in paragraphs (1)(A)(i), (1)(B)(i), and (1)(C)(iii)(I) 
by striking ‘‘two years of continuous active duty’’ 
each place it appears and inserting ‘‘a cumulative pe-
riod of 24 months during any 5-year period’’. 
(2) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Subsection (b) 
of section 3012 of such title is amended in para-
graph (1) by striking ‘‘during such two years’’ and 
inserting ‘‘at any time during such 5-year period’’. 
(3) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made 
by this subsection shall apply on or after October 1, 
2005. 
SEC. 8. REDUCTION IN AGE FOR RECEIPT OF MILITARY RE-
TIRED PAY FOR NONREGULAR SERVICE. 
(a) REDUCTION
IN AGE.—Section 12731(a)(1) of 
title 10, United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘at 
least 60 years of age’’ and inserting ‘‘at least 55 years 
of age’’. 
(b) APPLICATION TO EXISTING PROVISIONS OF LAW 
OR POLICY.—With respect to any provision of law, or of 
any policy, regulation, or directive of the executive branch, 
that refers to a member or former member of the uni-
formed services as being eligible for, or entitled to, retired 
pay under chapter 1223 of title 10, United States Code, 
but for the fact that the member or former member is 
under 60 years of age, such provision shall be carried out
with respect to that member or former member by sub-
stituting for the reference to being 60 years of age a ref-
erence to the age in effect for qualification for such retired 
pay under section 12731(a) of title 10, United States 
Code, as amended by subsection (a). 
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by 
subsection (a) shall take effect on the first day of the first 
month beginning on or after the date of the enactment 
of this Act and shall apply to retired pay payable for that 
month and subsequent months. 
SEC. 9. DEPUTY UNDER SECRETARY OF DEFENSE FOR PER-
SONNEL 
AND 
READINESS 
(RESERVE 
AF-
FAIRS). 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF POSITION.— 
(1) POSITION AND DUTIES.—Chapter 4 of title 
10, United States Code, is amended by inserting 
after section 136a the following new section: 
‘‘§ 136b. Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Per-
sonnel and Readiness (Reserve Affairs) 
‘‘(a) There is a Deputy Under Secretary of Defense 
for Personnel and Readiness (Reserve Affairs), appointed 
from civilian life by the President, by and with the advice 
and consent of the Senate. 
‘‘(b) The Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Per-
sonnel and Readiness (Reserve Affairs) shall have as his
principal duty the overall supervision of reserve component 
affairs of the Department of Defense.’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec-
tions at the beginning of such chapter is amended 
by inserting after the item relating to section 136a 
the following new item: 
‘‘136b. Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness (Re-
serve Affairs).’’. 
(b) EXECUTIVE LEVEL IV.—Section 5315 of title 5, 
United States Code, is amended by inserting after ‘‘Dep-
uty Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readi-
ness.’’ the following: 
‘‘Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Per-
sonnel and Readiness (Reserve Affairs).’’. 
(c) ELIMINATION OF POSITION OF ASSISTANT SEC-
RETARY OF DEFENSE FOR RESERVE AFFAIRS.— 
(1) REPEAL
OF
REQUIREMENT
FOR
POSI-
TION.—Subsection (b) of section 138 of title 10, 
United States Code, is amended— 
(A) by striking paragraph (2); and 
(B) by redesignating paragraphs (3), (4), 
and (5), as paragraphs (2), (3), and (4), re-
spectively. 
(2) REDUCTION IN TOTAL NUMBER OF ASSIST-
ANT SECRETARIES OF DEFENSE.—
(A) AUTHORIZED
NUMBER.—Subsection 
(a) of such section is amended by striking 
‘‘nine’’ and inserting ‘‘eight’’. 
(B) CONFORMING
AMENDMENT.—Section 
5315 of title 5, United States Code, is amended 
by striking ‘‘(9)’’ after ‘‘Assistant Secretaries of 
Defense’’ and inserting ‘‘(8)’’. 
(d) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 
subsection (c) shall take effect on the date on which a 
person is first appointed as Deputy Under Secretary of 
Defense for Personnel and Readiness (Reserve Affairs). 
Æ