REPORT ON MILITARY DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS STAFFS.

SEC. 904. REPORT ON MILITARY DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS STAFFS. (a) Review by Secretary of Defense.— The Secretary of Defense shall conduct a review of the size, mission, organization, and functions of the military department headquarters staffs. This review shall include the following: (1) An assessment on the adequacy of the present organization structure to efficiently and effectively support the mission of the military departments. (2) An assessment of options to reduce the number of personnel assigned to the military department headquarters staffs. (3) An assessment of the extent of unnecessary duplication of functions between the Office of the Secretary of Defense and the military department headquarters staffs. (4) An assessment of the possible benefits that could be derived from further functional consolidation between the civilian secretariat of the military departments and the staffs of the military service chiefs. (5) An assessment of the possible benefits that could be derived from reducing the number of civilian officers in the military departments who are appointed by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. 110 STAT. 2619 (b) Report.— Not later than March 1, 1997, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report containing— (1) the findings and conclusions of the Secretary resulting from the review under subsection (a); and (2) a plan for implementing resulting recommendations, including proposals for legislation (with supporting rationale) that would be required as a result of the review. (c) Reduction in Total Number of Personnel Assigned.— In developing the plan under subsection (b)(2), the Secretary shall make every effort to provide for significant reductions in the overall number of military and civilian personnel assigned to or serving in the military department headquarters staffs. (d) Military Department Headquarters Staffs Defined.— For the purposes of this section, the term “military department headquarters staffs” means the offices, organizations, and other elements of the Department of Defense comprising the following: (1) The Office of the Secretary of the Army. (2) The Army Staff. (3) The Office of the Secretary of the Air Force. (4) The Air Staff. (5) The Office of the Secretary of the Navy. (6) The Office of the Chief of Naval Operations. (7) Headquarters, Marine Corps.