SURVEY AND ANALYSIS OF EFFECT OF EXTENDED AND FREQUENT MOBILIZATION OF RESERVISTS FOR ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE ON RESERVIST INCOME.

SEC. 665. SURVEY AND ANALYSIS OF EFFECT OF EXTENDED AND FREQUENT MOBILIZATION OF RESERVISTS FOR ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE ON RESERVIST INCOME. (a) Survey of Mobilized Reservists to Determine Differential Between Private Sector Income and Military Compensation.—(1) The Secretary of Defense shall conduct a survey involving members of the reserve components who serve, or have served, on active duty in support of a contingency operation at any time during the period beginning on September 11, 2001, and ending on September 30, 2005, to determine the extent to which such members sustained a reduction in monthly income during their period of active duty service compared to their average monthly civilian income during the 12 months preceding their mobilization.(2) To the extent practicable, at least 50 percent of the total number of members of the reserve components who have served on active duty in support of a contingency operation at any time during the period specified in paragraph (1) should be included in the survey. To participate in the survey, a member shall agree to make available to the Secretary such information as the Secretary may require to accurately calculate the average monthly civilian income of the member.(b) Calculation of Income Differential.—In the case of each member participating in the survey under subsection (a) whose total monthly military compensation during the active duty service of the member was less, or appeared to be less, than the average monthly civilian income of the member, the Secretary of Defense, 118 STAT. 1976 in cooperation with the member, shall calculate the monthly active-duty income differential for the member.(c) Collection of Demographic Data.—The Secretary of Defense shall collect demographic data regarding each member of a reserve component who participates in the survey under subsection (a), including, at a minimum, data on the following:(1) Reserve component.(2) Unit of assignment.(3) Grade.(4) Age.(5) Years of service.(6) Sex.(7) Marital status.(8) Number of dependents.(9) General category of private-sector employment, as determined by the Secretary, but to include an employment category to cover members who are self-employed.(10) Military occupational specialty, including specifying all surveyed members who are serving in a critical wartime specialty.(11) Length of service on active duty during the most recent mobilization.(12) Number of times mobilized since September 11, 2001.(d) Consideration of Average Monthly Reserve Service Income.—The Secretary of Defense shall collect data to calculate the average monthly reserve service income of members of the reserve components before their mobilization, and consider such data by grade, general category of military occupational specialty, and years of service. The Secretary shall also consider the effect that the receipt of average monthly reserve service income by reserve component members before mobilization should have on any obligation of the United States to eliminate or at least reduce the monthly active-duty income differential suffered by members serving on active duty in support of a contingency operation. (e) Effect of Income Loss on Retention.—The Secretary of Defense shall include in the survey under subsection (a) a question intended to solicit information from members of the reserve components participating in the survey regarding the likely effect that a reoccurring monthly active-duty income differential while serving on active duty would have on their decision to remain in Armed Forces.(f) Analysis of Survey Data.—(1) At a minimum, the Secretary of Defense shall determine, for each variable listed in paragraphs (2) through (12) of subsection (c), the number of members of the reserve components surveyed under subsection (a) who sustained a monthly active-duty income differential for any month during their active duty service and compare and contrast that number with the number of members who did not experience a monthly active-duty income differential.(2) The Secretary shall also determine the average amount of the active-duty income differential by reserve component for each variable within the characteristics listed in paragraphs (2) through (12) of subsection (c).(g) Submission of Survey Results and Recommendations.—(1) Not later than January 31, 2006, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to Congress and the Comptroller General a report containing the results of the surveys conducted under subsection 118 STAT. 1977(a), including the results of the analysis of survey data required by subsection (f). The Secretary shall include such recommendations as the Secretary considers appropriate regarding alternatives for restoring income lost by members of the reserve components who sustained a monthly active-duty income differential during their active duty service.(2) Not later than 90 days after receiving the report of the Secretary of Defense submitted under paragraph (1), the Comptroller General shall submit to Congress an assessment of the findings and recommendations of the Secretary contained in the report.(h) Definitions Used in Conducting Survey and Calculations.—In this section:(1) The term “monthly active-duty income differential”, with respect to a member of a reserve component who participates in the survey under subsection (a), means the difference between—(A) the average monthly civilian income of the member; and(B) the total monthly military compensation of the member during the active duty service of the member.(2) The term “total monthly military compensation”, with respect to a member of a reserve component who participates in the survey, means the amount, computed on a monthly basis, of the sum of—(A) the amount of the regular military compensation (RMC), as defined in section 101(25) of title 37, United States Code, of the member during the period specified in subsection (a)(1); and(B) any amount of special pay or incentive pay and any allowance (other than an allowance included in regular military compensation) that is paid to the member on a monthly basis during the period specified in subsection (a)(1).(3) The term “average monthly civilian income”, with respect to a member of a reserve component who participates in the survey, means the amount, determined by the Secretary of Defense, of the earned income of the member for the 12 months preceding the first mobilization of the member for active duty service in support of a contingency operation during the period specified in subsection (a)(1), divided by 12.(4) The term “average monthly reserve service income”, with respect to a member of a reserve component who participates in the survey, means the amount, determined by the Secretary of Defense, of the regular military compensation, compensation under section 206 of title 37, United States Code, and any special pays and allowances referred to in paragraph (3)(B) received by the member during the 12 months preceding the first mobilization of the member for active duty service in support of a contingency operation during the period specified in subsection (a)(1), divided by 12.