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New panel to evaluate DoD family readiness

The services’ senior enlisted advisers — or spouses of senior enlisted personnel — will be among the members of a new Defense Department family readiness council required by law.

The 12-member council, which will also include defense and service officials, as well as representatives from military family organizations, will review the Pentagon’s policies and plans for the support of family readiness.

Congress ordered creation of the council as part of the 2008 Defense Authorization Act, signed into law Jan. 28.

Although the Defense Department has had a family policy office in place for decades, the new provision requires the Pentagon to develop specific policy and plans for the support of military family readiness. The defined policy must be submitted to Congress by Feb. 1, 2009, with the new family readiness council reviewing and making recommendations regarding the development of this policy.

The council also will monitor requirements for family readiness and evaluate the effectiveness of family readiness programs. By Feb. 1 of each year, the council must provide an assessment of military family readiness programs during the preceding year, and make recommendations for improvements, including funding and other resources.

The council will be required to meet at least twice a year, and lawmakers indicated that they expect the council to meet mostly outside the Washington area.

The new law puts the onus on the Defense Department to ensure family readiness programs are “comprehensive, effective and properly supported,” and that this support is continuously available to all military families — National Guard and reserve, as well as active duty — in peacetime and in war, and during periods of force structure change and relocation of military units.

The Defense Department must submit a report to Congress by March 1 of each year — including this year — on its family readiness plans for the next five fiscal years.

Congress also wants defense officials to make military family readiness “an explicit element of applicable Department of Defense plans, programs, and budgeting activities” and ensure that achievement of family readiness is expressed through departmentwide goals that are identifiable and measurable, the law states.

Part of the policy will include a summary, by fiscal year, of the funding for military family readiness programs in each service and through the Office of the Secretary of Defense.

Military family readiness programs and activities must be continuously evaluated to make sure that “resources are allocated and expended” to achieve the goals. The first report detailing the policies developed is due to Congress by Feb. 1, 2009.

Members of the military family readiness council, who will serve three-year terms, will include:

* The undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness.

* A representative from the Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force, appointed by the Secretary of Defense.

* Three people from military family organizations representing those in the active and reserve components, also appointed by the Secretary of Defense.

* The senior enlisted advisers of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force, or a spouse of a senior enlisted member from each service.