WASHINGTON, Feb. 25 (UPI) -- The following are the Defense Department's proposed changes to Title 10. The changes are included in parentheses and within quotes, according to the draft legislation and the text of Title 10.
Sect. 155
(a) Appointment of Officers to Joint Staff. - (1) There is a Joint Staff under the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The Joint Staff assists the Chairman and, subject to the authority, direction, and control of the Chairman, the other members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in carrying out their responsibilities.
(Strike second sentence and insert: "The Joint Staff assists the secretary of defense, chairman and the other members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in carrying out their responsibilities.")
(2) Officers of the armed forces (other than the Coast Guard) assigned to serve on the Joint Staff shall be selected by the Chairman (add "with the approval of the secretary of defense") in approximately equal numbers from -
(A) the Army;
(B) the Navy and the Marine Corps; and
(C) the Air Force.
(3) Selection of officers of an armed force to serve on the Joint Staff shall be made by the Chairman from a list of officers submitted by the Secretary of the military department having jurisdiction over that armed force. Each officer whose name is submitted shall be among those officers considered to be the most outstanding officers of that armed force. The Chairman may specify the number of officers to be included on any such list.
(b) Director. - The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, after consultation with the other members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and with the approval of the Secretary of Defense, may select an officer to serve as Director of the Joint Staff.
(c) Management of Joint Staff. - The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff manages the Joint Staff and the Director of the Joint Staff. (add "With the approval of the secretary of defense")the Joint Staff shall perform such duties as the Chairman prescribes and shall perform such duties under such procedures as the Chairman prescribes.
(d) Operation of Joint Staff. - The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that the Joint Staff is (strike "independently") independently organized and operated so that the Joint Staff supports the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in meeting the congressional purpose set forth in the last clause of section 2 of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 401) to provide -
(1) for the unified strategic direction of the combatant forces;
(2) for their operation under unified command; and (3) for their integration into an efficient team of land, naval, and air forces.
(e) Prohibition of Function as Armed Forces General Staff. - The Joint Staff shall not operate or be organized as an overall Armed Forces General Staff and shall have no executive authority. The Joint Staff may be organized and may operate along conventional staff lines.
(f) Tour of Duty of Joint Staff Officers. - (1) An officer who is assigned or detailed to permanent duty on the Joint Staff may not serve for a tour of duty of more than four years. However, such a tour of duty may be extended with the approval of the Secretary of Defense.
(2) In accordance with procedures established by the Secretary of Defense, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff may suspend from duty and recommend the reassignment of any officer assigned to the Joint Staff. Upon receipt of such a recommendation, the Secretary concerned shall promptly reassign the officer.
(3) An officer completing a tour of duty with the Joint Staff may not be assigned or detailed to permanent duty on the Joint Staff within two years after relief from that duty except with the approval of the Secretary.
(4) Paragraphs (1) and (3) do not apply -
(A) in time of war; or
(B) during a national emergency declared by the President or Congress.
(g) Composition of Joint Staff. - (1) The Joint Staff is composed of all members of the armed forces and civilian employees assigned or detailed to permanent duty in the executive part of the Department of Defense to perform the functions and duties prescribed under subsections (a) and (c).
(2) The Joint Staff does not include members of the armed forces or civilian employees assigned or detailed to permanent duty in a military department.
Section 131 (c) Officers of the armed forces (add "including officers assigned to the Joint Staff") may be assigned or detailed to permanent duty in the Office of the Secretary of Defense. However, the Secretary may not establish a military staff in the Office of the Secretary of Defense.
Repeal entire section 143:
a) Permanent Limitation on OSD Personnel. - The number of OSD personnel may not exceed 3,767.
(b) OSD Personnel Defined. - For purposes of this section, the term ''OSD personnel'' means military and civilian personnel of the Department of Defense who are assigned to, or employed in, functions in the Office of the Secretary of Defense (including Direct Support Activities of that Office and the Washington Headquarters Services of the Department of Defense).
(c) Limitation on Reassignment of Functions. - In carrying out reductions in the number of personnel assigned to, or employed in, the Office of the Secretary of Defense in order to comply with this section, the Secretary of Defense may not reassign functions solely in order to evade the requirements contained in this section.