[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 243 (Tuesday, December 18, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 74835-74836]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-30430]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary


Renewal of Department of Defense Federal Advisory Committees

AGENCY: Department of Defense.

ACTION: Renewal of Federal Advisory Committee.

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SUMMARY: Under the provisions of 10 U.S.C. 1781a, as amended, the 
Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972 (5 U.S.C. Appendix), the 
Government in the Sunshine Act of 1976 (5 U.S.C. 552b) (``the Sunshine 
Act), and 41 CFR 102-3.50(a), the Department of Defense (DoD) gives 
notice that it is renewing the charter for the Department of Defense 
Military Family Readiness Council (``the Council'').
    The Council is a non-discretionary federal advisory committee that 
shall review and make recommendations to the Secretary of Defense 
regarding the policy and plans required under 10 U.S.C. 1781b, monitor 
requirements for the support of military families readiness by the DoD, 
and evaluate and assess the effectiveness of the military family 
readiness programs and activities of the DoD.
    The Council, no later than February 1 of each year, shall submit a 
report on military family readiness. Each report, at a minimum shall 
include the following: (a) An assessment of the adequacy and 
effectiveness of the military family readiness programs and activities 
of the DoD during the preceding fiscal year in meeting the needs and 
requirements of military families; and (b) Recommendations on actions 
to be taken to improve the capability of the military family readiness 
programs and activities of the DoD to meet the needs and requirements 
of military families, including actions relating to the allocation of 
funding and other resources to and among such programs and activities.
    The annual report referenced above shall be submitted to the 
Secretary of Defense and the congressional defense committees.
    The DoD, through the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for 
Personnel and Readiness (USD(P&R)), shall provide support, as deemed 
necessary, for the Council's performance, and shall ensure compliance 
with the requirements of FACA, the Sunshine Act, governing Federal 
statutes and regulations, and established DoD policies/procedures.
    The Council, pursuant to 10 U.S.C. 1781a(b), as amended, shall be 
composed of 18 members, appointed as specified below:
    a. The USD (P&R), who shall serve as chair of the Council. The 
Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and 
Readiness, as approved by the Secretary of Defense, may, in the absence 
of the USD(P&R), serve as the Council's chair with all rights and 
privileges thereunto;
    b. One representative from each of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, 
and Air Force, each of whom shall be a member of the armed force to be 
represented;
    c. The Secretary of Defense has approved the following ex officio 
appointments for a two-year term of service with annual renewals:
    1. Army--the Assistant Chief of Staff for Installation Management;
    2. Navy--the Chief of Naval Personnel;
    3. Air Force--the Deputy Chief of Staff for Manpower and Personnel; 
and
    4. Marine Corps--the Deputy Commandant for Manpower & Reserve 
Affairs.
    d. One representative of the Army National Guard or the Air 
National Guard, who may be a member of the National Guard;
    The Secretary of Defense, based upon the recommendation of the 
Chief, National Guard Bureau through the USD(P&R) shall appoint one 
individual to serve on the Council. If the Secretary appoints a person 
who is a full-time or permanent part-time federal officer or employee, 
then that individual shall be appointed as a regular Government member 
of the Council. If the Secretary appoints a person who is not a full-
time or permanent part-time federal officer or employee or a member of 
the Army or Air National Guard, then that individual shall be appointed 
as an expert and consultant under the authority of 5 U.S.C. 3109 to 
serve as a special Government employee (SGE). Representation on the 
Council shall rotate between the Army National Guard and Air National 
Guard every two years on a calendar year basis with annual renewals.
    e. One spouse or parent of a member of each of the Army, Navy, 
Marine Corps, and Air Force, two of whom shall be the spouse or parent 
of an active component member and two of whom shall be the spouse or 
parent of a reserve component member.
    The Secretary of Defense shall appoint these individuals based upon 
the recommendation of the USD(P&R). Spouse or parent nominees of 
Regular Component members shall begin with the Army and Navy followed 
by the Air Force and Marine Corps. Spouse or parent nominees of Reserve 
Component members shall begin with the Air Force and Marine Corps 
followed by the Army and the Navy. A spouse or parent of a member of 
the Regular or Reserve Component appointed by the Secretary of Defense, 
unless he or she is a full-time or permanent part-time Federal officer 
or employee, shall be appointed to the Council as an expert and 
consultant under the authority of 5 U.S.C. 3109 and serve as a SGE. The 
term of service for these members shall be two years with annual 
renewals.
    f. Three individuals appointed by the Secretary of Defense from 
among representatives of military family organizations, including 
military family organizations of families of members of the regular 
components and families of members of the reserve components.
    For the period 2012-2015, the following military family 
organizations are invited to serve on the Council: The National 
Military Family Association, the American Red Cross, and the Blue Star 
Families. Individuals appointed by the Secretary of Defense from these 
three organizations who are not full-time or permanent part-time 
federal officers or employees shall be appointed as experts and 
consultants under the authority of 5 U.S.C. 3109 to serve as a SGE. The 
term of service shall be three years with annual renewals.
    g. The senior enlisted advisors from each of the Army, Navy, Marine 
Corps, and Air Force, except that two of these members may instead be 
selected from among the spouses of the senior enlisted advisors.
    The Secretary of Defense shall appoint two Senior Enlisted Advisors 
beginning with the Navy and Marine Corps and followed by the Army and 
Air Force. The Secretary of Defense shall appoint two spouses of Senior 
Enlisted Advisors beginning with the Army and Air Force and followed by 
the Navy and Marine Corps. A spouse of a Senior Enlisted Advisor of the 
Army, Navy, Air Force or Marine Corps

[[Page 74836]]

appointed by the Secretary of Defense, unless he or she is a full-time 
or permanent part-time Federal officer or employee, shall be appointed 
to the Council as an expert and consultant under the authority of 5 
U.S.C. 3109 and serve as a SGE. The term of service for Senior Enlisted 
Advisors shall be two years with annual renewals. The term of service 
for spouses of Senior Enlisted Advisors shall be either two years or 
until the conclusion of the Service member's tour of duty as Senior 
Enlisted Advisor during which the spouse was appointed to the Council, 
whichever is earlier, with annual renewals.
    h. The Director of the Office of Community Support for Military 
Families with Special Needs (``the Director'').
    The Director is appointed as a regular Government (ex officio) 
member of the Council. The Director may send someone to attend a 
Council meeting if he or she is unable to attend; however, this person 
shall not engage in Council deliberations, vote on matters before the 
Council, or count toward a quorum.
    With the exception of travel and per diem for travel related to the 
Council, members of the Council shall serve without compensation.
    The Department, when necessary, and consistent with the Council's 
mission and DoD policies/procedures, may establish subcommittees, task 
groups, and working groups to support the Council. Establishment of 
subcommittees will be based upon a written determination, to include 
terms of reference, by the Secretary of Defense, the Deputy Secretary 
of Defense or the USD(P&R).
    Such subcommittees shall not work independently of the Council, and 
shall report all their recommendations and advice solely to the Council 
for full deliberation and discussion. Subcommittees have no authority 
to make decisions and recommendations, verbally or in writing, on 
behalf of the Council; nor can any subcommittee or its members update 
or report directly to the DoD or any Federal officers or employees.
    The Secretary of Defense shall appoint subcommittee members even if 
the member in question is already a Council member. Subcommittee 
members, with the approval of the Secretary of Defense, may serve a 
term of service on the subcommittee of one-to-four years; however, no 
member, unless authorized by the Secretary of Defense, may serve more 
than two consecutive terms of service.
    Subcommittee members, if not full-time or part-time Government 
employees, shall be appointed to serve as experts and consultants under 
the authority of 5 U.S.C. 3109, and shall serve as SGEs, whose 
appointments must be renewed by the Secretary of Defense on an annual 
basis. With the exception of per diem for official travel related to 
the Council or its subcommittees, subcommittee members shall serve 
without compensation.
    Each subcommittee member is appointed to provide advice on behalf 
of the Government on the basis of his or her best judgment without 
representing any particular point of view and in a manner that is free 
from conflict of interest.
    All subcommittees operate under the provisions of FACA, the 
Sunshine Act, governing Federal statutes and regulations, and governing 
DoD policies/procedures.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Council shall meet at the call of the 
Council's Designated Federal Officer (DFO), in consultation with 
Council's Chairperson. The estimated number of meetings by the Council 
is two per year.
    In addition, the DFO is required to be in attendance at all 
meetings of the Council and its subcommittees for the entire duration 
of each and every meeting. However, in the absence of the Council's 
DFO, a properly approved Alternate DFO, duly appointed to the Council 
according to DoD policies/procedures, shall attend the entire duration 
of meetings of the Council or subcommittees.
    The DFO, or the Alternate DFO, shall call all of the Council and 
its subcommittees; prepare and approve all meeting agendas; and adjourn 
any meeting, when the DFO, or the Alternate DFO, determines adjournment 
to be in the public interest or required by governing regulations or 
DoD policies/procedures; and chair meetings when directed to do so by 
the USD(P&R).
    Pursuant to 41 CFR 102-3.105(j) and 102-3.140, the public or 
interested organizations may submit written statements to Department of 
Defense Military Family Readiness Council membership about the 
Council's mission and functions. Written statements may be submitted at 
any time or in response to the stated agenda of planned meeting of 
Department of Defense Military Family Readiness Council.
    All written statements shall be submitted to the Designated Federal 
Officer for the Department of Defense Military Family Readiness 
Council, and this individual will ensure that the written statements 
are provided to the membership for their consideration. Contact 
information for the Department of Defense Military Family Readiness 
Council's DFO can be obtained from the GSA's FACA Database--https://www.fido.gov/facadatabase/public.asp.
    The DFO, pursuant to 41 CFR 102-3.150, will announce planned 
meetings of the Department of Defense Military Family Readiness 
Council. The DFO, at that time, may provide additional guidance on the 
submission of written statements that are in response to the stated 
agenda for the planned meeting in question.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jim Freeman, Advisory Committee 
Management Officer for the Department of Defense, 703-692-5952.

    Dated: December 13, 2012.
Aaron Siegel,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
[FR Doc. 2012-30430 Filed 12-17-12; 8:45 am]
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