EXPANDED AUTHORITY FOR ADMINISTRATIVE INCREASES IN STATUTORY ACTIVE-DUTY END STRENGTHS.

SEC. 403. EXPANDED AUTHORITY FOR ADMINISTRATIVE INCREASES IN STATUTORY ACTIVE-DUTY END STRENGTHS. (a) Secretary of Defense Authority.—Subsection (c)(1) of section 115 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by striking “2 percent” and inserting “3 percent”. (b) Service Secretary Authority.—Such section is further amended by inserting after subsection (e) the following new subsection: “(f) Upon determination by the Secretary of a military department that such action would enhance manning and readiness in essential units or in critical specialties or ratings, the Secretary may increase the end strength authorized pursuant to subsection (a)(1)(A) for a fiscal year for the armed force trader the jurisdiction of that Secretary or, in the case of the Secretary of the Navy, for any of the armed forces under the jurisdiction of that Secretary. Any such increase for a fiscal year— “(1) shall be by a number equal to not more than 2 percent of such authorized end strength; and “(2) shall be counted as part of the increase for that armed force for that fiscal year authorized under subsection (c)(1).”.