S.Amdt. 2266

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 shall establish a national combat veteran reintegration program to provide National Guard and Reserve 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.

   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: (d) Organization.--

   Inserted: (1) Executive agent.--The Secretary shall designate the OSD (P&R) as the Department of Defense executive agent for the Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program.

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

   Inserted: (A) In general.--The OSD (P&R) shall establish the Office for Reintegration Programs within the OSD. 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 and Reserve family and support programs. The Directors of the Army National Guard and Air National Guard and the Chiefs of the Army Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve, Navy Reserve and Air Force Reserve may appoint liaison officers to coordinate with the permanent office staff.

   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 and Reserve 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 and Reserve organizations.

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   Inserted: (3) Advisory board.--

   Inserted: (A) Appointment.--The Under Secretary of Defense 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, Chiefs of the Army Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve, Navy Reserve and Air Force Reserve, 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, and any other Department of Defense, Federal Government agency, or outside organization as determined by the Secretary of Defense. 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 Secretary of Defense.

   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 and Reserve organizations;

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

   Inserted: (iii) recommendations regarding closer coordination between the Office of Reintegration Programs and State National Guard and Reserve 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: (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 and Reserve organizations. The Office of Reintegration Programs shall consult with affected State National Guard and Reserve 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 or Reserve 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 or Reserve 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 and Reserve 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 or Reserve 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 or Reserve 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 and Reserve 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 and Reserve 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.

   Original wording

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

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As printed