80 FR 15994 - Establishment of the National Commission on the Future of the Army

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Office of the Secretary

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 58 (March 26, 2015)

The Department of Defense (DoD) is publishing this notice to announce that it is establishing the National Commission on the Future of the Army (``the Commission'').

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 58 (Thursday, March 26, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15994-15996]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-06919]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary


Establishment of the National Commission on the Future of the 
Army

AGENCY: DoD.

ACTION: Establishment of federal advisory committee.

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[[Page 15995]]

SUMMARY: The Department of Defense (DoD) is publishing this notice to 
announce that it is establishing the National Commission on the Future 
of the Army (``the Commission'').

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jim Freeman, Advisory Committee 
Management Officer for the Department of Defense, 703-692-5952.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This committee is being established pursuant 
to Section 1702 of the Carl Levin and Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon 
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015 (``the FY 2015 
NDAA'') (Pub. L. 113-291) and in accordance with the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act (FACA) of 1972 (5 U.S.C., Appendix, as amended) and 41 
CFR 102-3.50(a).
    The Commission is a non-discretionary Federal advisory committee 
that shall undertake a comprehensive study of the structure of the 
Army, and policy assumptions related to the size and force mixture of 
the Army, in order (a) to make an assessment of the size and force 
structure of the active component of the Army and the reserve 
components of the Army; and (b) to make recommendations on the 
modifications, if any, of the structure of the Army related to current 
and anticipated mission requirements for the Army at acceptable levels 
of national risk and in a manner consistent with available resources 
and anticipated future resources. The Commission shall also conduct a 
study of a transfer of Army National Guard AH-64 Apache aircraft from 
the Army National Guard to the regular Army.
    Pursuant to section 1703(c) of the FY 2015 NDAA, the Commission, 
not later than February 1, 2016, shall submit to the President and the 
Congressional defense committees a report setting forth a detailed 
statement of the findings and conclusions of the Commission as a result 
of the studies required by Sections 1703(a) and (b) of the FY 2015 
NDAA, together with its recommendations for such legislative and 
administrative actions it considers appropriate in light of the results 
of the studies.
    In undertaking both studies as described above, the Commission 
shall give particular consideration to:
    A. An evaluation and identification of a structure for the Army 
that:
    (1) Has the depth and scalability to meet current and anticipated 
requirements of the combatant commands;
    (2) achieves cost-efficiency between the regular and reserve 
components of the Army, manages military risk, takes advantage of the 
strengths and capabilities of each, and considers fully burdened 
lifecycle costs;
    (3) ensures that the regular and reserve components of the Army 
have the capacity needed to support current and anticipated homeland 
defense and disaster assistance missions in the United States;
    (4) provides for sufficient numbers of regular members of the Army 
to provide a base of trained personnel from which the personnel of the 
reserve components of the Army could be recruited;
    (5) maintains a peacetime rotation force to avoid exceeding 
operational tempo goals of 1:2 for active members of the Army and 1:5 
for members of the reserve components of the Army; and
    (6) manages strategic and operational risk by making tradeoffs 
among readiness, efficiency, effectiveness, capability, and 
affordability.
    B. An evaluation and identification of force generation policies 
for the Army with respect to size and force mixture in order to fulfill 
current and anticipated mission requirements for the Army in a manner 
consistent with available resources and anticipated future resources 
including policies in connection with:
    (1) Readiness;
    (2) training;
    (3) equipment;
    (4) personnel; and
    (5) maintenance of the reserve components as an operational reserve 
in order to maintain as much as possible the level of expertise and 
experience developed since September 11, 2001.
    C. An identification and evaluation of the distribution of 
responsibility and authority for the allocation of Army National Guard 
personnel and force structure to the States and territories.
    D. An identification and evaluation of the strategic basis or 
rationale, analytical methods, and decision-making processes for the 
allocation of Army National Guard personnel and force structure to the 
States and territories.
    The Commission may hold such hearings, sit and act at such times 
and places, take such testimony and receive such evidence as the 
Commission considers advisable to carry out its mission.
    The Commission may secure directly from any Federal department or 
agency such information as the Commission considers necessary to carry 
out its duties. Upon request of the Chair of the Commission, the head 
of such department or agency shall furnish such information to the 
Commission.
    The Commission, pursuant to Section 1702(b)(1) of the FY 2015 NDAA, 
shall be composed of eight members. In making appointments, 
consideration should be given to individuals with expertise in national 
and international security policy and strategy, military forces 
capability, force structure design, organization, and employment, and 
reserve forces policy. The Commission's membership shall include:
    a. Four individuals appointed by the President;
    b. One individual appointed by the Chairman of the Committee on 
Armed Services of the Senate;
    c. One individual appointed by the Ranking Member of the Committee 
on Armed Services of the Senate;
    d. One individual appointed by the Chairman of the Committee on 
Armed Services of the House of Representatives; and
    e. One individual appointed by the Ranking Member of the Committee 
on Armed Services of the House of Representatives.
    Pursuant to Section 1702(b)(2) of FY 2015 NDAA, the appointments of 
the members of the Commission shall be made not later than 90 days 
after the enactment of the FY 2015 NDAA.
    If one or more appointments under Section 12, subparagraph (a) 
above is not made by the appointment date specified in Section 
1702(b)(2) of the FY 2015 NDAA, the authority to make such appointment 
or appointments shall expire, and the number of members of the 
Commission shall be reduced by the number equal to the number of 
appointments so not made. If an appointment under Section 12, 
subparagraphs (b)-(e) above is not made by the appointment date 
specified in Section 1702(b)(2) of the FY 2015 NDAA, the authority to 
make an appointment shall expire, and the number of members of the 
Commission shall be reduced by the number equal to the number otherwise 
appointable.
    Members shall be appointed for the life of the Commission. Any 
vacancy in the Commission shall not affect its powers, but shall be 
filled in the same manner as the original appointment. The Commission 
members shall select a Chair and Vice Chair from the total membership. 
Commission members who are full-time or permanent part-time Federal 
officers or employees shall be appointed as regular government employee 
(RGE) members. Commission members who are not full-time or permanent 
part-time Federal officers or employees shall be appointed as experts 
or consultants pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 3109 to serve as special government 
employee (SGE) members.
    Consistent with Section 1705(a) of the FY 2015 NDAA, each member of 
the

[[Page 15996]]

Commission who is not an officer or employee of the Federal Government 
shall be compensated at a rate not to exceed to the daily equivalent of 
the annual rate of $155,400, for each day (including travel time) 
during which such member is engaged in the performance of the duties of 
the Commission. All members of the Commission who are officers or 
employees of the United States shall serve without compensation in 
addition to that received for their services as officers or employees 
of the United States.
    The members of the Commission shall be allowed travel expenses, 
including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for 
employees of agencies under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5 
United States Code, while away from their homes or regular places of 
business in the performance of services for the Commission.
    The DoD, when necessary and consistent with the Commission's 
mission and DoD policies and procedures, may establish subcommittees, 
task forces, or working groups to support the Commission. Establishment 
of subcommittees will be based upon a written determination, to include 
terms of reference, by the Secretary of Defense, the Deputy Secretary 
of Defense, or the DCMO, as the DoD sponsor.
    Such subcommittees shall not work independently of the Commission 
and shall report all of their recommendations and advice solely to the 
Commission for full and open deliberation and discussion. 
Subcommittees, task forces, or working groups have no authority to make 
decisions and recommendations, verbally or in writing, on behalf of the 
Commission. No subcommittee or its members can update or report, 
verbally or in writing, on behalf of the Commission, directly to the 
DoD or to any Federal officer or employee.
    All subcommittee members shall be appointed by the Secretary of 
Defense or the Deputy Secretary of Defense according to governing DoD 
policies and procedures, even if the member in question is already a 
member of the Commission. Subcommittee members, with the approval of 
the Secretary of Defense, may serve a term of service for the life of 
the subcommittee.
    Subcommittee members, if not full-time or part-time Federal 
officers or employees, shall be appointed as experts or consultants 
pursuant to 5 U.S.C. Sec.  3109 to serve as SGE members. Subcommittee 
members who are full-time or permanent part-time Federal officers or 
employees will be appointed pursuant to 41 CFR Sec.  102-3.130(a) to 
serve as RGE members.
    Each subcommittee member is appointed to provide advice to the 
government on the basis of his or her best judgment without 
representing any particular point of view and in a manner that is free 
from conflict of interest. Subcommittee members may be compensated, and 
shall be allowed travel expenses, in the same manner as Commission 
members.
    All subcommittees operate under the provisions of the FACA, the 
Sunshine Act, governing Federal statutes and regulations, and 
established DoD policies and procedures.
    The Commission's Designated Federal Officer (DFO), pursuant to DoD 
policy, shall be a full-time or permanent part-time DoD employee 
appointed in accordance with governing DoD policies and procedures.
    The Commission's DFO is required to be in attendance at all 
meetings of the Commission and any of its subcommittees for the entire 
duration of each and every meeting. However, in the absence of the 
Commission's DFO, a properly approved Alternate DFO, duly appointed to 
the Commission according to established DoD policies and procedures, 
shall attend the entire duration of the Commission or any subcommittee 
meeting.
    The DFO, or the Alternate DFO, shall call all meetings of the 
Commission and its subcommittees; prepare and approve all meeting 
agendas; and adjourn any meeting when the DFO, or the Alternate DFO, 
determines adjournment to be in the public interest or required by 
governing regulations or DoD policies and procedures.
    Pursuant to 41 CFR 102-3.105(j) and 102-3.140, the public or 
interested organizations may submit written statements to National 
Commission on the Future of the Army membership about the Commission's 
mission and functions. Written statements may be submitted at any time 
or in response to the stated agenda of planned meeting of the National 
Commission on the Future of the Army.
    All written statements shall be submitted to the DFO for the 
National Commission on the Future of the Army, and this individual will 
ensure that the written statements are provided to the membership for 
their consideration. Contact information for the National Commission on 
the Future of the Army DFO can be obtained from the GSA's FACA 
Database--http://www.facadatabase.gov/.
    The DFO, pursuant to 41 CFR 102-3.150, will announce planned 
meetings of the National Commission on the Future of the Army. The DFO, 
at that time, may provide additional guidance on the submission of 
written statements that are in response to the stated agenda for the 
planned meeting in question.

    Dated: March 23, 2015.
Aaron Siegel,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
[FR Doc. 2015-06919 Filed 3-25-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 5001-06-P