(g) of title 37, United States Code, 
relating to income replacement payments for reserve com-
ponent members experiencing extended and frequent mo-
bilization for active duty service, is amended by striking 
‘‘December 31, 2025’’ and inserting ‘‘December 31, 
2026’’. 
(b) TITLE 10 AUTHORITIES RELATING TO HEALTH 
CARE PROFESSIONALS.—The following sections of title 
10, United States Code, are amended by striking ‘‘Decem-
ber 31, 2025’’ and inserting ‘‘December 31, 2026’’: 
(1) Section 2130a(a)(1), relating to nurse offi-
cer candidate accession program. 
(2) Section 16302(d), relating to repayment of 
education loans for certain health professionals who 
serve in the Selected Reserve. 
(c) AUTHORITIES RELATING
TO NUCLEAR OFFI-
CERS.—Section 333(i) of title 37, United States Code, is 
amended by striking ‘‘December 31, 2025’’ and inserting 
‘‘December 31, 2026’’.
493 
(d) AUTHORITIES RELATING TO TITLE 37 CONSOLI-
DATED SPECIAL PAY, INCENTIVE PAY, AND BONUS AU-
THORITIES.—The following sections of title 37, United 
States Code, are amended by striking ‘‘December 31, 
2025’’ and inserting ‘‘December 31, 2026’’: 
(1) Section 331(h), relating to general bonus 
authority for enlisted members. 
(2) Section 332(g), relating to general bonus 
authority for officers. 
(3) Section 334(i), relating to special aviation 
incentive pay and bonus authorities for officers. 
(4) Section 335(k), relating to special bonus 
and incentive pay authorities for officers in health 
professions. 
(5) Section 336(g), relating to contracting 
bonus for cadets and midshipmen enrolled in the 
Senior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps. 
(6) Section 351(h), relating to hazardous duty 
pay. 
(7) Section 352(g), relating to assignment pay 
or special duty pay. 
(8) Section 353(i), relating to skill incentive 
pay or proficiency bonus.
494 
(9) Section 355(h), relating to retention incen-
tives for members qualified in critical military skills 
or assigned to high priority units. 
(e) AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE TEMPORARY INCREASE 
IN RATES OF BASIC ALLOWANCE FOR HOUSING.—Section 
403(b) of title 37, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (7)(E), relating to an area 
covered by a major disaster declaration or con-
taining an installation experiencing an influx of mili-
tary personnel, by striking ‘‘December 31, 2025’’ 
and inserting ‘‘December 31, 2026’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (8)(C), relating to an area 
where actual housing costs differ from current rates 
by more than 20 percent, by striking ‘‘December 31, 
2025’’ and inserting ‘‘December 31, 2026’’. 
SEC. 612. INCENTIVE PAY: EXPLOSIVE ORDNANCE DIS-
POSAL DUTY. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Subchapter I of chapter 5 of 
title 37, United States Code, is amended by inserting after 
section 301e the following new section: 
‘‘§ 301f. Incentive pay: explosive ordnance disposal 
duty. 
‘‘(a) ELIGIBILITY.—(1) Subject to regulations pre-
scribed by the Secretary of Defense, a regular member of 
a covered armed force is entitled to continuous monthly
495 
explosive ordnance disposal duty incentive pay in the 
amount specified in subsection (b)(1) if the member— 
‘‘(A) is entitled to basic pay; 
‘‘(B) holds (or is in training leading to) an ex-
plosive ordnance disposal duty designator; and 
‘‘(C) is in and remains in explosive ordnance 
disposal duty on a career basis. 
‘‘(2) Subject to regulations prescribed by the Sec-
retary of Defense, a member of a covered armed force who 
is entitled to basic pay but is not entitled to continuous 
monthly explosive ordnance disposal duty incentive pay 
under paragraph (1) is entitled to explosive ordnance dis-
posal duty incentive pay in the amount prescribed pursu-
ant to subsection (b)(2) for any period during which such 
member performs explosive ordnance disposal duty under 
orders. 
‘‘(b) RATES.—(1) Continuous monthly explosive ord-
nance disposal duty incentive pay under subsection (a)(1) 
shall be in the following amounts: 
‘‘Years of explosive ordnance disposal 
duty (including training): 
Monthly Rate 
2 or fewer 
$125 
Over 2 
$156 
Over 3 
$188 
Over 4 
$206 
Over 6 
$650 
Over 8 
$800 
Over 10 
$1,000 
Over 17 
$840 
Over 22 
$585 
Over 24 
$385
496 
‘‘Years of explosive ordnance disposal 
duty (including training): 
Monthly Rate 
Over 25 
$250 
‘‘(2) Explosive ordnance disposal duty incentive pay 
under subsection (a)(2)— 
‘‘(A) shall be in amounts prescribed by the Sec-
retary of Defense; 
‘‘(B) may not, for any month, exceed the max-
imum amount specified in paragraph (1); and 
‘‘(C) may not be less per day than the amount 
under subsection (d). 
‘‘(c) COMPUTATION OF YEARS.—Years of explosive 
ordnance disposal duty by a member shall be computed 
beginning with the effective date of the initial order to 
such member to perform explosive ordnance disposal duty. 
‘‘(d) APPLICABILITY TO CERTAIN DUTY IN THE RE-
SERVE COMPONENTS.—Under regulations prescribed by 
the Secretary of Defense and to the extent provided for 
by appropriations, for each day that a member of the re-
serve component of a covered armed force who is entitled 
to compensation under section 206 of this title performs, 
under orders, explosive ordnance disposal duty, such mem-
ber is eligible for an increase in compensation equal to 
one-thirtieth of the continuous monthly incentive pay 
under subsection (b)(1) for a member of corresponding 
years of service entitled to basic pay.
497 
‘‘(e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) The term ‘covered armed force’ means the 
Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, or Space 
Force. 
‘‘(2) The term ‘explosive ordnance disposal’ has 
the meaning given such term in section 2284 of title 
10. 
‘‘(3) The term ‘explosive ordnance disposal 
duty’ means duty performed by a member of a cov-
ered armed force, under regulations prescribed by 
the Secretary of Defense, in explosive ordnance dis-
posal.’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—Section 301f of title 37, 
United States Code, added by this section, shall take effect 
on the date that is 180 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act and apply to explosive ordnance disposal 
duty performed on or after such date. 
SEC. 613. STANDARDIZATION OF CYBER ASSIGNMENT IN-
CENTIVE PAY FOR MEMBERS OF THE ARMED 
FORCES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter III of chapter 5 of 
title 37, United States Code, is amended by adding at the 
end the following new section:
498 
‘‘§ 375. Standardization of cyber assignment incentive 
pay 
‘‘(a) POLICY.—The Secretary of Defense shall estab-
lish and implement a standardized policy for cyber assign-
ment incentive pay applicable to all members of the Army, 
Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Space Force per-
forming qualifying cyber operations roles. 
‘‘(b) ELEMENTS.—The policy under subsection (a) 
shall— 
‘‘(1) define uniform eligibility criteria based on 
work-role certification, mission assignment, and 
readiness requirements; 
‘‘(2) establish a tiered pay structure based on 
proficiency levels and operational demands; 
‘‘(3) ensure parity in pay rates and qualifica-
tion standards throughout the armed forces specified 
in subsection (a); 
‘‘(4) provide guidance for continuation of cyber 
assignment incentive pay during moves relating to 
changes of permanent station, subject to continued 
eligibility; and 
‘‘(5) include procedures for periodic review and 
adjustment of cyber assignment incentive pay rates 
to reflect evolving mission needs and market com-
petitiveness.
499 
‘‘(c) CYBER
ASSIGNMENT
INCENTIVE
PAY
DE-
FINED.—In this section, the term ‘cyber assignment incen-
tive pay’ means special pay authorized under this chapter 
for members of the armed forces assigned to designated 
cyber operations roles.’’. 
(b) BRIEFING.—Not later than 270 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense 
shall brief the congressional defense committees on the im-
plementation of section 375 of title 37, United States 
Code, as added by subsection (a) of this section, including 
any anticipated impacts on recruitment, retention, and 
readiness of cyber personnel. 
SEC. 614. EXTENDING CERTAIN TRAVEL ALLOWANCE FOR 
MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES ASSIGNED 
TO ALASKA. 
Section 603(b) of the James M. Inhofe National De-
fense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (Public law 
117–263) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1), by inserting ‘‘and the pe-
riod specified in paragraph (6)’’ after ‘‘paragraph 
(5)’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(6) PERIOD SPECIFIED.—The period specified 
in this paragraph is the period—
500 
‘‘(A) beginning on the date of the enact-
ment of this paragraph; and 
‘‘(B) ending on December 31, 2026.’’. 
SEC. 615. PILOT PROGRAM ON IMPROVING RETENTION OF 
MEMBERS WITH DEGREES IN THEIR FIELDS 
OF SPECIALTY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense shall es-
tablish a pilot program to assess the feasibility and advis-
ability of paying incentive pay to certain enlisted members 
of the Armed Forces with degrees in their fields of spe-
cialty to improve the retention of such members. 
(b) PAYMENT OF INCENTIVE PAY.—Under the pilot 
program required by subsection (a), the Secretary con-
cerned may pay monthly incentive pay to a member of the 
Armed Forces who— 
(1) is an enlisted member; 
(2) has less than 4 years of service in the 
Armed Forces; 
(3) has a degree in the member’s field of spe-
cialty, as determined by the Secretary concerned; 
and 
(4) commits to reenlisting. 
(c) TERMINATION.—The pilot program required by 
subsection (a) shall terminate on the date that is 5 years 
after the date of the enactment of this section.
501 
(d) REPORT
REQUIRED.—After the termination 
under subsection (c) of the pilot program required by sub-
section (a), the Secretary shall submit to the congressional 
defense committees a report on the effectiveness of the 
pilot program in retaining highly qualified members that 
includes an assessment of— 
(1) the effect of the pilot program on retention 
rates; 
(2) satisfaction of members with the pilot pro-
gram; and 
(3) the overall cost-effectiveness of the pilot 
program. 
(e) SECRETARY CONCERNED DEFINED.—In this sec-
tion, the term ‘‘Secretary concerned’’ has the meaning 
given that term in section 101 of title 10, United States 
Code. 
Subtitle C—Allowances 
SEC. 621. BASIC NEEDS ALLOWANCE: EXCLUSION OF BASIC 
ALLOWANCE FOR HOUSING FROM THE CAL-
CULATION OF GROSS HOUSEHOLD INCOME 
OF AN ELIGIBLE MEMBER OF THE ARMED 
FORCES. 
Section 402b(k)(1)(B) of title 37, United States 
Code, is amended—
502 
(1) by striking ‘‘in’’ and all that follows 
through ‘‘portion of’’; and 
(2) by striking ‘‘that the Secretary concerned 
elects to exclude’’ and inserting ‘‘paid to such mem-
ber’’. 
SEC. 622. FAMILY SEPARATION ALLOWANCE: INCREASE. 
Section 427(a) of title 37, United States Code, is 
amended in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘not less than 
$250, and not more than $400’’ and inserting ‘‘equal to 
$400’’. 
SEC. 623. REPORT REGARDING THE BASIC ALLOWANCE 
FOR SUBSISTENCE AND MILITARY FOOD PRO-
GRAMS. 
(a) REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later than September 
30, 2026, and annually thereafter through 2030, the Sec-
retary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretaries of 
the military departments, shall submit to the Committees 
on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Represent-
atives a report described in subsection (b). 
(b) REPORT DESCRIBED.—A report described in this 
subsection shall explain how, during the fiscal year in 
which the Secretary submits such report— 
(1) the Secretary of Defense allocated funds for 
the basic allowance for subsistence under section
503 
402 of title 37, United States Code, to pay for food 
programs; 
(2) subsistence in-kind is budgeted to pay for 
food programs on military installations; and 
(3) the Secretaries of the military departments 
used budget authorities to fund the fully burdened 
cost of feeding members— 
(A) of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air 
Force, and Space Force; and 
(B) who were assigned to essential station 
messing during such fiscal year. 
SEC. 624. BASIC ALLOWANCE FOR HOUSING: STUDY TO 
EVALUATE ALTERNATIVE RATE CALCULA-
TION. 
(a) AUTHORITY.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than September 
30, 2026, the Secretary of Defense shall seek to 
enter into an agreement with a covered entity to 
conduct a study in which the covered entity shall 
calculate, using industry-standard machine learning 
and an artificial intelligence algorithm, proposed 
monthly rates of BAH described in subsection (b) 
for MHAs selected under subsection (c). 
(2) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—During such a 
study, the Secretary shall pay BAH in MHAs se-
504 
lected under subsection (c) at rates prescribed under 
section 403 of title 37, United States Code. 
(b) PROPOSED
MONTHLY
RATES.—A proposed 
monthly rate of BAH described in this subsection— 
(1) accurately reflects housing prices in the 
MHA subject to such rate; and 
(2) is sufficient for military families who reside 
in such MHA to procure adequate and affordable 
housing. 
(c) MHAS.—The Secretary shall select not fewer 
than 15 MHAs to participate in such a study. To select 
an MHA, the Secretary shall consider factors including 
the following: 
(1) Variety of geographic location. 
(2) The ranks of members who reside in an 
MHA. 
(3) Whether members who reside in an MHA 
have dependents. 
(4) Economic factors including inflation, cost of 
living, and the cost of private mortgage insurance. 
(d) TERMINATION.—A study under this section shall 
terminate on the day that is three years after the date 
on which the Secretary enters into an agreement with a 
covered entity.
505 
(e) ANNUAL BRIEFINGS.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, and on an 
annual basis thereafter through the termination date 
under subsection (d), the Secretary shall provide to the 
Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the 
House of Representatives a briefing on the status of a 
study under this section. 
(f) REPORT.—Not later than 120 days after the date 
of the termination of such a study, the Secretary shall sub-
mit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate 
and House of Representatives a report regarding such 
study. Such report shall include the following elements: 
(1) An evaluation by the Secretary of the pro-
posed monthly rates of BAH calculated by a covered 
entity pursuant to an agreement under subsection 
(a). 
(2) Any recommendation of the Secretary re-
garding legislation to improve the calculation of 
BAH process based on the study. 
(g) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘BAH’’ means the basic allow-
ance for housing for members of the uniformed serv-
ices under section 403 of title 37, United States 
Code.
506 
(2) The term ‘‘covered entity’’ means a nation-
ally recognized entity in the field of single-family 
housing that has data on local rental rates in real 
estate markets across the United States. 
(3) The term ‘‘MHA’’ means military housing 
area. 
SEC. 625. STUDY ON ADJUSTMENTS TO BASIC ALLOWANCE 
FOR HOUSING CALCULATION. 
(a) STUDY.—The Secretary of Defense, in consulta-
tion with the Secretary of Homeland Security, shall con-
duct a study to evaluate potential adjustments to the 
methods for determining the monthly rates for the basic 
allowance for housing under section 403 of title 37, United 
States Code. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The study required by subsection 
(a) shall include— 
(1) an estimate of the additional costs or sav-
ings to the Department of Defense of establishing 
monthly rates for basic allowance for housing based 
on a market analysis from within a commuting area 
that is defined as a 120-minute or less round-trip 
driving time from the residence of a member of the 
Armed Forces to the assigned duty station of such 
member; and
507 
(2) an assessment of the impact on the quality 
of life, recruitment, and retention of members of the 
Armed Forces if monthly rates are established as de-
scribed in paragraph (1), particularly with respect to 
members assigned to unique geographic areas in 
which local housing conditions create dispropor-
tionate challenges, including— 
(A) Montauk, New York; 
(B) Shinnecock, New York; and 
(C) Nantucket, Massachusetts. 
(c) 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 the House of Representatives a report con-
taining the results of the study required by subsection (a). 
SEC. 626. TEMPORARY ADJUSTMENT TO A RATE OF THE 
BASIC ALLOWANCE FOR HOUSING FOR MEM-
BERS OF THE UNIFORMED SERVICES: LOWER 
THRESHOLD; PERMANENT AUTHORITY. 
Section 403(b)(8) of title 37, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘20 per-
cent’’ and inserting ‘‘15 percent’’; and 
(2) by striking subparagraph (C).
508 
Subtitle D—Leave 
SEC. 631. BEREAVEMENT LEAVE FOR A MEMBER OF THE 
ARMED FORCES IN THE CASE OF A LOSS OF 
PREGNANCY OR STILLBIRTH. 
Subsection (l)(1)(A) of section 701 of title 10, United 
States Code, is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘the death of an immediate fam-
ily member.’’ and inserting an em dash; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following new 
clauses: 
‘‘(i) the death of an immediate family member; 
or 
‘‘(ii) the loss of a pregnancy or a stillbirth by 
such member or the spouse of such member.’’. 
SEC. 632. CONVALESCENT LEAVE FOR CADETS AND MID-
SHIPMEN. 
Section 702 of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) by redesignating subsections (c), (d), and 
(e) as subsections (d), (e), and (f), respectively; 
(2) by inserting after subsection (b) the fol-
lowing new subsection: 
‘‘(c) CONVALESCENT LEAVE.—An academy cadet or 
midshipman diagnosed with a medical condition is allowed 
convalescent leave under section 701(m) of this title.’’; and
509 
(3) in subsection (d), as redesignated by para-
graph (1) of this section, by striking ‘‘Sections 701’’ 
and inserting ‘‘Except as provided by subsection (c), 
sections 701’’. 
SEC. 633. IMPROVED PARENTAL LEAVE FOR MEMBERS OF 
THE ARMED FORCES. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following: 
(1) In December 2022, Congress expanded the 
paid parental leave for members of the Armed 
Forces to 12 weeks during the 12 months after the 
‘‘birth or adoption of a child of the member and in 
order to care for such child’’ or the ‘‘placement of 
a minor child with the member for adoption or long- 
term foster care’’ (10 U.S.C. 701(h)(1)(A)). 
(2) The expansion of parental leave raises con-
cerns that members who take such leave may receive 
lower evaluations compared to those who do not. 
(3) There is currently no provision to exempt 
members from evaluations due to parental leave, po-
tentially deterring eligible members from taking this 
leave. 
(4) Each Secretary of a military department 
has been given authority to implement the leave poli-
cies but have not provided explicit guidance on how
510 
to characterize such leave for the purposes of evalua-
tions. 
(5) All Armed Forces have non-rated codes or 
not observed evaluations to exempt members from 
evaluations during periods where their performance 
is not observed, but these do not align across the 
Armed Forces and do not specifically apply to paren-
tal leave. 
(6) Members who are parents face unique hard-
ships, and the 12 weeks of paid family leave for both 
mothers and fathers, for birth and adoption, is de-
signed to balance the care needs of their children 
with the demands of their unit. 
(7) Excessive paperwork required to extend the 
use of the 12 weeks of military family leave beyond 
one year additionally burdens members and de-
creases flexibility. 
(b) REQUIREMENTS.—Not later than 180 days after 
the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary 
of Defense shall— 
(1) prescribe regulations— 
(A) that exempt a member of the Armed 
Forces who is taking parental leave, under sub-
paragraph (A) of paragraph (1) of section 
701(h) of title 10, United States Code, that ex-
511 
ceeds 31 consecutive days, from a performance 
evaluation; and 
(B) under subparagraph (B) of such para-
graph, to authorize a member to take leave 
under such section during the two-year period 
beginning on the birth, adoption, or placement 
described in such paragraph without having to 
request a waiver from the Secretary concerned; 
and 
(2) submit to the Committees on Armed Forces 
of the Senate and House of Representatives a report 
regarding the implementation of this section. 
Subtitle E—Family and Survivor 
Benefits 
SEC. 641. ANNUAL REVIEW OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE LIM-
ITS FOR CHILD CARE AND YOUTH PROGRAM 
SERVICES PROVIDERS. 
Section 1798 of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following new sub-
section: 
‘‘(d) ANNUAL REVIEW
OF AMOUNT
OF ASSIST-
ANCE.—The Secretary shall annually review the amount 
of financial assistance provided under this section, includ-
ing the maximum amount of financial assistance per
512 
month per child that the Secretary authorizes to be pro-
vided to eligible providers under this section.’’. 
SEC. 642. WAIVER OF REQUIREMENTS FOR AIR TRANSPOR-
TATION OF DECEASED MEMBERS OF THE 
ARMED FORCES WHEN NECESSARY TO MEET 
MISSION REQUIREMENTS. 
Section 562(c) of the John Warner National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007 (Public Law 109– 
364; 10 U.S.C. 1482 note) is amended by adding at the 
end the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(4) WAIVER.—The Secretary concerned may 
waive the requirements of paragraphs (1) and (3) as 
the Secretary considers necessary to meet mission 
requirements during— 
‘‘(A) a time of war; 
‘‘(B) a national emergency requiring the 
use of significant personnel and aircraft; 
‘‘(C) a large-scale combat operation; or 
‘‘(D) a contingency operation.’’. 
Subtitle F—Defense Resale Matters 
SEC. 651. USE OF COMMISSARY STORES: CIVILIAN EMPLOY-
EES OF MILITARY SEALIFT COMMAND. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1066 of title 10, United 
States Code, is amended, in subsection (a)—
513 
(1) by inserting ‘‘(1)’’ before ‘‘An individual’’; 
and 
(2) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(2) A civil service mariner of the Military Sealift 
Command may be permitted to use commissary stores and 
MWR retail facilities on the same basis as members of 
the armed forces on active duty.’’. 
(b) TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 
Such section is further amended— 
(1) in the section heading, by striking ‘‘pro-
tective services’’ and inserting ‘‘certain’’; and 
(2) in the heading of subsection (a), by striking 
‘‘PROTECTIVE SERVICES’’ and inserting ‘‘CERTAIN’’. 
SEC. 652. MWR RETAIL FACILITIES: USE BY CIVILIAN EM-
PLOYEES OF THE ARMED FORCES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 54 of title 10, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new section: 
‘‘§ 1067. MWR facilities: civilian employees 
‘‘(a) CURRENT EMPLOYEES.—Subject to subsection 
(c) of this section and section 1066 of this title, a civilian 
employee of the Department of Defense or department in 
which the Coast Guard is operating shall be permitted to
514 
use MWR retail facilities on the same basis as members 
of the armed forces on active duty. 
‘‘(b) RETIRED EMPLOYEES.—Subject to subsection 
(c), a retired civilian employee of the Department of De-
fense or department in which the Coast Guard is operating 
shall be permitted to use MWR retail facilities on the same 
basis as members of the armed forces on active duty. 
‘‘(c) LIMITATION.—A civilian employee or retired ci-
vilian employee may not purchase tobacco or a military 
uniform at MWR retail facilities. 
‘‘(d) MWR RETAIL FACILITIES DEFINED.—In this 
section, the term ‘MWR retail facilities’ has the meaning 
given such term in section 1063 of this title.’’. 
(b) REGULATIONS.—The Secretary of Defense shall 
prescribe regulations under section 1067 of such title, as 
added by this section, not later than 30 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 653. SINGLE-USE SHOPPING BAGS IN COMMISSARY 
STORES. 
Section 2485 of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following new sub-
section: 
‘‘(j) SINGLE-USE SHOPPING BAGS.—The Defense 
Commissary Agency may not prohibit the use of, or charge
515 
a fee for, single-use shopping bags in a commissary 
store.’’. 
SEC. 654. PILOT PROGRAM ON NUTRITION RATINGS FOR 
FOOD SOLD IN COMMISSARIES. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than September 30, 
2026, the Secretary of Defense shall carry out a pilot pro-
gram to provide a nutrition rating system— 
(1) that indicates the overall nutritional value 
of foods based on nutrient density and ingredient 
quality; 
(2) for food sold in at least 10 commissary 
stores; and 
(3) through the Commissary CLICK2GO mo-
bile application and online platform. 
(b) THIRD-PARTY SYSTEM AUTHORIZED.—The Sec-
retary may carry out the pilot program by using a system 
operated by an entity that— 
(1) is not owned or operated by food company; 
(2) uses transparent, evidence-based method-
ology, grounded in current nutrition science and 
public health guidelines; and 
(3) can rate the nutritonal value of— 
(A) at least 80 percent of foods available 
at participating commissary stores; and
516 
(B) a wide range of food products, includ-
ing single-ingredient foods, package goods, and 
mixed meals. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than September 30, 2028, 
the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report regarding 
the pilot program that includes recommendations of the 
Secretary to improve the nutritional value of foods sold 
in commissary stores. 
(d) TERMINATION.—The pilot program under this 
section shall terminate on September 30, 2030. 
Subtitle G—Other Benefits, 
Reports, and Briefings 
SEC. 661. PROVISION OF INFORMATION REGARDING RELO-
CATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS FOR MEM-
BERS RECEIVING ORDERS FOR A CHANGE OF 
PERMANENT STATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1056 of title 10, United 
States Code, is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b)(2)— 
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘and 
community orientation’’ and inserting ‘‘commu-
nity orientation, education systems, school en-
rollment procedures, and State-specific provi-
sions under the Interstate Compact on Edu-
cational Opportunity for Military Children’’;
517 
(B) in subparagraph (C), by striking ‘‘and 
community orientation’’ and inserting ‘‘commu-
nity orientation, and educational resources for 
dependent children, including school transition 
assistance, academic continuity, and special 
education services’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following new 
subparagraph: 
‘‘(E) Educational planning and support services 
for dependent children with disabilities, including 
procedures for transferring individualized education 
programs and coordinating with the Exceptional 
Family Member Program.’’; 
(2) by redesignating subsections (e) and (f) as 
subsections (f) and (g), respectively; and 
(3) by inserting after subsection (d) the fol-
lowing new subsection: 
‘‘(e) PROVISION OF INFORMATION ON PROGRAM.— 
(1) The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that members 
of the armed forces and the families of those members 
are provided information regarding available assistance 
under this section and any other assistance relating to a 
change of permanent station available under any other 
provision of law.
518 
‘‘(2) The Secretary shall ensure that information re-
quired to be provided under this subsection is provided to 
a member of the armed forces and the family of that mem-
ber not later than 45 days before the date on which a 
change of permanent station takes effect for that member. 
‘‘(3) The information provided under this subsection 
shall include— 
‘‘(A) information on family assistance programs 
authorized under section 1788 of this title, including 
financial planning resources, spouse employment 
support, and community integration services; 
‘‘(B) guidance on available housing assistance, 
including on-base housing options, rental protec-
tions, and resources for off-base relocation; 
‘‘(C) mental health and well-being support serv-
ices, including those accessible during the period of 
transition for a change of permanent station; 
‘‘(D) educational resources for dependent chil-
dren, including school transition assistance and spe-
cial education services; 
‘‘(E) information on available legal and finan-
cial counseling programs; and 
‘‘(F) any other assistance programs that sup-
port members of the armed forces and their families 
during relocation.
519 
‘‘(4) The Secretary of Defense shall— 
‘‘(A) incorporate the information required to be 
provided under this subsection into accessible mate-
rials and briefings provided to members of the 
armed forces relating to a change of permanent sta-
tion; 
‘‘(B) ensure that the program under this sec-
tion provides accessible materials and briefings at 
military installations and through online resources; 
‘‘(C) develop a communication strategy, includ-
ing digital outreach and printed materials, to in-
crease awareness of the program under this section 
and assistance available under other provisions of 
law relating to a change of permanent station; and 
‘‘(D) assess the satisfaction of members of the 
armed forces and their families with the information 
provided under this subsection.’’. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than one year after the date 
of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for three 
years, the Secretary of Defense shall provide to the Com-
mittees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House 
of Representatives a briefing on the implementation of the 
amendments made by this section. Such briefing shall in-
clude—
520 
(1) the status of efforts to integrate informa-
tion required to be provided by subsection (e) of sec-
tion 1056 of title 10, United States Code, as added 
by subsection (a) of this section, into accessible ma-
terials and briefings provided to members of the 
armed forces and their families relating to a change 
of permanent station; 
(2) an assessment of the awareness by members 
of the armed forces and their families of available 
programs in support of a change of permanent sta-
tion; and 
(3) any recommendations of the Secretary for 
improving the dissemination of information related 
to relocation and family assistance programs. 
SEC. 662. EXPANSION OF PILOT PROGRAM TO INCREASE 
ACCESS TO FOOD ON MILITARY INSTALLA-
TIONS. 
Section 654 of the Servicemember Quality of Life Im-
provement and National Defense Authorization Act for 
Fiscal Year 2025 (Public Law 118–159; 10 U.S.C. 1060a 
note) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘Secretary of the Army’’ 
and inserting ‘‘Secretary of a military depart-
ment’’; and
521 
(B) by striking ‘‘installations of the Army 
for members of the Army’’ and inserting ‘‘in-
stallations under the jurisdiction of the Sec-
retary for members of the Armed Forces’’; 
(2) in subsection (b), by inserting ‘‘of the mili-
tary department concerned’’ after ‘‘Secretary’’; and 
(3) by striking subsection (d) and inserting the 
following new subsection (d): 
‘‘(d) REPORTING.— 
‘‘(1) PROGRESS REPORTS.—At the end of each 
calendar quarter until the pilot program terminates, 
the Secretary of a military department shall submit 
to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate 
and House of Representatives a progress report re-
garding implementation of the pilot program. 
‘‘(2) FINAL REPORT.—Not later than 90 days 
after the pilot program terminates, the Secretary of 
a military department shall submit to the Commit-
tees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of 
Representatives a final report regarding the pilot 
program. Such report shall include the following ele-
ments: 
‘‘(A) Lessons learned from the pilot pro-
gram.
522 
‘‘(B) The recommendation of the Secretary 
whether to expand or make permanent the pilot 
program. 
‘‘(C) If the Secretary recommends expan-
sion, the military installations covered by such 
recommended expansion. 
‘‘(D) Limitations to the operation or ex-
pansion of the pilot program. 
‘‘(E) Any information the Secretary deter-
mines appropriate.’’. 
SEC. 663. CASUALTY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM: REVIEW; IM-
PLEMENTATION PLAN. 
(a) GAO REVIEW.—Not later than January 1, 2027, 
the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit 
to the Secretary of Defense a report containing the results 
of a review of operations of the casualty assistance pro-
gram of the Department of Defense. Elements of such re-
port shall include recommendations of the Comptroller 
General regarding the feasibility and advisability of the 
following: 
(1) Improving and standardizing across the 
Armed Forces— 
(A) the selection and management (includ-
ing lengths of assignments) of casualty assist-
ance officers; and