To require a report on mechanisms to ease the reintegration into civilian life of members of the National Guard and the Reserves following a deployment on active duty.

1. Adds SEC. 513. REPORT ON MECHANISMS TO EASE THE REINTEGRATION INTO CIVILIAN LIFE OF MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL GUARD AND THE RESERVES FOLLOWING A DEPLOYMENT ON ACTIVE DUTY at the end of subtitle B of title V

   Adds a section

   In S. 3254 · Placed on Calendar Senate

   (b) Repeal of Superseded Provision.--Subsection (i) of section 582 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 (10 U.S.C. 10101 note) is repealed.

   Inserted: SEC. 513. REPORT ON MECHANISMS TO EASE THE REINTEGRATION INTO CIVILIAN LIFE OF MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL GUARD AND THE RESERVES FOLLOWING A DEPLOYMENT ON ACTIVE DUTY.

   Inserted: (a) Study Required.--The Secretary of Defense shall conduct a study of the adequacy of mechanisms for the reintegration into civilian life of members of the National Guard and the Reserves following a deployment on active duty in the Armed Forces, including whether permitting such members to remain on active duty for a limited period after such deployment (often referred to as a "soft landing") is feasible and advisable for facilitating and easing that reintegration.

   Inserted: (b) Elements.--

   Inserted: (1) In general.--The study required by subsection (a) shall address the unique challenges members of the National Guard and the Reserves face when reintegrating into civilian life following a deployment on active duty in the Armed Forces and the adequacy of the policies, programs, and activities of the Department of Defense to assist such members in meeting such challenges.

   Inserted: (2) Particular elements.--The study shall take into consideration the following:

   Inserted: (A) Disparities in reintegration after deployment between members of the regular components of the Armed Forces and members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces, including--

   Inserted: (i) disparities in access to services, including, but not limited to, health care, mental health counseling, job counseling, and family counseling;

   Inserted: (ii) disparities in amounts of compensated time provided to take care of personal affairs;

   Inserted: (iii) disparities in amounts of time required to properly access services and to take care of personal affairs, including travel time; and

   Inserted: (iv) disparities in costs of uncompensated events or requirements, including, but not limited to, travel costs and legal fees.

   Inserted: (B) Disparities in reintegration policies and practices among the various Armed Forces and between the regular and reserve components of the Armed Forces.

   Inserted: (C) Disparities in the lengths of time of deployment between the regular and reserve components of the Armed Forces.

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   Inserted: (D) Applicable medical studies on reintegration, including studies on the rest and recuperation needed to appropriately recover from combat and training stress.

   Inserted: (E) Other applicable studies on reintegration policies and practices, including the recommendations made by such studies.

   Inserted: (F) Appropriate recommendations for the elements of a program to assist members of the National Guard and the Reserves following a deployment on active duty in the Armed Forces in reintegrating into civilian life, including means of ensuring that the program applies uniformly across the Armed Forces and between the regular components and reserve components of the Armed Forces.

   Inserted: (c) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the study required by subsection (a). The report shall set forth the results of the study, including the matters specified in subsection (b), and include such comments and recommendation in light of the study 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