SEC. 2. MODIFICATION OF ELIGIBLE RECIPIENTS OF 
DEATH GRATUITY WITH RESPECT TO MEM-
BERS OF THE ARMED FORCES. 
Paragraph (2) of section 1477(a) of title 10, United 
States Code, is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(2) His children (as prescribed by subsection 
(b)) or such guardians or caretakers of his children 
(as so prescribed) as he shall specify, in such pro-
portions as he shall specify.’’. 
SEC. 3. ANNUITIES FOR GUARDIANS OR CARETAKERS OF 
DEPENDENT CHILDREN UNDER SURVIVOR 
BENEFIT PLAN. 
(a) ELECTION.—Section 1448(b) of title 10, United 
States Code, is amended— 
(1) in the subsection caption, by striking ‘‘AND 
FORMER
SPOUSE’’ and inserting ‘‘, FORMER 
SPOUSE, AND GUARDIAN OR CARETAKER’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(6) GUARDIAN OR CARETAKER COVERAGE.— 
‘‘(A) GENERAL RULE.—A person who is 
not married and has one or more dependent 
children upon becoming eligible to participate in 
the Plan may elect to provide an annuity under 
the Plan to a natural person (other than a nat-
ural person with an insurable interest in the 
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person under paragraph (1) or a former spouse) 
who acts as a guardian or caretaker to such 
child or children. In the case of a person pro-
viding a reserve-component annuity, such an 
election shall include a designation under sub-
section (e). 
‘‘(B) TERMINATION OF COVERAGE.—Sub-
paragraphs (B) through (E) of paragraph (1) 
shall apply to an election under subparagraph 
(A) of this paragraph in the same manner as 
such subparagraphs apply to an election under 
subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1). 
‘‘(C) ELECTION
OF
NEW
BENEFICIARY 
UPON
DEATH
OF
PREVIOUS
BENEFICIARY.— 
Subparagraph (G) of paragraph (1) shall apply 
to an election under subparagraph (A) of this 
paragraph in the same manner as such sub-
paragraph (G) applies to an election under sub-
paragraph (A) of paragraph (1), except that 
any new beneficiary elected under such sub-
paragraph (G) by reason of this subparagraph 
shall be a guardian or caretaker of the depend-
ent child or children of the person making such 
election.’’. 
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(b) PAYMENT OF ANNUITY.—Section 1450 of such 
title is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a), by adding at the end the 
following new paragraph: 
‘‘(5) GUARDIAN OR CARETAKER COVERAGE.— 
The natural person acting as a guardian or care-
taker of the dependent child or children of the per-
son designated under section 1448(b)(6) of this title, 
unless the election to provide an annuity to the nat-
ural person has been changed as provided in sub-
section (f).’’; and 
(2) in the subsection caption of subsection (f), 
by striking ‘‘OR FORMER SPOUSE’’ and inserting ‘‘, 
FORMER SPOUSE, OR GUARDIAN OR CARETAKER’’. 
(c) AMOUNT OF ANNUITY.—Section 1451(b) of such 
title is amended— 
(1) in the subsection caption, by inserting ‘‘OR 
GUARDIAN OR CARETAKER’’ after ‘‘INSURABLE IN-
TEREST’’; and 
(2) 
by 
inserting 
‘‘or 
1450(a)(5)’’ 
after 
‘‘1450(a)(4)’’ each place it appears in paragraphs 
(1) and (2). 
(d) REDUCTION IN RETIRED PAY.—Section 1452(c) 
of such title is amended— 
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(1) in the subsection caption, by inserting ‘‘OR 
GUARDIAN OR CARETAKER’’ after ‘‘INSURABLE IN-
TEREST’’; and 
(2) 
by 
inserting 
‘‘or 
1450(a)(5)’’ 
after 
‘‘1450(a)(4)’’ each place it appears in paragraphs 
(1) and (3). 
SEC. 4. IMPROVEMENTS OF PRE-DEPLOYMENT COUN-
SELING AND SERVICES FOR MEMBERS OF 
THE ARMED FORCES. 
(a) PANEL.—The Secretary of Defense shall appoint, 
from among individuals in the private sector qualified for 
such purpose, a panel of individuals to— 
(1) review the pre-deployment counseling and 
services provided by the military departments to un-
married members of the Armed Forces with depend-
ent children; 
(2) identify best practices among such coun-
seling and services; and 
(3) recommend such improvements in such 
counseling and services (including improvements in 
such best practices) as the panel considers appro-
priate. 
(b) REQUIRED ACTIONS.—In carrying out its duties 
under subsection (a), the panel appointed under that sub-
section shall— 
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(1) identify best practices in the pre-deployment 
counseling and services provided by the military de-
partments to unmarried members of the Armed 
Forces with dependent children, including best prac-
tices with respect to counseling and services on— 
(A) death benefits available to survivors of 
members of the Armed Forces; 
(B) dependency and indemnity compensa-
tion benefits available under chapter 13 of title 
38, United States Code; 
(C) Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance 
under subchapter III of chapter 19 of title 38, 
United States Code; 
(D) traumatic injury protection under sec-
tion 1980A of title 38, United States Code; 
(E) the Survivor Benefit Plan under sub-
chapter II of chapter 73 of title 10, United 
States Code; 
(F) benefits payable under the Social Secu-
rity Act; and 
(G) the preparation, maintenance, and ad-
ministration of family care plans, including ele-
ments of such plans relating to death benefits, 
wills and powers of attorney, trusts, mainte-
nance and safeguarding during deployment, and 
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acknowledgment of specific guardian and care-
taker duties (including beneficiary designation), 
and administrative requirements (including 
command endorsement) relating to such plans; 
(2) identify best practices in the pre-deployment 
counseling and services provided by the military de-
partments to unmarried members of the Armed 
Forces without dependent children, and married 
members of the Armed Forces (whether with or 
without dependent children), including best practices 
with respect to counseling and services on each of 
the matters set forth in subparagraphs (A) through 
(F) of paragraph (1); 
(3) identify best practices among the military 
departments in the deployment and availability of 
counseling and services for such members at so- 
called ‘‘Pre-Deployment Centers’’, including best 
practices with respect to— 
(A) the availability of counseling on legal 
matters; 
(B) the availability of counseling on finan-
cial matters; 
(C) the involvement of family support 
groups in such counseling; 
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