Sec. 921. Joint Chiefs of Staff and related combatant command matters
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Subsection (c)(1) of section 151 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by striking as he considers appropriate and inserting as necessary . Such section is further amended— in subsection (b)(2), by striking subsections
(d)and
(e)and inserting subsection
(d); by striking subsection (e); and by redesignating subsections
(f)and
(g)as subsections
(e)and (f), respectively. Subsection
(a)of section 152 of title 10, United States Code, is amended— in paragraph (1), by striking two years, beginning on October 1 of odd-numbered years and all that follows and inserting four years, beginning on October 1 of an odd-numbered year. ; and in paragraph (3), by— by striking the first sentence; by striking However, the President and inserting The President ; by striking combined ; and by striking in such positions and inserting as Chairman or Vice Chairman . Subsection (b)(1) of such section is amended— by striking subparagraph (A); and by redesignating subparagraphs
(B)and
(C)as subparagraphs
(A)and (B), respectively. The text of section 153 of title 10, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is responsible for ensuring that the President and the Secretary of Defense receive military advice on the comprehensive organization, training, equipping, and employment of the armed forces. Subject to the authority, direction, and control of the President and the Secretary of Defense, the primary focus of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff shall be the development of the military elements of national security and defense strategy, assisting the President and the Secretary in the integration of military operations and activities worldwide, and advocating for military requirements of the present and future joint force of the United States, including as follows: In matters relating to strategy development and operational planning: Developing strategic frameworks and directing planning, as required, to guide the use and employment of military force and related activities across all geographic regions and military functions and domains, and to sustain military efforts over different durations of time, as necessary. Advising the Secretary on the production of the national defense strategy required by section 118 of this title and the national security strategy required by section 108 of the National Security Act of 1947 ( 50 U.S.C. 3043 ). Providing advice to the President and the Secretary on daily and ongoing military operations. Preparing alternative military analysis, options, and plans, as the Chairman considers appropriate, to recommend to the Secretary. Preparing joint logistic, mobility, and operational energy plans to support the national defense strategy and recommending the assignment of responsibilities to the armed forces in accordance with these plans. Providing for the preparation and review of contingency plans which conform to policy guidance from the President and the Secretary. In matters relating to global military integration: Advising the Secretary on the need for the transfer of forces to address transregional, multi-domain, and multifunctional threats, or multiple threats with overlapping timeframes. To the extent authorized by the Secretary pursuant to a delegation of authority under section 113(g)(4) of this title, directing the transfer of limited forces on a temporary basis. In matters relating to comprehensive joint readiness: Evaluating the overall preparedness of the joint force to perform the responsibilities of that force under the national defense strategy and to respond to significant contingencies worldwide. Assessing the risks to United States missions, strategies, and military personnel that stem from shortfalls in military readiness across the armed forces, and producing comprehensive plans to reduce such risks. Identifying the support functions that are likely to require contractor performance under current defense strategies, and the risks associated with the assignment of such functions to contractors. Advising the Secretary on critical deficiencies and strengths in force capabilities (including manpower, logistic, and mobility support) identified during the preparation and review of the national defense strategy and contingency plans and assessing the effect of such deficiencies and strengths on meeting national security objectives and policy and on strategic plans. Recommending to the Secretary, in accordance with section 166 of this title, a budget proposal for activities of each unified and specified combatant command. Establishing and maintaining, after consultation with the commanders of the unified and specified combatant commands, a uniform system of evaluating the preparedness of each such command, and groups of commands collectively, to carry out missions assigned to the command or commands. Advising the Secretary on the extent to which the major programs and policies of the armed forces in the area of manpower and contractor support conform with the national defense strategy and the requirements of contingency plans produced by the commanders of the combatant commands, and on the ways to improve and enhance operational contract support for the armed forces. In matters relating to joint capability development: Identifying innovative and experimental new technologies to maintain the military technological advantage of the armed forces, and recommending investments in such technologies to the Secretary. Performing net assessments of the capabilities of the armed forces of the United States and its allies in comparison with the capabilities of potential adversaries. Advising the Secretary under section 163(b)(2) of this title on the priorities of the requirements identified by the commanders of the unified and specified combatant commands. Advising the Secretary on the extent to which the program recommendations and budget proposals of the military departments and other components of the Department of Defense for a fiscal year conform with the priorities established in the national defense strategy and with the priorities established for the requirements of the unified and specified combatant commands. Submitting to the Secretary alternative program recommendations and budget proposals, within projected resource levels and guidance provided by the Secretary, in order to achieve greater conformance with the priorities referred to in subparagraph (D). Identifying, assessing, and approving military requirements (including existing systems and equipment) to meet the national defense strategy. Recommending to the Secretary appropriate trade-offs among life-cycle cost, schedule, performance, and procurement quantity objectives in the acquisition of materiel and equipment to support the strategic and contingency plans required by this subsection in the most effective and efficient manner. In matters relating to joint force development activities: Developing doctrine for the joint employment of the armed forces. Formulating policies and technical standards, and executing actions, for the joint training of the armed forces. Formulating policies for coordinating the military education of members of the armed forces. Formulating policies for concept development and experimentation for the joint employment of the armed forces. Formulating policies for gathering, developing, and disseminating joint lessons learned for the armed forces. Advising the Secretary on development of joint command, control, communications, and cyber capability, including integration and interoperability of such capability, through requirements, integrated architectures, data standards, and assessments. In other matters: Providing for representation of the United States on the Military Staff Committee of the United Nations in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations. Performing such other duties as may be prescribed by law or by the President or the Secretary of Defense. The Chairman shall determine each even-numbered year whether to prepare a new national military strategy in accordance with this subparagraph or to update a strategy previously prepared in accordance with this paragraph. The Chairman shall provide such national military strategy or update to the Secretary of Defense in time for transmittal to Congress pursuant to paragraph (3), including in time for inclusion in the report, if any, of the Secretary under paragraph (4). Each national military strategy or update under this paragraph shall be based on a comprehensive review conducted by the Chairman in conjunction with the other members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the commanders of the unified and specified combatant commands. Each update shall address only those parts of the most recent national military strategy for which the Chairman determines, on the basis of the review under subparagraph (A), that a modification is needed. Each national military strategy or update submitted under this paragraph shall describe how the military will achieve support the objectives of the United States as articulated in— the most recent national security strategy prescribed by the President pursuant to section 108 of the National Security Act of 1947 ( 50 U.S.C. 3043 ); the most recent annual report of the Secretary submitted to the President and Congress pursuant to section 113 of this title; the most recent national defense strategy presented by the Secretary of Defense pursuant to section 118 of this title; and any other national security or defense strategic guidance issued by the President or the Secretary. At a minimum, each national military strategy or update submitted under this paragraph shall— assess the strategic environment, threats, opportunities, and challenges that affect the national security of the United States; develop military ends, ways, and means to support the objectives referred to in subparagraph (C); provide the framework for the assessment by the Chairman of strategic and military risks pursuant to paragraph (2), and developing risk mitigation options; establish a strategic framework for the development of operational and contingency plans; identify the priority of joint force capabilities, capacities, and resources; and establish military guidance for the development of the joint force. The Chairman shall prepare each year an assessment of the risks associated with the most current national military strategy or update under paragraph (1). The risk assessment shall be known as the Risk Assessment of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff . The Chairman shall complete preparation of the risk assessment in time for transmittal to Congress pursuant to paragraph (3), including in time for inclusion in the report, if any, of the Secretary of Defense under paragraph (4). Each risk assessment shall do the following: As the Chairman considers appropriate, update any changes to the strategic environment, threats, objectives, force planning and sizing constructs, assessments, and assumptions that informed the national military strategy or update under paragraph (1). Identify and define the strategic risks to United States interests and the military risks in executing the national military strategy or update. Identify and define levels of risk, including an identification of what constitutes significant risk in the judgment of the Chairman. Identify and assess risk in the national military strategy or update by category and level, including how risk is projected to increase, decrease, or remain stable over time. For each category of risk identified pursuant to clause (iv), assess the extent to which current or future risk increases, decreases, or is stable as a result of budgetary priorities, tradeoffs, or fiscal constraints or limitations as currently estimated and applied in the most current future-years defense program under section 221 of this title. Identify and assess risk associated with the assumptions or plans of the national military strategy or update about the contributions or support of— alliances, allies, and other friendly nations (including their capabilities, availability, and interoperability); and any other external support, as appropriate. Identify and assess the critical deficiencies and strengths in force capabilities (including manpower, logistics, intelligence, and mobility support) identified during the preparation and review of the contingency plans of each unified combatant command, and identify and assess the effect of such deficiencies and strengths for the national military strategy or update. Not later than February 15 of each even-numbered year, the Chairman shall, through the Secretary of Defense, submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report on the national military strategy or update, if any, prepared under paragraph
(1)in such year. Not later than February 15 each year, the Chairman shall, through the Secretary, submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report on the risk assessment prepared under paragraph
(2)in such year. The reports submitted under this subsection shall be classified in form, but shall include an unclassified summary. In transmitting a national military strategy or update, or a risk assessment, to Congress pursuant to paragraph (3), the Secretary of Defense shall include in the transmittal such comments of the Secretary thereon, if any, as the Secretary considers appropriate. If a risk assessment transmitted under paragraph
(3)in a year includes an assessment that a risk or risks associated with the national military strategy or update are significant, or that critical deficiencies in force capabilities exist for a contingency plan described in paragraph (2)(B)(vii), the Secretary shall include in the transmittal of the risk assessment the plan of the Secretary for mitigating such risk or deficiency. A plan for mitigating risk of deficiency under this subparagraph shall— address the risk assumed in the national military strategy or update concerned, and the additional actions taken or planned to be taken to address such risk using only current technology and force structure capabilities; and specify, for each risk addressed, the extent of, and a schedule for expected mitigation of, such risk, and an assessment of the potential for residual risk, if any, after mitigation. . Paragraph
(3)of section 154(a) of title 10, United States Code, is amended is amended by striking two years and inserting four years . Such section is further amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: The Vice Chairman shall not be eligible for promotion to the position of Chairman or any other position in the armed forces. The term of the Vice Chairman shall be established so as not to begin in the same year as the term of the Chairman. . Section 164(b) of title 10, United States Code, is amended— in paragraph (2)(A), by inserting and in consultation with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff before the semicolon; and by adding at the end the following new paragraph: Among the full range of command responsibilities specified in subsection
(c)and as provided for in section 161 of this title, the primary duties of the commander of a combatant command shall be as follows: To produce plans for the employment of the armed forces to execute the national defense strategy and respond to significant military contingencies. To take actions necessary to deter conflict. To command United States armed forces in conflict, if directed by the Secretary of Defense and approved by the President. . Chapter 6 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 163 the following new section: There is in the Department of Defense a council to be known as the Combatant Commanders Council (in this section referred to as the Council ). The Council shall consist of the following: The Secretary of Defense, who shall head the Council. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The commanders of the combatant commands. The Secretary of Defense shall convene regular meetings of the Council as the Secretary determines necessary. The Secretary may delegate the authority to convene meetings of the Council to the Chairman, in which case the Secretary may designate a representative to attend the meeting in the Secretary's place. The responsibilities of the Council are as follows: To inform the requirements, production, and periodic review of the national defense strategy required by section 118 of this title. To advise the commanders of the combatant commands of their roles and responsibilities in executing the national defense strategy. To oversee and guide the implementation of the national defense strategy. To support the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman in providing for the effective global integration of all military operations and activities across the combatant commands in furtherance of the current national defense strategy and the guidance of the President and the Secretary of Defense. Such other responsibilities as the Secretary may prescribe. . The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 6 of such title is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 163 the following new item: 163a. Combatant Commanders Council. .
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Sec. 921
Joint Chiefs of Staff and related combatant command matters
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