REQUIREMENT FOR THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE TO PREPARE A STRATEGIC PLAN TO ENHANCE THE ROLE OF THE NATIONAL GUARD AND RESERVES.

SEC. 906. REQUIREMENT FOR THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE TO PREPARE A STRATEGIC PLAN TO ENHANCE THE ROLE OF THE NATIONAL GUARD AND RESERVES.(a) Plan.—Not later than April 1, 2009, the Secretary of Defense shall prepare a plan for enhancing the roles of the National Guard and Reserve—(1) when federalized in the case of the National Guard, or activated in the case of the Reserves, in support of operations conducted under title 10, United States Code, including the transition of the reserve component of the Armed Forces from a strategic force to an operational reserve;(2) in support of operations conducted under title 32, United States Code, or in support to civil authorities; and(3) with respect to the achievement of a fully-integrated total force (including further development of a continuum of service).(b) Consultation.—In preparing the plan under subsection (a), the Secretary of Defense shall take into consideration the advice of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Secretary and Chief of Staff of the Army, the Secretary and Chief of Staff of the Air Force, the commander of the United States Northern Command, the Chief of the National Guard Bureau, and other appropriate officials, as determined by the Secretary of Defense.(c) Matters to Be Assessed.—In preparing the plan, the Secretary shall assess—(1) the findings, conclusions, and recommendations of the Final Report to Congress and the Secretary of Defense of the Commission on the National Guard and Reserves, dated January 31, 2008, and titled “Transforming the National Guard and Reserves into a 21st-Century Operational Force”; and(2) the provisions of H.R. 5603 and S. 2706 of the 110th Congress, as introduced on March 13, 2008 (the National Guard Empowerment and State-National Defense Integration Act of 2008).122 STAT. 4569(d) Report.—Not later than April 1, 2009, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report on the plan required under this section. The report shall include recommendations on—(1) any changes to the current Department of Defense organization, structure, command relationships, budget authority, procurement authority, and compensation and benefits;(2) any legislation that the Secretary considers necessary; and(3) any other matter the Secretary considers appropriate.