Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 106 Part 3.djvu/963

 PUBLIC LAW 102-484—OCT. 23, 1992 106 STAT. 2757 Subtitle G—Service Members Occupational Conversion and Training SEC. 4481. SHORT TITLE. This subtitle may be cited as the "Service Members Occupational Conversion and Training Act of 1992". SEC. 4482. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES. (a) FINDINGS.— The Congress finds that— (1) the men and women serving in our Nation's Armed Forces are of the highest caliber—intelligent, dedicated, and disciplined—and hundreds of thousands of these service members will be separating from the Armed Forces due to the drawdown in military personnel; (2) these men and women vdll be entering the civilian workforce during a time of economic instability and uncertcdnty; (3) many of these service personnel specialized in critical skills such as combat arms which will not transfer to the civilian workforce; (4) as part of the Nation's obligation to these service members, the Secretary of Defense has a unique responsibility and obligation to provide them with the tools they need to be reassimilated mto the civiliem community and continue to be outstanding, productive citizens; (5) the rapid placement of separated military personnel in civilian employment and training opportunities will significantly reduce the Department of Defense's costs relative to imemployment compensation for ex-service members; (6) military personnel are a national resoiurce whose skills and abilities must be absorbed by and integrated into the civilian workforce; and (7) providing such training will reduce the total cost of the drawdown and is important to the national defense function of the Department of Defense. (b) PURPOSE.— The purpose of this subtitle is to provide additional means by which the Secretary of Defense can manage the drawdown of the Armed Forces and to provide additional forms of assistance to members of the Armed Forces who are forced or induced to leave military service by reason of the drawdown of the Armed Forces, thereby facilitating the Secretary's ability to achieve end strength reductions caused by the drawdown. SEC. 4483. DEFINITIONS. For the purposes of this subtitle: (1) The term "Secretary" means the Secretary of Defense. (2) The terms "veteran", "compensation", "service-connected", "State", and "active military, naval, or air service" have the meanings given such terms in paragraphs (2), (13), (16), (20), and (24), respectively, of section 101 of title 38, United States Code. SEC. 4484. ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM. (a) ESTABLISHMENT. —Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall carry out a program in accordance with this subtitle to assist eligible persons in obtaining employment through participation in programs of significant training for employment in stable and permanent positions. The Secret£uy may enter into an agreement with the Secretary of Veter- Service Members Occupational Conversion and Training Act of 1992. 10 USC 1143 note.

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