STUDY OF TOTAL FORCE POLICY, FORCE MIX, AND MILITARY FORCE STRUCTURE

STUDY OF TOTAL FORCE POLICY, FORCE MIX, AND MILITARY FORCE STRUCTURE SEC. 1101. (a) Findings.—Congress makes the following findings: (1) Since the inception of the Total Force Policy in the Department of Defense in 1973, there has never been a comprehensive, authoritative study done by the Department on the operation and effectiveness of that policy. (2) Decisions within the Department of Defense with respect to military force mix appear to be made in a fragmented and decentralized manner. (3) A comprehensive study of the Total Force Policy, force mix, and military force structure is long overdue. (b) Study.—(1) The Secretary of Defense shall convene a study group to review the operation, effectiveness, and soundness of the following policies and practices of the Department of Defense and to make recommendations to the Secretary for improvement of those policies and practices: (A) The Total Force Policy. (B) Assignment of missions within and between the active and reserve components of the armed forces. 103 STAT. 1550 (C) Force structure of the active and reserve components of the armed forces. (2) The study group shall include— (A) senior-level active-duty officers from each branch of the armed forces; (B) senior-level reserve-component officers from each of the seven reserve components; (C) civilian officials of the Department of Defense; and (D) such participants from outside the Department of Defense as the Secretary considers appropriate. (3) The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff shall provide such joint staff support to the study group as necessary. He shall participate in the activities of the study group in accordance with the provisions of section 153 of title 10, United States Code, including the responsibility to assess the conformance of manpower programs and policies with strategic plans and to advise the study group about the extent to which program recommendations and budget proposals conform with the priorities established in strategic plans and for the combatant commands. (4) The Secretary shall ensure that the study group, in carrying out its duties and responsibilities, has access to federally funded research centers (FFRCs) and other necessary support. (5) The Secretary of Defense shall consult with the Secretary of Transportation with respect to the functions of the study group insofar as they relate to the Selected Reserve of the Coast Guard Reserve. (6) Meetings of the study group may be closed to the public in connection with the consideration of classified material. (c) Matters To Be Considered.—(1) In carrying out the study required by subsection (a), the study group shall evaluate and make recommendations to the Secretary concerning each of the following matters (with each such matter to be evaluated separately insofar as it relates to each policy or practice set forth in subparagraphs (A) through (C) of subsection (b)(1)): (1) With respect to the Total Force Policy of the Department of Defense, the basic tenets of that policy, how well that policy has been implemented, and what changes (if any) are desirable to improve upon that policy and its implementation. (2) The effectiveness of the existing chain of management and command responsibility in evaluating and integrating force requirements among the armed forces, and between the active components and the reserve components. (3) The extent to which officials responsible for such evaluation and integration of force requirements currently (and should in the future) participate in the budget and resource allocation processes of the Department of Defense. (4) The adequacy of the methodology used by the Department of Defense in the assignment of missions between the active and reserve components and, within each active and reserve component, the assignment of missions among various major types of units, including— (A) the extent to which that methodology includes the use of cost-benefit analyses; and (B) the methodology for the manner by which force reductions are distributed within individual units and between active and reserve components. 103 STAT. 1551 (5) The scope and size of force reductions with respect to major units (such as air wings, carrier groups, and divisions) that would result in an irreversible change of the capability of those units to perform assigned missions, with emphasis on considerations such as mobilization, loss of skilled manpower, equipment, and training. (d) Additional Matters To Be Considered.—(1) In carrying out its study and making its recommendations, the study group shall also evaluate the process by which decisions within the Department of Defense respecting force mix and force structure are made with regard to the readiness, sustainability, and overall mission capability of the active and reserve forces. The study group shall also consider whether the Department of Defense has a cogent strategy for making such decisions with respect to force mix that anticipates a substantially smaller military force structure in the future and whether the Department has developed a system for regular and systematic top-level evaluation of decisions respecting force mix or reductions in force structure. (2) In carrying out the evaluation required by paragraph (1), the study group shall consider (among other matters it considers appropriate) the following: (A) The optimal structure of military forces required to meet the threat as described in net assessments prepared pursuant to section 153 of title 10, United States Code, taking into account currently available and projected budget resources. (B) The appropriateness of the missions that have been assigned to major units (such as air wings, carrier groups, and divisions) in each of the active and reserve components in view of the status of those units with respect to personnel and equipment resources and training systems. (C) The response times for the deployment of such units in the event of a mobilization. (D) An evaluation of the readiness and sustainability of each of the active and reserve components and of the contributions of each such component to the overall military capability of the United States. (E) The extent to which the active and reserve component units that are identified for use during the first 30 days of a mobilization are prepared to undertake wartime missions (as measured against the standards established by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in accordance with section 153 of title 10, United States Code), the reasons for any lack of preparedness for such missions, and recommendations for measures that would be necessary for those units to become fully mission capable. (F) The adequacy of equipment distribution and modernization in the active and reserve components, including consideration of the importance of prepositioning of light and heavy equipment in the mobilization process. (G) The adequacy of the current base of military personnel and equipment available for short notice rotation and deployment in order to meet worldwide defense commitments. (H) The capability of each component of the active and reserve forces to meet assigned and projected missions at each step in the mobilization process and the adequacy of current airlift and sealift capability. 103 STAT. 1552 (I) The resources (including funds) needed for sufficient personnel, equipment, and training to achieve desired force structure and mission capability in both the active and reserve components. (J) The capability of the active and reserve components, jointly and separately, to respond to mobilization requirements at each stage of the mobilization process. (d) Reports.—(1) The study group shall submit to the Secretary of Defense an interim report on its findings and recommendations at such time as the Secretary may require, but not later than September 1, 1990. The Secretary shall submit the interim report to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives not later than September 15, 1990. (2) The study group shall submit its final report, including its findings and recommendations, to the Secretary not later than December 1, 1990. The Secretary shall submit the final report of the study group, together with any comment and recommendation of the Secretary, to those committees not later than December 31, 1990. (e) Limitation on Obligation of Certain Funds if Reports Submitted Late.—If either of the reports required by subsection (d) is not submitted to those committees by the date specified in that subsection for the report to be submitted, the Secretary of Defense may not, on or after that date, obligate any funds for a new contract for advisory, consultant, or assistance services until the report is submitted.