REPORT ON OPERATIONAL FIELD ASSESSMENTS PROGRAM.

SEC. 212. REPORT ON OPERATIONAL FIELD ASSESSMENTS PROGRAM. (a) Finding.—Congress recognizes the potential value that the Department of Defense Operational Field Assessments program, which is managed by the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation, provides to the commanders of the Unified Combatant Commands with respect to assessment of the effectiveness of nearterm operational concepts and critical operational issues in quickresponse operational tests and evaluations. (b) Report.—Not later than March 30, 1998, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the Operational Field Assessments program. (c) Content of Report.—The report shall contain the following: (1) A review of the Operational Field Assessments program which describes the goals and objectives of the program, assessments by the program conducted as of the date of the submission of the report, and the results of those assessments. (2) A description of the current management and support structure of the program within the Department of Defense, including a description of how program responsibilities are assigned within the Office of the Secretary of Defense and a description of the roles of the Joint Staff, the commanders of the Unified Combatant Commands, and the military departments. (3) An analysis of and recommendations regarding the management structure required within the Office of the Secretary of Defense to ensure that the program is responsive to the mission needs of the commanders of the Unified Combatant Commands. (4) The funding plan for the program. (5) A description of future plans for the program and funding requirements for those plans. (6) Recommendations regarding additional statutory authority that may be required for the program.