REPORTS ON RESPONSE TO RECOMMENDATIONS CONCERNING IMPROVEMENTS TO DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE JOINT MANPOWER PROCESS.

SEC. 509. REPORTS ON RESPONSE TO RECOMMENDATIONS CONCERNING IMPROVEMENTS TO DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE JOINT MANPOWER PROCESS. (a) Semiannual Report.— The Secretary of Defense shall submit to Congress a semiannual report on the status of actions taken by the Secretary to implement the recommendations made by the Department of Defense Inspector General in the report of November 29, 1995, entitled “Inspection of the Department of Defense Joint Manpower Process” (Report No. 96–029). The first such report shall be submitted not later than February 1, 1997. The requirement to submit such reports terminates after the fourth such report is submitted. (b) Additional Matter for First Report.— As part of the first report under subsection (a), the Secretary shall include the following: (1) The Secretary’s assessment as to the need to establish a joint, centralized permanent organization in the Department of Defense to determine, validate, approve, and manage military and civilian manpower requirements resources at joint organizations. (2) The Secretary’s assessment of the Department of Defense timeline and plan to increase the capability of the joint professional military education system (including the Armed Forces Staff College) to overcome the capacity limitations cited in the report referred to in subsection (a). (3) The Secretary’s plan and timeline to provide the necessary training and education of reserve component officers. (c) GAO Assessment.— The Comptroller General of the United States shall assess the completeness and adequacy of the corrective actions taken by the Secretary with respect to the matters covered in the Inspector General report referred to in subsection (a). Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, 110 STAT. 2514the Comptroller General shall submit to Congress a report, based on the assessment under this subsection, providing the Comptroller General’s findings and recommendations.