REPORT ON CONVERSION OF CERTAIN POSITIONS TO PERFORMANCE BY DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE EMPLOYEES.

SEC. 347. REPORT ON CONVERSION OF CERTAIN POSITIONS TO PERFORMANCE BY DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE EMPLOYEES. (a) Findings.— Congress makes the following findings: (1) In order to ensure an optimum level of availability of members of the Armed Forces for assignment to combat units, it is the policy of the Department of Defense to assign employees of the Department of Defense to replace military personnel in Department of Defense positions to which assignment of military personnel can no longer be justified under current circumstances. (2) Assignment of employees of the Department of Defense to such positions can provide valuable continuity for the performance of many missions of the Department while enhancing the readiness and military capability of the Armed Forces. (3) During the Persian Gulf War, employees of the Department of Defense, employees of other Federal agencies, and employees of civilian contractors, by their distinguished service in the theater of operations, demonstrated the valuable contributions that civilian personnel can make to the performance of Department of Defense functions. (4) The performance of Department of Defense functions by employees of the Department is often less costly than the performance of those functions by military personnel. 108 STAT. 2725 (5) The percentage of certain support positions that are filled by employees of the Department of Defense varies significantly among the military departments. (6) The Secretary of Defense is reviewing the extent to which employees of the Department of Defense should replace military personnel in Department of Defense positions. (b) Requirement for Report.— Not later than April 30, 1995, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives a report on the efforts of the Secretary— (1) to identify positions in the Department of Defense to which continued assignment of military personnel is no longer justified under current circumstances; and (2) to assign employees of the Department of Defense to replace military personnel in those positions. (c) Content of Report.— The report required by subsection (b) shall contain the following: (1) The number of positions identified by the Secretary, including the positions in which employees of the Department of Defense have replaced military personnel and the positions to which employees of the Department of Defense are planned to be assigned to replace military personnel. (2) The cost of carrying out the planned changes in assignments. (3) A discussion of the effects of such changes on workforce restructuring plans of the Department. (4) A discussion of the efforts of the Secretary to encourage within the Department of Defense the assignment of employees of the Department to replace military personnel. (5) An explanation of the justifications for maintaining variances in excess of 20 percent among the military departments in the percentage of support positions common to two or more military departments that are filled by employees of the Department of Defense rather than military personnel.