REVIEW OF SYSTEM FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS.

SEC. 554. REVIEW OF SYSTEM FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS. (a) Review of Procedures.— The Secretary of Defense shall review the system and procedures for the correction of military records used by the Secretaries of the military departments in the exercise of authority under section 1552 of title 10, United States Code, in order to identify potential improvements that could be made in the process for correcting military records to ensure fairness, equity, and (consistent with appropriate service to applicants) maximum efficiency. The Secretary may not delegate responsibility for the review to an officer or official of a military department. (b) Issues Reviewed.— In conducting the review, the Secretary shall consider (with respect to each Board for the Correction of Military Records) the following: (1) The composition of the board and of the support staff for the board. (2) Timeliness of final action. (3) Independence of deliberations by the civilian board. (4) The authority of the Secretary of the military department concerned to modify the recommendations of the board. (5) Burden of proof and other evidentiary standards. (6) Alternative methods for correcting military records. (7) Whether the board should be consolidated with the Discharge Review Board of the military department. (c) Report.— Not later than April 1, 1996, the Secretary of Defense shall submit a report on the results of the Secretary’s review under this section to the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate and the Committee on National Security of the House of Representatives. The report shall contain the recommendations of the Secretary for improving the process for correcting military records in order to achieve the objectives referred to in subsection (a).