Each year, the Senate and House Armed Services Committee report their respective versions of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). These contain numerous provisions that affect military personnel, retirees and their family members. Provisions in one version are often not included in another, treated differently, or, in certain cases, they are identical. Following passage of each by the respective legislative body, a Conference Committee is typically convened to resolve the various differences between the House and Senate versions. If a Conference Committee reports its final version of the Authorization Act, the bill is returned to the House and Senate for their consideration. Upon final passage the act is sent to the President for his approval. In the course of a typical authorization cycle, congressional staffs receive many constituent requests for information on provisions contained within the annual NDAA. This report highlights those personnel-related issues that seem to generate the most intense constituent interest and tracks their status in the FY2007 House and Senate versions of the NDAA. The House bill was H.R. 5122 and was approved by the House on May 11, 2006; on June 22, 2006, the Senate struck all after the enacting clause of H.R. 5122 and substituted the language of its defense authorization bill, S. 2766 . The resulting Conference Report ( H.Rept. 109-702 ) was approved by the House on September 29, 2006, and by the Senate on September 30, 2006; it was signed by the President on October 17, 2006, becoming P.L. 109-364 . Each presentation in this report offers the background on a given issue, tracks its legislative status, discusses the proposed language, identifies other relevant CRS products, and designates a CRS issue expert. Background: 10 U.S.C. 619 currently requires a minimum of 18 months in grade as a second lieutenant or Navy ensign before promotion to first lieutenant or Navy lieutenant junior grade and 24 months in grade as a first lieutenant or Navy lieutenant junior grade before promotion to captain or Navy lieutenant. As an exception, officers promoted to first lieutenant or Navy lieutenant junior grade before October 1, 2005 are only required to serve 18 months in grade. This exception was included in the FY2002 National Defense Authorization Act to support the Global War on Terror. Discussion: Historically, time-in-grade requirements have varied from one to two years in grade for promotion to first lieutenant or Navy lieutenant junior grade and another one to two years for promotion to captain or Navy lieutenant. Time from commissioning to promotion to captain or Navy lieutenant has therefore ranged from two to four years. Generally, time-in-grade requirements are reduced during periods of hostilities and increased in the absence of conflict. Because many military positions must be filled by officers of specific ranks, time-in-grade reductions provide maximum management flexibility for the services in filling their operational requirements. Reference(s): None. CRS Point of Contact (POC): Charles Henning at [phone number scrubbed]. Background: Public Law 108-136 (sec. 527) added a section to 10 United States Code entitled "Actions to Address Sexual Harassment and Violence at the Service Academies." This section contained three main parts: (1) the establishment of a policy on sexual harassment and violence, (2) an annual assessment, and (3) annual reporting requirements. Discussion: Such a modification directs the service academies to bolster their policies concerning sexual harassment and violence and to make an annual assessment and report. Reference(s): None. CRS POC: [author name scrubbed] at [phone number scrubbed]. Background: Public Law 108-375, sec. 577, "Department of Defense Policy and Procedures on Prevention and Response to Sexual Assaults Involving Members of the Armed Forces," directed the Secretary of Defense to create and implement a 'comprehensive policy on the prevention and response to sexual assault.' It also directed the Secretaries of each of the military departments to submit to the Secretary of Defense a report regarding sexual assaults involving members under the jurisdiction of each respective Secretary. Among the information to be reported is a "synopsis of, and the disciplinary action taken in, each substantiated case." Discussion: Crime rates committed by members of the armed forces are generally lower than those in the general public. Nevertheless, a number of high profile assaults have resulted in increased congressional oversight, scrutiny and legislative interest in the policies concerning the prevention, reporting and handling of these cases. Reference(s): None. CRS POC: [author name scrubbed] at [phone number scrubbed]. Background: The Purple Heart medal is awarded to any member of the armed forces for wounds or death as a result of an act of an opposing armed force, international terrorist attack, or as the result of military operations while serving as part of a peacekeeping force. In 1962, Executive Order 11016 expanded authority for the awarding of the medal to wounds and death resulting from conflicts other than war. Later that same year, Army policy was modified to allow prisoners of war (POW) to receive the medal if wounded or injured by their captors. The policy change was not retroactive. In 1996, Public Law 104-106, expanded eligibility for the Purple Heart to those prisoners of war who were wounded before April 25, 1962, while held as a prisoner of war or while being taken captive, in the same manner as a prisoner of war on or after that date. Discussion: House language would have expanded the eligibility to receive the Purple Heart to POWs who die while in captivity or die after release of injuries or illnesses incurred while a POW. The former group would receive the Purple Heart not necessarily as a result of wounds or injuries suffered but because they died as prisoners. The second group includes those who suffer a disease or disability (not necessarily related to their treatment by their captors) as a POW. Senate and conference language seeks a presidential report on the issue. Reference(s): None. CRS POC: [author name scrubbed] at [phone number scrubbed]. Background: In recent years, military chaplains have come under scrutiny for the alleged "sectarian nature" of some of their public pronouncements. Complaints have been made that chaplains are not being 'inclusive' in their statements and have offended individuals of other religions. Within the past year, both the Navy and Air Force have issued rules allowing chaplains to pray as they wish during voluntary worship services but to be nonsectarian, or utilize a 'moment of silence,' during public meetings or ceremonies. Religious groups, particularly evangelical Christians, have complained that such rules are a violation of freedom of religion, represent a "gag order" on leaders of faith, and appear to be motivated by "political correctness." Any administrative or legislative activity in this area could raise constitutional questions, particularly with regard to the First Amendment. Discussion: If enacted, this language would have allowed chaplains to invoke sectarian comments (e.g., to mention Jesus Christ, Allah, or Buddha) during public meetings or ceremonies. In other words, military necessity considered, sectarian comments would not be limited to private, voluntary meetings or services. Reference(s): None. CRS POC: [author name scrubbed] at [phone number scrubbed]. Background: The Air Force and Navy have both announced plans to reduce their manpower levels between now and 2012, the Air Force by approximately 40,000 and the Navy by 60,000. The Army is simultaneously increasing its strength by 30,000, from 482,400 to 512,400. To facilitate this reshaping of the Armed Forces, Congress has provided a variety of tools for the services with emphasis on voluntary separations and transfers between the services. Specifically, the Voluntary Separation Incentive (VSI) offers a financial incentive for separation while the "Blue to Green" program encourages transfers from the Air Force and Navy to the Army. Discussion: Experience from the Armed Forces drawdowns of the early and mid-1990s has demonstrated that voluntary separation programs are preferable to involuntary programs. VSI allows the services to target overstrength ranks, years of service, skill, rating, military specialty or competitive category to best shape the force for the future. Using the Senate provision as an example, an Air Force captain with 10 years of service would be eligible for a maximum VSI payment of approximately $235,000. According to Army officials, the incentive bonus to transfer to another service (Blue to Green) has prompted 213 officer and 488 enlisted transfers since 2004, including 95 and 259, respectively, so far in FY2006. References(s): None. CRS POC: Charles Henning at [phone number scrubbed]. Background: Among the services/expenses covered "incident to death" in 10 United States Code is section 1482(a)(8): "the Secretary concerned may pay the necessary expenses of ... [t]ransportation of the remains, and round trip transportation and prescribed allowances for an escort of one person, to the place selected by the person designated to direct disposition of remains or, if such a selection is not made, to a national or other cemetery which is selected by the Secretary and in which burial of the decedent is authorized." Discussion: This language expands the role the military performs with regard to the delivery of remains. Reference(s): CRS Report RL32769, Military Death Benefits: Status and Proposals , by [author name scrubbed] and [author name scrubbed], and CRS Report RS21545, Military Funeral Honors and Military Cemeteries: Frequently Asked Questions , by [author name scrubbed]. CRS POC: [author name scrubbed] at [phone number scrubbed]. Background: Ongoing military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, combined with recruiting challenges, continue to highlight military pay issues. 37 U.S.C.