Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 98 Part 3.djvu/160

 98 STAT. 2532

PUBLIC LAW 98-525—OCT. 19, 1984

37 USC 308h.

(2) Such section is amended by striking out the period at the end of subsection (b) and inserting in lieu thereof "and shall be paid in equal annual increments.". 10 USC 261 note. (g) This section does not apply to the Coast Guard. PRECEDENCE OF AWARD OF PURPLE HEART

SEC. 553. (a) Chapter 57 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end thereof the following new section: Regulations. 10 USC 1127.

"§ 1127. Precedence of the award of the Purple Heart 'Tn prescribing regulations establishing the order of precedence of awards and decorations authorized to be displayed on the uniforms of members of the armed forces, the Secretary of the military department concerned shall accord the Purple Heart a position of precedence, in relation to other awards and decorations authorized to be displayed, not lower than that immediately following the lowest position accorded any award or decoration for valor.". (b) The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by adding at the end thereof the following new item: "1127. Precedence of the award of the Purple Heart.". STUDY OF MILITARY REGULATIONS WITH REGARD TO RELIGIOUS PRACTICES

Report.

SEC. 554. (a) In order to promote the free expression of religion by members of the Armed Forces to the greatest extent possible consistent with the requirements of military discipline, the Secretary of Defense shall form a study group to examine ways to minimize the potential conflict between the interests of members of the Armed Forces in abiding by their religious tenets and the military interest in maintaining discipline. (b) The study group shall consist of eight members appointed by the Secretary of Defense, of whom— (1) one shall be appointed from members of each of the four Armed Forces under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of Defense upon the recommendation of the respective Secretaries of the military departments; (2) three shall be appointed upon the recommendation of the Armed Forces Chaplain Board; and (3) one shall be appointed upon the recommendation of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Manpower, Installations, and Logistics. The Secretary of Defense shall designate one of the members to serve as chairman of the study group. (c) In carrying out its functions under subsection (a), the study group shall make the maximum effort to ascertain the views of the broadest spectrum of religious organizations and to use the research and intellectual resources of specialists outside the Government through receipt of written or oral presentations to the study group. (d) Not later than February 1, 1985, the study group shall submit to the Secretary of Defense a report containing its findings and recommendations. Not later than 20 days after receiving that report, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to Congress a copy of the report, together with the Secretary's comments on the report, and shall issue appropriate implementing policy to the Secretaries of the military departments. Such implementing policy shall require

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