She Is Ready Act - Prohibits the Secretaries of the military departments (the Secretaries) from unduly delaying the assignment of female members of the Armed Forces to military occupational specialties, positions, and units because of the absence of a cadre or critical mass of female members available for such assignment. Requires the Secretary of Defense (DOD) to direct the Secretaries to open for assignment of women all positions in occupations that are open to female members in any unit of the Armed Forces.
Requires the Secretary of Defense to direct: (1) the Secretaries to validate the gender-neutral occupational standards used by the Armed Forces for the purpose of ensuring that such standards: (1) are consistent with provisions requiring performance outcome-based standards for the successful accomplishment of the necessary and required specific tasks associated with the qualifications and duties performed; (2) accurately predict performance of actual, regular, and recurring duties of a military occupation; and (3) are applied equitably to measure individual capabilities.
Requires the Secretary of Defense to: (1) direct the Secretaries to provide greater transparency of women in service implementation plans and ensure that a statement of administration policy is created to reflect the mission of the plan and its intent on responsibly opening all jobs, positions, and units to female members of the Armed Forces; (2) promptly respond whenever one of the Secretaries submits a notice of newly opened jobs, positions, or units to female members of the Armed Forces; and (3) ensure all closed positions and units are open to female members of the Armed Forces by January 1, 2016, consistent with the Joint Memorandum issued on January 24, 2013, regarding the elimination of the 1994 Direct Ground Combat Definition and Assignment Rule.
Requires the Secretary of the Navy to provide Congress with information on: (1) what process and metrics were used to validate the physical standards applicable to members of the Navy and Marine Corps; and (2) Marine Corps research involving female members of the Marine Corps who volunteer for the Infantry Officers Course, the enlisted infantry training course, and the Ground Combat Element Experimental Task Force. Makes any female member of the Marine Corps who graduates from the enlisted infantry course eligible for assignment to an infantry occupational specialty.
Requires: (1) the Secretary of the Army to permit female members of the Army to apply to Army Ranger School for leadership training opportunities, and (2) the Secretary of Defense to direct the Special Operations Command to submit to Congress the type of approach and methodology it will be using for the integration of women into the Special Operations Forces.
Requires the Secretary of Defense to direct the Secretaries to take immediate steps to ensure that properly designed and fitted combat equipment is available and distributed to female members of the Armed Forces.
Directs the Comptroller General to conduct a review of Services' Outreach and Recruitment Efforts gauged toward women representation in the officer corps.
[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4516 Introduced in House (IH)]
113th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 4516
To expedite and oversee the implementation of the women in service
implementation plan, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 29, 2014
Ms. Loretta Sanchez of California introduced the following bill; which
was referred to the Committee on Armed Services
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To expedite and oversee the implementation of the women in service
implementation plan, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``She Is Ready Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) On January 24, 2013, Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta
and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Martin Dempsey
rescinded the 1994 Direct Ground Combat Definition and
Assignment Rule and directed the Armed Forces to open closed
occupations, positions, and units to female members of the
Armed Forces no later than January 1, 2016.
(2) The rescission of the 1994 policy was based on the
knowledge that success in the Armed Forces results solely from
a member's ability, qualifications, and performance, and the
decision to rescind the policy is consistent with America's
values and enhances military readiness.
(3) The change in policy is reflective of the ``on the
ground'' reality that female members of the Armed Forces,
particularly in Iraq and Afghanistan, have been serving in
combat.
(4) A directive from the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of
Staff requires the development, review, and validation of
gender-neutral occupational standards ``reflecting the
knowledge, skills and abilities necessary for each occupation''
to be used to assess and assign members not later than
September 2015.
(5) There are concerns in regards to the lack of
transparency and the type of research the Armed Forces are
planning and pursuing in opening closed occupations, positions,
and units to female members of the Armed Forces.
(6) The largest number of closed occupations, positions,
and units are in the Army and Marine Corps. The Department of
Defense announced its intention, pursuant to the January 2013
Directives, to open for assignment of female members of the
Armed Forces thousands of previously closed positions and
units, but thousands of positions and units remain closed
female members of the Armed Forces.
SEC. 3. REMOVAL OF ARTIFICIAL BARRIERS TO THE SERVICE OF WOMEN IN THE
ARMED FORCES.
(a) Prompt Assignment.--
(1) Cadre or critical mass not required.--The Secretaries
of the military departments shall not unduly delay the
assignment of female members of the Armed Forces to military
occupational specialties, positions, and units because of the
absence of a cadre or critical mass of female members available
for such assignment.
(2) Open occupation precedence.--As soon as possible after
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense
shall direct the Secretaries of the military departments to
open for assignment of women to all positions in occupations
that, on or after the date of the enactment of this Act, are
open to female members of the Armed Forces in any unit of the
Armed Forces.
(b) Validation and Oversight of Gender-Neutral Occupational
Standards.--
(1) Validation; purpose.--As soon as possible after the
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense
shall direct the Secretary of each military department to
validate the gender-neutral occupational standards used by the
Armed Forces under the jurisdiction of that Secretary for the
purpose of ensuring that the standards--
(A) are consistent with section 543 of the National
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1994 (Public
Law 103-160; 10 U.S.C. 113 note), as amended by section
523 of the National Defense Authorization Act for
Fiscal Year 2014 (Public Law 113-66; 127 Stat. 756),
which requires gender-neutral occupational standards,
requiring performance outcome-based standards for the
successful accomplishment of the necessary and required
specific tasks associated with the qualifications and
duties performed;
(B) accurately predict performance of actual,
regular, and recurring duties of a military occupation;
and
(C) are applied equitably to measure individual
capabilities.
(2) Role of independent research entity.--The Secretaries
of the military departments shall work with an independent
research entity to comply with paragraph (1).
SEC. 4. IMPROVED LEADERSHIP AND RESPONSIVENESS IN IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
WOMEN IN SERVICE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN.
(a) Transparency and Goals.--The Secretary of Defense shall direct
the Secretaries of the military departments to provide greater
transparency of its women in service implementation plan, ensure that a
statement of administration policy is created to reflect the mission of
the implementation plan and its intent on responsibly opening all jobs,
positions and units to female members of the Armed Forces.
(b) Response and Notice of Openings.--The Office of the Secretary
of Defense shall promptly respond whenever the Secretary of a military
department submits a notice of newly opened jobs, positions, of units
to female members of the Armed Forces and avoid any delays in
transmitting such notices to Congress.
(c) Final Deadline.--The Secretary of Defense shall ensure all
closed positions and units are open to female members of the Armed
Forces no later than January 1, 2016, consistent with the Joint
Memorandum issued on January 24, 2013, regarding the elimination of the
1994 Direct Ground Combat Definition and Assignment Rule.
SEC. 5. EFFECTIVE EVALUATION OF PHYSICAL STANDARDS AND OVERSIGHT OF
ARMED FORCES IMPLEMENTATION PLANS.
(a) Navy and Marine Corps.--
(1) Validation of physical standards.--As soon as possible
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of
the Navy shall provide Congress with information on what
process and metrics were used to validate the physical
standards applicable to members of the Navy and the Marine
Corps.
(2) Infantry training courses.--Not later than 30 days
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of
the Navy shall provide Congress with information in regards to
the Marine Corps research involving female members of the
Marine Corps who volunteer for the Infantry Officers Course
(IOC), the enlisted infantry training course (ITB), and the
Ground Combat Element Experimental Task Force (GCEXTF) for the
purpose of--
(A) determining what metrics the Marine Corps used
to develop the research requirements and elements for
the Marine Corps Expanded Entry-Level Training
Research;
(B) indicating what is being evaluated during these
research studies, along with how long both research
studies will last;
(C) identifying how data gathered during the
research studies will be used to open infantry and
other closed occupations; and
(D) assuring that infantry and other closed
occupations will not remain closed based on physical
tests that have not been validated or any other
improper evaluation mechanisms.
(3) Enlisted infantry course graduates.--Effective upon the
enactment of this Act, any female member of the Marine Corps
who graduates from the enlisted infantry course shall be
eligible for assignment to an infantry occupational specialty.
(b) Army.--Effective upon the enactment of this Act, the Secretary
of the Army shall permit female members of the Army to apply to Army
Ranger School as Ranger School is not solely intended for members of
the Army who plan to join the Ranger Regiment, but is also intended to
provide leadership training opportunities that members can utilize in
all jobs, positions, and units.
(c) Special Operations Command.--The Secretary of Defense shall
direct the Special Operations Command to submit to Congress, not later
than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the type of
approach and methodology it will be using for the integration of women
into the Special Operations Forces.
SEC. 6. FEMALE PERSONAL PROTECTION GEAR.
The Secretary of Defense shall direct each Secretary of a military
department to take immediate steps to ensure that properly designed and
fitted combat equipment is available and distributed to female members
of the Armed Forces under the jurisdiction of that Secretary.
SEC. 7. REVIEW OF OUTREACH AND RECRUITMENT EFFORTS FOCUSED ON OFFICERS.
(a) Review Required.--The Comptroller General of the United States
shall conduct a review of Services' Outreach and Recruitment Efforts
gauged toward women representation in the officer corps.
(b) Elements of Review.--In conducting the review under subsection
(a), the Secretary of Defense shall--
(1) identify and evaluate current initiatives the Armed
Forces are using to increase accession of women into the
officer corps;
(2) identify new recruiting efforts to increase accessions
of women into the officer corps specifically at the military
service academies, Officer Candidate Schools, Officer Training
Schools, the Academy of Military Science, and Reserve Officer
Training Corps; and
(3) identify efforts, resources, and funding required to
increase military service academy accession by an additional 20
percent by the end of the four-year period beginning on the
date of the enactment of this Act.
(c) Submission of Results.--Not later than 90 days after the date
of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to
Congress a report containing the results of the review under subsection
(a).
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.
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