Sec. 1048. Establishment of joint training pipeline between United States Navy and Royal Australian Navy
320 words·~1 min read·
/bill/117/hr/7900/pcs/section-1048·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
It is the sense of Congress that— the AUKUS partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States presents a significant opportunity to enhance security cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region; parties to the AUKUS partnership should work expeditiously to implement a strategic roadmap to successfully deliver capabilities outlined in the agreement; the United States should engage with industry partners to develop a comprehensive understanding of the requirements needed to increase capacity and capability;
Australia should continue to expand its industrial base to support production and delivery of future capabilities; the delivery of a nuclear-powered submarine to the Government of Australia would require the appropriate training and development of future commanding officers to operate such submarines for the Royal Australian Navy; and in order to uphold the stewardship of the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program, the Secretary of Defense should work to coordinate an exchange program to integrate and train Australian sailors for the operation and maintenance of nuclear-powered submarines.
The Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of Energy, shall carry out an exchange program for Australian submarine officers during 2023 and each subsequent year. Under the program, each year, a minimum of two Australian submarine officers shall be selected to participate in the program. Each such participant shall— receive training in the Navy Nuclear Propulsion School; following such training and by not later than July 1 of the year of participation, enroll in the Submarine Office Basic Course; and following completion of such course, be assigned to duty on an operational United States submarine at sea.
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on a notional exchange program for Australian submarine officers that includes initial, follow-on, and recurring training that could be provided to Australian submarine officers in order prepare such officers for command of nuclear-powered Australian submarines.