NEW POSITION OF UNDER SECRETARY OF DEFENSE FOR PERSONNEL AND READINESS.

SEC. 903. NEW POSITION OF UNDER SECRETARY OF DEFENSE FOR PERSONNEL AND READINESS. (a) In General.—Chapter 4 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 135, as transferred and redesignated by section 901(a), the following new section: “§ 136. Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness “(a) There is an Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, appointed from civilian life by the President, by and with the consent of the Senate. “(b) Subject to the authority, direction, and control of the Secretary of Defense, the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness shall perform such duties and exercise such powers as the Secretary of Defense may prescribe in the areas of military readiness, total force management, military and civilian personnel requirements, military and civilian personnel training, military and civilian family matters, exchange, commissary, and nonappropriated fund activities, personnel requirements for weapons support, National Guard and reserve components, and health affairs. “(c) The Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness takes precedence in the Department of Defense after the Comptroller.”. (b) Executive Schedule III Pay Level.—Section 5314 of title United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to the Comptroller of the Department of Defense, as added by section 901(b), the following: “Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness.” (c) Offsetting Reduction in Number of Assistant Secretary of Defense Positions.—(1) Subsection (a) of section 138 of title 10, United States Code, as redesignated by section 901(a), 107 STAT. 1728is amended by striking out “eleven” and inserting in lieu thereof “ten”. (2) Section 5315 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by striking out “Assistant Secretaries of Defense (11)” and inserting in lieu thereof “Assistant Secretaries of Defense (10)”.