I 
113TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 4516 
To expedite and oversee the implementation of the women in service 
implementation plan, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 29, 2014 
Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California introduced the following bill; which was 
referred to the Committee on Armed Services 
A BILL 
To expedite and oversee the implementation of the women 
in service implementation plan, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘She Is Ready Act’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress makes the following findings: 
(1) On January 24, 2013, Secretary of Defense 
Leon Panetta and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of 
Staff Martin Dempsey rescinded the 1994 Direct 
Ground Combat Definition and Assignment Rule 
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and directed the Armed Forces to open closed occu-
pations, positions, and units to female members of 
the Armed Forces no later than January 1, 2016. 
(2) The rescission of the 1994 policy was based 
on the knowledge that success in the Armed Forces 
results solely from a member’s ability, qualifications, 
and performance, and the decision to rescind the 
policy is consistent with America’s values and en-
hances military readiness. 
(3) The change in policy is reflective of the ‘‘on 
the ground’’ reality that female members of the 
Armed Forces, particularly in Iraq and Afghanistan, 
have been serving in combat. 
(4) A directive from the Chairman of the Joint 
Chiefs of Staff requires the development, review, and 
validation of gender-neutral occupational standards 
‘‘reflecting the knowledge, skills and abilities nec-
essary for each occupation’’ to be used to assess and 
assign members not later than September 2015. 
(5) There are concerns in regards to the lack 
of transparency and the type of research the Armed 
Forces are planning and pursuing in opening closed 
occupations, positions, and units to female members 
of the Armed Forces. 
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(6) The largest number of closed occupations, 
positions, and units are in the Army and Marine 
Corps. The Department of Defense announced its 
intention, pursuant to the January 2013 Directives, 
to open for assignment of female members of the 
Armed Forces thousands of previously closed posi-
tions and units, but thousands of positions and units 
remain closed female members of the Armed Forces. 
SEC. 3. REMOVAL OF ARTIFICIAL BARRIERS TO THE SERV-
ICE OF WOMEN IN THE ARMED FORCES. 
(a) PROMPT ASSIGNMENT.— 
(1) CADRE
OR
CRITICAL
MASS
NOT
RE-
QUIRED.—The Secretaries of the military depart-
ments shall not unduly delay the assignment of fe-
male members of the Armed Forces to military occu-
pational specialties, positions, and units because of 
the absence of a cadre or critical mass of female 
members available for such assignment. 
(2) OPEN OCCUPATION PRECEDENCE.—As soon 
as possible after the date of the enactment of this 
Act, the Secretary of Defense shall direct the Secre-
taries of the military departments to open for as-
signment of women to all positions in occupations 
that, on or after the date of the enactment of this 
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Act, are open to female members of the Armed 
Forces in any unit of the Armed Forces. 
(b) VALIDATION AND OVERSIGHT OF GENDER-NEU-
TRAL OCCUPATIONAL STANDARDS.— 
(1) VALIDATION; PURPOSE.—As soon as pos-
sible after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
Secretary of Defense shall direct the Secretary of 
each military department to validate the gender-neu-
tral occupational standards used by the Armed 
Forces under the jurisdiction of that Secretary for 
the purpose of ensuring that the standards— 
(A) are consistent with section 543 of the 
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 
Year 1994 (Public Law 103–160; 10 U.S.C. 
113 note), as amended by section 523 of the 
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 
Year 2014 (Public Law 113–66; 127 Stat. 
756), which requires gender-neutral occupa-
tional standards, requiring performance out-
come-based standards for the successful accom-
plishment of the necessary and required specific 
tasks associated with the qualifications and du-
ties performed; 
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(B) accurately predict performance of ac-
tual, regular, and recurring duties of a military 
occupation; and 
(C) are applied equitably to measure indi-
vidual capabilities. 
(2) ROLE OF INDEPENDENT RESEARCH ENTI-
TY.—The Secretaries of the military departments 
shall work with an independent research entity to 
comply with paragraph (1). 
SEC. 4. IMPROVED LEADERSHIP AND RESPONSIVENESS IN 
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE WOMEN IN SERV-
ICE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN. 
(a) TRANSPARENCY AND GOALS.—The Secretary of 
Defense shall direct the Secretaries of the military depart-
ments to provide greater transparency of its women in 
service implementation plan, ensure that a statement of 
administration policy is created to reflect the mission of 
the implementation plan and its intent on responsibly 
opening all jobs, positions and units to female members 
of the Armed Forces. 
(b) RESPONSE AND NOTICE OF OPENINGS.—The Of-
fice of the Secretary of Defense shall promptly respond 
whenever the Secretary of a military department submits 
a notice of newly opened jobs, positions, of units to female 
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members of the Armed Forces and avoid any delays in 
transmitting such notices to Congress. 
(c) FINAL DEADLINE.—The Secretary of Defense 
shall ensure all closed positions and units are open to fe-
male members of the Armed Forces no later than January 
1, 2016, consistent with the Joint Memorandum issued 
on January 24, 2013, regarding the elimination of the 
1994 Direct Ground Combat Definition and Assignment 
Rule. 
SEC. 5. EFFECTIVE EVALUATION OF PHYSICAL STANDARDS 
AND OVERSIGHT OF ARMED FORCES IMPLE-
MENTATION PLANS. 
(a) NAVY AND MARINE CORPS.— 
(1) VALIDATION OF PHYSICAL STANDARDS.—As 
soon as possible after the date of the enactment of 
this Act, the Secretary of the Navy shall provide 
Congress with information on what process and 
metrics were used to validate the physical standards 
applicable to members of the Navy and the Marine 
Corps. 
(2) INFANTRY TRAINING COURSES.—Not later 
than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this 
Act, the Secretary of the Navy shall provide Con-
gress with information in regards to the Marine 
Corps research involving female members of the Ma-
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rine Corps who volunteer for the Infantry Officers 
Course (IOC), the enlisted infantry training course 
(ITB), and the Ground Combat Element Experi-
mental Task Force (GCEXTF) for the purpose of— 
(A) determining what metrics the Marine 
Corps used to develop the research require-
ments and elements for the Marine Corps Ex-
panded Entry-Level Training Research; 
(B) indicating what is being evaluated dur-
ing these research studies, along with how long 
both research studies will last; 
(C) identifying how data gathered during 
the research studies will be used to open infan-
try and other closed occupations; and 
(D) assuring that infantry and other closed 
occupations will not remain closed based on 
physical tests that have not been validated or 
any other improper evaluation mechanisms. 
(3) 
ENLISTED
INFANTRY
COURSE
GRAD-
UATES.—Effective upon the enactment of this Act, 
any female member of the Marine Corps who grad-
uates from the enlisted infantry course shall be eligi-
ble for assignment to an infantry occupational spe-
cialty. 
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(b) ARMY.—Effective upon the enactment of this Act, 
the Secretary of the Army shall permit female members 
of the Army to apply to Army Ranger School as Ranger 
School is not solely intended for members of the Army 
who plan to join the Ranger Regiment, but is also in-
tended to provide leadership training opportunities that 
members can utilize in all jobs, positions, and units. 
(c) SPECIAL
OPERATIONS
COMMAND.—The Sec-
retary of Defense shall direct the Special Operations Com-
mand to submit to Congress, not later than 90 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the type of approach 
and methodology it will be using for the integration of 
women into the Special Operations Forces. 
SEC. 6. FEMALE PERSONAL PROTECTION GEAR. 
The Secretary of Defense shall direct each Secretary 
of a military department to take immediate steps to ensure 
that properly designed and fitted combat equipment is 
available and distributed to female members of the Armed 
Forces under the jurisdiction of that Secretary. 
SEC. 7. REVIEW OF OUTREACH AND RECRUITMENT EF-
FORTS FOCUSED ON OFFICERS. 
(a) REVIEW REQUIRED.—The Comptroller General 
of the United States shall conduct a review of Services’ 
Outreach and Recruitment Efforts gauged toward women 
representation in the officer corps. 
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(b) ELEMENTS OF REVIEW.—In conducting the re-
view under subsection (a), the Secretary of Defense 
shall— 
(1) identify and evaluate current initiatives the 
Armed Forces are using to increase accession of 
women into the officer corps; 
(2) identify new recruiting efforts to increase 
accessions of women into the officer corps specifi-
cally at the military service academies, Officer Can-
didate Schools, Officer Training Schools, the Acad-
emy of Military Science, and Reserve Officer Train-
ing Corps; and 
(3) identify efforts, resources, and funding re-
quired to increase military service academy accession 
by an additional 20 percent by the end of the four- 
year period beginning on the date of the enactment 
of this Act. 
(c) SUBMISSION OF RESULTS.—Not later than 90 
days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
Comptroller General shall submit to Congress a report 
containing the results of the review under subsection (a). 
Æ 
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