REPORT ON EXTENDING TO JUNIOR NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICERS PRIVILEGES PROVIDED FOR SENIOR NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS.

SEC. 644. REPORT ON EXTENDING TO JUNIOR NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICERS PRIVILEGES PROVIDED FOR SENIOR NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS. (a) Report Required.— Not later than February 1, 1996, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to Congress a report containing the determinations of the Secretary regarding whether, in order to improve the working conditions of noncommissioned officers in pay grades E–5 and E–6, any of the privileges afforded noncommissioned officers in any of the pay grades above E–6 should be extended to noncommissioned officers in pay grades E–5 and E–6. (b) Specific Recommendation Regarding Election of BAS.— The Secretary shall include in the report a determination on whether noncommissioned officers in pay grades E–5 and E–6 should be afforded the same privilege as noncommissioned officers in pay grades above E–6 to elect to mess separately and receive the basic allowance for subsistence. (c) Additional Matters.— The report shall also contain a discussion of the following matters: (1) The potential costs of extending additional privileges to noncommissioned officers in pay grades E–5 and E–6. (2) The effects on readiness that would result from extending the additional privileges. (3) The options for extending the privileges on an incremental basis over an extended period. (d) Recommended Legislation.— The Secretary shall include in the report any recommended legislation that the Secretary considers necessary in order to authorize extension of a privilege as determined appropriate under subsection (a).