Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “She Is Ready Act”.
She Is Ready Act
A BILL
To expedite and oversee the implementation of the women in service implementation plan, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Findings
Congress makes the following findings:
On January 24, 2013, Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Martin Dempsey rescinded the 1994 Direct Ground Combat Definition and Assignment Rule and directed the Armed Forces to open closed occupations, positions, and units to female members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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
Prompt assignment—
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.
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.
Validation and oversight of gender-Neutral occupational standards—
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—
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;
accurately predict performance of actual, regular, and recurring duties of a military occupation; and
are applied equitably to measure individual capabilities.
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
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.
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.
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
Navy and marine corps—
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.
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—
determining what metrics the Marine Corps used to develop the research requirements and elements for the Marine Corps Expanded Entry-Level Training Research;
indicating what is being evaluated during these research studies, along with how long both research studies will last;
identifying how data gathered during the research studies will be used to open infantry and other closed occupations; and
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
Elements of Review— In conducting the review under subsection (a), the Secretary of Defense shall—
identify and evaluate current initiatives the Armed Forces are using to increase accession of women into the officer corps;
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
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.
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).