FY2011 National Defense Authorization Act: Selected Military Personnel Policy Issues

Abstract : Military personnel issues typically generate significant interest from many Members of Congress and their staffs. Ongoing military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, along with the emerging operational role of the Reserve Components, further heighten interest in a wide range of military personnel policies and issues. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) has selected a number of the military personnel issues considered in deliberations on the House-passed and Senate versions of the National Defense Authorization Act for FY2011. This report provides a brief synopsis of sections that pertain to personnel policy. It includes background information and a discussion of the issue, along with a table that contains an explanation of the bill (H.R. 5136) passed by the House on May 28, 2010. The table and the report will be updated upon passage in the Senate, again upon completion of the Conference Committee action, and a final edition will be released when the NDAA is signed into law. Where appropriate, other CRS products are identified to provide more detailed background information and analysis of the issue. For each issue, a CRS analyst is identified and contact information is provided.