Pub. L. 93-365, tit. III, sec. 302

Sec. 302. (a) The United States military forces in Europe can reduce headquarters and noncombat military personnel relative to the number of combat personnel located in Europe. Therefore, except in the event of imminent hostilities in Europe, the noncombat component of the total United States military strength in Europe authorized as of June 30, 1974, shall be reduced by 18,000. Such reduction shall be completed not later than June 30, 1976, and not less than 6,000 of such reduction shall be completed on or before June 30, 1975; however, the Secretary of Defense is authorized to increase the combat component strength of United States forces in Europe by the amount of any such , reduction made in noncombat personnel. The Secretary of Defense shall report semi-annually to the Congress on all actions taken to improve the combat proportion of United States forces in Europe. The first report shall be submitted not later than March 31, 1975. (b) For purposes of this section, the combat component of the Army includes only the infantry, cavalry, artillery, armored, combat engineers, special forces, attack assault helicopter units, air defense, and missile combat units of battalion or smaller size; the combat component of the Navy includes only the combat ships (aircraft carrier, cruiser, destroyer, submarine, escort and amphibious assault ships)88 Stat. 402 and combat aircraft wings (fighter, attack, reconnaissance, and patrol); the combat component of the Air Force includes only the tactical fighter reconnaissance, tactical airlift, fighter interceptor and bomber units of wing or smaller size. (c) The Secretary of Defense shall undertake a specific assessment of the costs and possible loss of nonnuclear combat effectiveness of the military forces of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization countries caused by the failure of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization members, including the United States, to standardize weapons systems, ammunition, fuel, and other military impedimenta for land, air, and naval forces. The Secretary of Defense shall also develop a list of standardization actions that could improve the overall North Atlantic Treaty Organization nonnuclear defense capability or save resources for the alliance as a whole. He shall also evaluate the relative priority and effect of each such action. The Secretary shall submit the results of these assessments and evaluations to the Congress and subsequently shall also cause them to be brought before the appropriate North Atlantic Treaty Organization bodies in order that the suggested actions and recommendations can become an integral par t of the overall North Atlantic Treaty Organization review of force goals and development of force plans. The Secretary of Defense shall report semiannually to the Congress on the specific assessments and evaluations made under the above provisions as well as the results achieved with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization allies. The first such report shall be submitted to Congress not later than January 31, 1975. (d) The total number of United States tactical nuclear warheads located in Europe on the date of enactment of this Act shall not be increased until after June 30, 1975, except in the event of imminent hostilities in Europe. The Secretary of Defense shall study the overall concept for use of tactical nuclear weapons in Europe; how the use of such weapons relates to deterrence and to a strong conventional defense; reductions in the number and type of nuclear warheads which are not essential for the defense structure for Western Europe; and the steps that can be taken to develop a rational and coordinated nuclear posture by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Alliance that is consistent with proper emphasis on conventional defense forces. The Secretary of Defense shall report to the Committees on Armed Services and Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committees on Armed Services and Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives on the results of the above study on or before April 1, 1975.