,i #aaith ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #cajg ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,april #cj1 #bjbe,mrs4 ,kiggans of ,virginia 7for herself1 ,mr4 ,gooden1 ,mr4 ,panetta1 and ,ms4 ,houlahan7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,armed ,services1 and in addition to the ,committees on ,transportation and ,infrastructure1 and ,oversight and ,government ,reform1 for a period to be subsequently determined by the ,speaker1 in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned ,a ,,bill ,to enhance military recruitment by improving access to student directory information1 enabling the military to inform prospective applicants about service options and the benefits of military service1 such as competitive pay1 education1 and valuable experience1 which is crucial for meeting ,national ,security ,strategy requirements and supporting combatant commander demand4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,service ,enlistment and ,recruitment of ,valuable ,engagement ,act or the ,,serve ,act4 #b4 ,findings ,congress makes the following findings3 7#a7 ,ensuring that the ,united ,states has a sufficient number of qualified active duty military personnel is a matter of national security4 ,to maintain force levels1 the ,department of ,defense must balance recruiting new members with retaining trained servicemembers4 ,however1 the current recruitment environment is the most challenging it has been in #ej years4 ,a combination of factors1 including a strong economy1 a shrinking eligible population1 and declining trust in institutions among ,generation ,z1 has significantly impacted the ,department's ability to recruit4 ,as of #bjbb1 only #ab percent of youth had a parent who served in the military1 down from #dj percent in #aiie4 7#b7 ,the disconnect between today's youth and the military has led to a lack of awareness regarding the benefits of military service1 such as competitive pay1 career training1 and a meaningful mission4 ,research indicates that over half of youth have never considered military service1 underscoring the urgent need for a renewed national call to service4 7#c7 ,the ,junior ,reserve ,officers' ,training ,corps 7,,jrotc7 program offers essential leadership training and character development for high school students4 ,by establishing formalized authorization for students without a ,,jrotc unit at their school to utilize ,,jrotc units at other school within their school district1 we will improve access and opportunities for students4 #c4 ,improvements on access to potential applicants 7a7 ,meaningful access to high schools 7#a7 ,recruiting ,section #ejc7;c77#a77;,a7 of chapter #ca of title #aj1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended-- 7,a7 in clause 7i71 by striking the same access to secondary school students as is provided generally to postsecondary educational institutions or to prospective employers of those students and inserting meaningful access to secondary schools1 including monthly visits or at a minimum no fewer than #d times per academic year spread across the school year1 in high traffic areas during peak school hours1 lunch periods1 between classes in a manner that does not interfere with class attendance1 and with reasonable notice1 in auditoriums and other meeting spaces1 at athletic functions and other group or social activities2 and 7,b7 in clause 7iii7-- 7i7 by striking #fj days and inserting the #fjth day after the start of the school year1 and thereafter1 not later than #cj days2 and 7ii7 by inserting academic grades1 genders1 after student names14 7#b7 ,,rotc access ,section #ihc7;b7 of title #aj1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended-- 7,a7 in paragraph 7#a71 by striking in a manner that is at least equal in quality and scope to the access to campuses and to students that is provided to any other employer and inserting that1 at a minimum1 includes no fewer than #d times per academic year spread across the school year during peak school hours1 while classes are in session1 in high-traffic areas1 and with reasonable notice1 in auditoriums and other meeting spaces1 and during athletic functions and other group or social activities2 7,b7 in paragraph 7#b7-- 7i7 in subparagraph 7,a7-- 7,i7 by inserting academic grades1 genders1 after names12 and 7,,ii7 by striking #fjth day and inserting #fjth day after the start of the school year and thereafter not later than #cj days2 and 7ii7 in subparagraph 7,b71 by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon2 and 7,c7 by adding at the end the following new paragraphs3 7#c7 access by military recruiters for purposes of military recruiting1 with respect to students 7who are #ag years of age or older7 not returning to the institution after having been enrolled during the previous semester-- 7,a7 the information required under subparagraphs 7,a7 and 7,b72 and 7,b7 the reason for failure to return1 if collected by the institution2 and 7#d7 access by military recruiters for purposes of military recruiting to lists of students 7who are #ag years of age or older7 enrolled at that institution 7or any subelement of that institution7 who have submitted a ,free ,application for ,federal ,student ,aid1 together with the listed information required under subparagraphs 7,a7 and 7,b71 if collected by the institution4 4 #d4 ,establishment of affiliation types for ,,jrotc 7a7 ,policy ,the ,department of ,defense shall establish policy to create two types of affiliation within the ,junior ,reserve ,officers' ,training ,corps 7,,jrotc7 program1 as follows3 7#a7 ,host unit ,a ,,jrotc unit located at a high school that has a ,memorandum of ,agreement with a military department to maintain a ,,jrotc program on its campus1 staffed full-time4 7#b7 ,cross-town ,a high school that has an agreement with a host ,,jrotc unit's institution1 allowing its students to enroll in the ,,jrotc program of the host unit and participate in activities at both campuses1 without dedicated staff4 7b7 ,guidance ,the ,department of ,defense shall issue guidance to implement these affiliation types within the ,,jrotc program1 ensuring clarity on the roles1 responsibilities1 and requirements for each affiliation type4 #e4 ,establishment of pilot program to recognize military-friendly schools 7a7 ,establishment of pilot program ,the ,secretary of ,defense shall establish a two-year pilot program to recognize high schools that demonstrate military enlistment rates above the ,state average4 ,the program shall aim to highlight and support schools that foster a culture of service and commitment to national defense by encouraging military enlistment among their students4 7b7 ,designation of schools 7#a7 ,in general ,as part of the pilot program1 the ,secretary of ,defense shall designate eligible high schools as ,,hero schools 7,honoring ,excellence and ,recruitment ,opportunities7 based on their military enlistment rates and demonstrated support for students interested in serving in the ,armed ,forces4 7#b7 ,designation ,the designation shall be made in a formal letter from the ,secretary of ,defense1 which shall be sent to each school that meets the criteria outlined in subsection 7c74 7c7 ,eligibility criteria ,to be eligible for the designation1 a school must meet the following criteria3 7#a7 ,the school must have a military enlistment rate that exceeds the ,state average for high schools in the same grade band 7#ith through #abth grade74 7#b7 ,the school must have programs1 activities1 or partnerships in place that support students' aspirations for military service1 including access to military recruiters1 ,junior ,reserve ,officer ,training ,corps 7,,jrotc7 programs1 and military preparation coursework4 7#c7 ,the school must demonstrate a commitment to fostering a positive relationship with military services via the local recruiting stations and an understanding of the opportunities available through military enlistment4 7d7 ,pilot program duration ,the pilot program shall last for two years1 with a review of its effectiveness and impact at the end of the first year4 #f4 ,priority consideration for applicants from high schools with above-average military enlistment rates 7a7 ,priority consideration for ,military ,service ,academy applicants ,the ,secretary of ,defense1 in coordination with the ,secretary of the ,army1 the ,secretary of the ,navy1 and the ,secretary of the ,air ,force1 shall establish a policy to provide priority consideration for admission to the military service academies 7the ,united ,states ,military ,academy1 the ,united ,states ,naval ,academy1 the ,united ,states ,air ,force ,academy1 and the ,united ,states ,coast ,guard ,academy7 for applicants who are graduates of high schools with military enlistment rates above the ,state average4 7b7 ,eligibility criteria for priority consideration 7#a7 ,in general ,to be eligible for priority consideration1 a high school must meet the following criteria3 7,a7 ,the high school's military enlistment rate exceeds the ,state average for high schools in the same grade band 7#ith through #abth grade74 7,b7 ,the high school demonstrates ongoing support for military service and provide resources for students interested in military careers1 including access to recruiters1 ,junior ,reserve ,officer ,training ,corps 7,,jrotc7 programs1 and military preparatory coursework4 7,c7 ,the school has a documented history of encouraging students to pursue military service as a viable post-graduation option4 7#b7 ,priority status ,applicants from eligible high schools shall receive priority status in the admissions process for each respective military service academy1 including consideration for appointments and appointments from congressional nominations4 #g4 ,national ,week of ,military ,recruitment 7a7 ,designation ,chapter #a of title #cf1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by adding at the end the following new section3 #adi4 ,national ,week of ,military ,recruitment 7a7 ,designation ,a ,national ,week of ,military ,recruitment4 7b7 ,proclamation ,the ,president is requested to issue each year a proclamation calling on the people of the ,united ,states to observe the ,national ,week of ,military ,recruitment with appropriate ceremonies and activities4 4 7b7 ,clerical amendment ,the table of sections for chapter #a of title #cf1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by inserting after the item relating to section #adh the following new item3 #adi4 ,national ,week of ,military ,recruitment4 4 #h4 ,reporting requirements 7a7 ,report on ,,jrotc policy 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #ahj days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,defense shall submit a report to the congressional defense committees on the status of the policy established under section #d7;a74 7#b7 ,elements ,the report required under paragraph 7#a7 shall include the following elements3 7,a7 ,the number and locations of cross-town units established under the new policy4 7,b7 ,total enrollment numbers for each cross-town institution4 7,c7 ,recommendations for further improvements or changes to enhance the effectiveness of the ,,jrotc program4 7b7 ,report on pilot program ,to recognize military-,friendly schools ,the ,secretary of ,defense shall submit a report to ,congress not later than #ij days after the conclusion of the two-year pilot program established under section #e4 ,the report shall include-- 7#a7 a list of schools designated as ,,hero schools2 7#b7 an analysis of the impact of the designation on military enlistment rates and school culture2 and 7#c7 recommendations for the expansion or continuation of the program beyond the pilot phase4 7c7 ,reports on policy ,to provide priority consideration for applicants from high schools with above-,average military enlistment rates 7#a7 ,implementation report ,not later than #ahj days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,defense shall submit to ,congress a report outlining the process for identifying eligible high schools under section #f1 the criteria used for determining military enlistment rates1 and a timeline for the implementation of the priority consideration policy under such section4 7#b7 ,annual report ,the ,secretary of ,defense shall submit to ,congress an annual report on the number of applicants receiving priority consideration under section #f1 the cities and ,states where the applicants attended high school1 the outcomes of their applications1 and any impacts on military service academy enrollment patterns4