Proposed Collection; Comment Request

Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Personnel and Readiness).

Notice.

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In compliance with Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Personnel and Readiness) announces the following proposed reinstatement of a public information collection and seeks public comment on the provisions thereof. Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of burden of the proposed information collection; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the information collection on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

Consideration will be given to all comments received by September 28, 1999.

Written comments and recommendations on the proposed information collection should be sent to the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Personal and Readiness) (Force Management Policy/ Military Personnel Policy/Armed Forces Chaplains Board), ATTN: CAPT Russell Gunter, CHC, UNS, 4000 Defense Pentagon, Room 1B652, Washington, DC 20301-4000.

To request more information on this proposed information collection or to obtain a copy of the proposal and associated collection instruments, please write to the above address or call at (703) 697-9015. Title, Associated Form, and OMB Number: Appointment of Chaplains for the Military Services; DD Form 2088 and DD Form 2741; OMB Control Number 0704-0190. Needs and Uses: This information collection requirement is necessary to ensure that religious organizations seeking to endorse chaplains are eligible and that applicants qualified for the military chaplain services are endorsed by those religious organizations. Two forms are associated with this program to collect the necessary information. The DD Form 2741, ``Ecclesiastical

Endorsing Organization Verification/Reverification Information,'' requests basic demographic information about the religious denominations seeking to supply chaplains. It requests the name of an official authorized to represent the organization to the Military Services, and it requires the organization to certify that it is authorized by its membership to act as the sole agency for the purpose of certifying and endorsing clergy to serve as military chaplains. The DD Form 2088, ``Ecclesiastical Endorsing Agent Certification,'' is used by religious denominations to certify that a member of their clergy is professionally qualified to become a chaplain. It requests information about name, address, professional experience, and previous military experience to be used in determining grade, date or rank, and eligibility for promotion for appointees to the chaplain services. Affected Public: Not-for-profit institutions. Annual Burden Hours: 1,187. Number or Respondents: 724. Responses per Respondent: 1. Average Burden per Respondent: 20 minutes. Frequency: On occasion/annually.