S.Amdt. 2116

1. Adds SEC. 683. NATIONAL GUARD YELLOW RIBBON REINTEGRATION PROGRAM at the end of subtitle F of title VI

   Adds a section

   Inserted: SEC. 683. NATIONAL GUARD YELLOW RIBBON REINTEGRATION PROGRAM.

   Inserted: (a) Establishment.--The Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Chief of the National Guard Bureau, shall establish a national combat veteran reintegration program to provide National Guard members and their families with sufficient information, services, referral, and proactive outreach opportunities throughout the entire deployment cycle. This program shall be known as the Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program. The Secretary may also use funds made available to carry out this section to support reintegration programs for members of the Army Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve, Navy Reserve, and Air Force Reserve and their families.

   Inserted: (b) Purpose.--The Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program shall consist of informational events and activities for Reserve Component members, their families, and community members through the four phases of the deployment cycle:

   Inserted: (1) Pre-Deployment.

   Inserted: (2) Deployment.

   Inserted: (3) Demobilization.

   Inserted: (4) Post-Deployment-Reconstitution.

   Inserted: (c) Consultation.--The National Guard Bureau Chief shall consult with the following parties during establishment of the program:

   Inserted: (1) The Adjutant General of the Minnesota National Guard and officials associated with the State's "Beyond the Yellow Ribbon" Reintegration Program, the Adjutant General of New Hampshire, the Adjutant General of Oregon, and the Adjutant General of Washington.

   Inserted: (2) Adjutants General of the remaining States and territories.

   Inserted: (d) Organization.--

   Inserted: (1) Executive agent.--The Secretary shall designate the National Guard Bureau as the Department of Defense executive agent for the Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program.

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   Inserted: (2) Establishment of the office for reintegration programs.--

   Inserted: (A) In general.--The National Guard Bureau shall establish the Office for Reintegration Programs within the National Guard Bureau Joint Staff. The office shall administer all reintegration programs in coordination with State National Guard organizations. The office shall be responsible for coordination with existing National Guard family and support programs. The Directors of the Army National Guard and Air National Guard may appoint liaison officers to work with the permanent office staff. The office shall closely coordinate with the Army National Guard and Air National Guard Directorates for Manpower and Personnel with respect to existing family support structure, mobilization schedules, training schedules, training plans and programs, and any other personnel issues.

   Inserted: (B) Establishment of a center for excellence in reintegration.--The Office for Reintegration Programs shall establish a Center for Excellence in Reintegration within the office. The Center shall collect and analyze "lessons learned" and suggestions from State National Guard organizations with existing or developing reintegration programs. The Center shall also assist in developing training aids and briefing materials and training representatives from State National Guard organizations. Representatives from State National Guard organizations with successful reintegration programs may augment the office staff.

   Inserted: (3) Advisory board.--

   Inserted: (A) Appointment.--The Chief of the National Guard Bureau shall appoint an advisory board to analyze and report areas of success and areas for necessary improvements. The advisory board shall include, but is not limited to, the Director of the Army National Guard, the Director of the Air National Guard, the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs, an Adjutant General on a rotational basis as determined by the Chief of the National Guard Bureau, the Director of the National Guard Bureau Manpower and Personnel Directorate (J-1), and any other Department of Defense, Federal Government agency, or outside organization as determined by the Chief of the National Guard Bureau. The members of the advisory board may designate representatives in their stead.

   Inserted: (B) Schedule.--The advisory board shall meet on a schedule as determined by the Chief of the National Guard Bureau.

   Inserted: (C) Initial reporting requirement.--The advisory board shall issue internal reports as necessary and shall submit an initial report to the Committees on Armed Services not later than 180 days after the end of a one-year period from establishment of the Office for Reintegration Programs. This report shall contain--

   Inserted: (i) an evaluation of the reintegration program's implementation by State National Guard organizations;

   Inserted: (ii) an assessment of any unmet resource requirements;

   Inserted: (iii) an assessment of the reintegration program's further inclusion of other Reserve Component members and the necessity for further expansion to incorporate all the Reserve Components; and

   Inserted: (iv) recommendations regarding closer coordination between the Office of Reintegration Programs and State National Guard organizations.

   Inserted: (D) Annual reports.--The advisory board shall submit annual reports to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives following the initial report by the first week in March of subsequent years following the initial report.

   Inserted: (4) State deployment cycle support teams.--The Office for Reintegration Programs shall employ personnel to administer the Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program at the State level. The Chief of the National Guard Bureau shall assign State Deployment Cycle Support Team members based on State need, geographical dispersion, and military population. The Office for Reintegration Programs is encouraged to employ wounded service members and returning combat veterans whenever possible. The primary function of team members shall be--

   Inserted: (A) developing and managing the reintegration curriculum;

   Inserted: (B) contracting and recruiting for necessary service providers; and

   Inserted: (C) ensuring that providers' skills adapt to the unique military nature of the reintegration program.

   Inserted: (e) Program.--

   Inserted: (1) In general.--The Office for Reintegration Programs shall analyze the demographics, placement of State Family Assistance Centers (FAC), and FAC resources before a mobilization alert is issued to affected State National Guard organizations. The Office of Reintegration Programs shall consult with affected State National Guard organizations following the issuance of a mobilization alert and implement the reintegration events in accordance with the Reintegration Program phase model.

   Inserted: (2) Pre-deployment phase.--The Pre-Deployment Phase shall constitute the time from first notification of mobilization until deployment of the mobilized National Guard unit. Events and activities shall focus on providing education and ensuring the readiness of service members, families, and communities for the rigors of a combat deployment.

   Inserted: (3) Deployment phase.--The Deployment Phase shall constitute the period from deployment of the mobilized National Guard unit until the unit arrives at a demobilization station inside the continental United States. Events and services provided shall focus on the challenges and stress associated with separation and having a member in a combat zone. Information sessions shall utilize State National Guard resources in coordination with the Employer Support of Guard and Reserve Office, Transition Assistance Advisors, and the State Family Programs Director.

   Inserted: (4) Demobilization phase.--

   Inserted: (A) In general.--The Demobilization Phase shall constitute the period from arrival of the National Guard unit at the demobilization station until its departure for home station. In the interest of returning members as soon as possible to their home stations, reintegration briefings during the Demobilization Phase shall be minimized. State Deployment Cycle Support Teams are encouraged, however, to assist demobilizing members in enrolling in the Department of Veterans Affairs system using Form 1010EZ during the Demobilization Phase. State Deployment Cycle Support Teams may provide other events from the Initial Reintegration Activity as determined by the State National Guard organizations. Remaining events shall be conducted during the Post-Deployment-Reconstitution Phase.

   Inserted: (B) Initial reintegration activity.--The purpose of this reintegration program is to educate service members about the resources that are available to them and to connect members to service providers who can assist them in overcoming the challenges of reintegration.

   Inserted: (5) Post-deployment-reconstitution phase.--

   Inserted: (A) In general.--The Post-Deployment-Reconstitution Phase shall constitute the period from arrival at home station until 180 days following demobilization. Activities and services provided shall focus on reconnecting service members with their families and communities and providing resources and information necessary for successful reintegration. Reintegration events shall begin with elements of the Initial Reintegration Activity program that were not completed during the Demobilization Phase.

   Inserted: (B) 30-day, 60-day, and 90-day reintegration activities.--The State National Guard organizations shall hold reintegration activities at the 30-day, 60-day, and 90-day interval following demobilization. These activities shall focus on reconnecting service members and family members with the service providers from Initial Reintegration Activity to ensure service members and their families understand what benefits they are entitled to and what resources are available to help them overcome the challenges of reintegration. The Reintegration Activities shall also provide a forum for service members and families to address negative behaviors related to combat stress and transition.

   Inserted: (C) Service member pay.--Service members shall receive appropriate pay for days spent attending the Reintegration Activities at the 30-day, 60-day, and 90-day intervals.

   Inserted: (D) Monthly individual reintegration program.--The Office for Reintegration Programs, in coordination with State National Guard organizations, shall offer a monthly reintegration program for individual service members released from active duty or formerly in a medical hold status. The program shall focus on the special needs of this service member subset and the Office for Reintegration Programs shall develop an appropriate program of services and information.

   Inserted: (f) Funding.--For purposes of carrying out this section, the following amounts may be available:

   Inserted: (1) From amounts authorized to be appropriated by section 421(9) for the Army National Guard for personnel, $100,000,000.

   Inserted: (2) From amounts authorized to be appropriated by section 301(5) for operation and maintenance, Defense-wide activities, $23,000,000.

   Original wording

   At the end of subtitle F of title VI, add the following:

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As printed