To require a report on the information given to individuals enlisting in the Armed Forces of the so-called "stop loss" authority of the Armed Forces.

1. Adds SEC. __. REPORT ON INFORMATION ON STOP LOSS AUTHORITIES GIVEN TO ENLISTEES IN THE ARMED FORCES at the end of subtitle B of title V

   Adds a section

   In S. 1042 · Public Print

   (B) such other information as the Secretary considers appropriate.

   Inserted: SEC. __. REPORT ON INFORMATION ON STOP LOSS AUTHORITIES GIVEN TO ENLISTEES IN THE ARMED FORCES.

   Inserted: (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:

   Inserted: (1) The Department of Defense began retaining selected members of the Armed Forces beyond their contractual date of separation from the Armed Forces, a policy commonly known as "stop loss", shortly after the events of September 11, 2001, and for the first time since Operation Desert Shield/ Desert Storm.

   Inserted: (2) The Marine Corps, Navy, and Air Force discontinued their use of stop loss authority in 2003. According to the Department of Defense, a total of 8,992 marines, 2,600 sailors, and 8,500 airmen were kept beyond their separation dates under that authority.

   Inserted: (3) The Army is the only Armed Force currently using stop loss authority. The Army reports that, during September 2005, it was retaining 6,929 regular component soldiers, 3,002 soldiers in the National Guard, and 2,847 soldiers in the Army Reserve beyond their separation date. The Army reports that it has not kept an account of the cumulative number of soldiers who have been kept beyond their separation date.

   Inserted: (4) The Department of Defense Form 4/1, Enlistment/ Reenlistment Document does not give notice to enlistees and reenlistees in the regular components of the Armed Forces that they may be kept beyond their contractual separation date during times of partial mobilization.

   Inserted: (5) The Department of Defense has an obligation to clearly communicate to all potential enlistees and reenlistees in the Armed Forces their terms of service in the Armed Forces.

   Inserted: (b) Report.--

   Inserted: (1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the actions being taken to ensure that each individual being recruited for service in the Armed Forces is provided, before making a formal enlistment in the Armed Forces, precise and detailed information on the period or periods of service to which such individual may be obligated by reason of enlistment in the Armed Forces, including any revisions to Department of Defense Form 4/1.

   Inserted: (2) Elements.--The report under paragraph (1) shall include--

   Inserted: (A) a description of how the Department informs enlistees in the Armed Forces on--

   Inserted: (i) the so-called "stop loss" authority and the manner in which exercise of such authority could affect the duration of an individual's service on active duty in the Armed Forces;

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   Inserted: (ii) the authority for the call or order to active duty of members of the Individual Ready Reserve and the manner in which such a call or order to active duty could affect an individual following the completion of the individual's expected period of service on active duty or in the Individual Ready Reserve; and

   Inserted: (iii) any other authorities applicable to the call or order to active duty of the Reserves, or of the retention of members of the Armed Forces on active duty, that could affect the period of service of an individual on active duty or in the Armed Forces; and

   Inserted: (B) such other information as the Secretary considers appropriate.

   Original wording

   At the end of subtitle B of title V, add the following:

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As printed