1. Committee's Official Designation: The Committee shall be known as the Reserve Forces Policy Board ("the Board").
  2. Authority: The Secretary of Defense, pursuant to the provisions of 10 U.S.C. §§ 175 and 10301, the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) of 1972 (5 U.S.C., Appendix, as amended), and 41 C.F.R. § 102-3.50(a), established the Board.
  3. Objectives and Scope of Activities: Pursuant to 10 U.S.C. § 113(c)(2), the Board shall provide to the Secretary of Defense, for transmittal to the President and the Congress, an annual report on any reserve component matters that the Board considers appropriate to include, as described in paragraph four below.
  4. Description of Duties: The Board shall serve as an independent adviser to the Secretary of Defense to provide advice and recommendations on strategies, policies, and practices designed to improve and enhance the capabilities, efficiency, and effectiveness of the reserve components. The Board may act on those matters referred to it by the Chairman and on any matter raised by a member of the Board or the Secretary of Defense.
  5. Agency or Official to Whom the Committee Reports: The Board shall report to the Secretary of Defense. The USD(P&R), pursuant to Department of Defense (DoD) policy, may act upon the Board's advice and recommendations.
  6. Support: The DoD, through the Office of the USD(P&R), shall provide support, as deemed necessary, for the performance of the Board's functions and shall ensure compliance with the requirements of FACA, the Government in the Sunshine Act of 1976 (5 U.S.C. § 552b, as amended) ("the Sunshine Act"), governing Federal statutes and regulations, and established DoD policies and procedures.
  7. Estimated Annual Operating Costs and Staff Years: The estimated annual operating cost, to include travel, meetings, and contract support, is approximately $2,000,000.00. The estimated annual personnel costs to the DoD are 8.4 full-time equivalents.
  8. Designated Federal Officer: The Board's Designated Federal Officer (DFO), pursuant to DoD policy, shall be a full-time or permanent part-time DoD employee, and shall be appointed in accordance with established DoD policies and procedures.

    The Board's DFO is required to be in attendance at all meetings of the Board and its subcommittees for the entire duration of each and every meeting. However, in the absence of the Board's DFO, a properly approved Alternate DFO, duly appointed to the Board according to established DoD policies and procedures, shall attend the entire duration of all meetings of the Board and its subcommittees.

    The DFO, or the Alternate DFO, shall call all of the Board and its subcommittees meetings; prepare and approve all meeting agendas; and adjourn any meeting when the DFO, or the Alternate DFO, determines adjournment to be in the public interest or required by governing regulations or DoD policies and procedures.

  9. Estimated Number and Frequency of Meetings: The Board shall meet at the call of the Board's DFO, in consultation with the Chairperson. The estimated number of Board meetings is four per year.
  10. Duration: Pursuant to 10 U.S.C. §§ 175 and 10301, the need for this advisory function is on a continuing basis; however, this charter is subject to renewal every two years.
  11. Termination: The Board shall terminate upon rescission of 10 U.S.C. §§ 175 and 10301.
  12. Membership and Designation: Under the provisions of 10 U.S.C. § 10301(c), the Board shall be composed of 20 members, appointed or designated as follows:
    1. A civilian appointed by the Secretary of Defense from among persons determined by the Secretary to have the knowledge of, and experience in, policy matters relevant to national security and reserve component matters necessary to carry out the duties of Chair of the Board, who shall serve as Chair of the Board.
    2. Two active or retired reserve officers or enlisted members designated by the Secretary of Defense, upon the recommendation of the Secretary of the Army:
      1. One of whom shall be a member of the Army National Guard of the United States or a former member of the Army National Guard of the United States in the Retired Reserve; and,
      2. One of whom shall be a member or retired member of the Army Reserve.
    3. Two active or retired reserve officers or enlisted members designated by the Secretary of Defense, upon recommendation of the Secretary of the Navy:
      1. One of whom shall be an active or retired officer of the Navy Reserve; and,
      2. One of whom shall be an active or retired officer of the Marine Corps Reserve.
    4. Two active or retired reserve officers or enlisted members designated by the Secretary of Defense, upon the recommendation of the Secretary of the Air Force:
      1. One of whom shall be a member of the Air National Guard of the United States or a former member of the Air National Guard of the United States in the Retired Reserve; and,
      2. One of whom shall be a member or retired member of the Air Force Reserve.
    5. One active or retired reserve officer or enlisted member of the U.S. Coast Guard designated by the Secretary of Homeland Security.
    6. Ten persons appointed or designated by the Secretary of Defense, each of whom shall be a United States citizen having significant knowledge of, and experience in, policy matters relevant to national security and reserve component matters and shall be one of the following:
      1. An individual not employed in any Federal or State department or agency.
      2. An individual employed by a Federal or State department or agency.
      3. An officer of a regular component of the armed forces on active duty, or an officer of a reserve component of the armed forces in an active status, who:
        1. Is serving or has served in a senior position on the Joint Staff, the headquarters staff of a Combatant Command, or the headquarters staff of an armed force; and,
        2. Has experience in joint professional military education, joint qualification, and joint operations matters.
    7. A reserve officer of the Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marine Corps, who is a general or flag officer, recommended by the Chair and designated by the Secretary of Defense, who shall serve without vote:
      1. As military adviser to the Chair;
      2. As military executive officer of the Board; and,
      3. As supervisor of the operations and staff of the Board.
    8. A senior enlisted member of a reserve component recommended by the Chair and designated by the Secretary of Defense, who shall serve without vote as enlisted military adviser to the Chair.

    Members of the Board, appointed by the Secretary of Defense, who are not full-time or permanent part-time Federal employees, shall be appointed as experts and consultants, under the authority of 5 U.S.C. § 3109, and serve as special government employee (SGE) members. Members of the Board, appointed by the Secretary of Defense, who are full-time or permanent part-time Federal employees, shall serve as regular government employee (RGE) members. All members of the Board are appointed to provide advice to the Government on the basis of their best judgment without representing any particular point of view and in a manner that is free from conflict of interest. Members of the Board shall serve a term of service of one-to-four years, and their appointments must be renewed by the Secretary of Defense on an annual basis. Members shall not serve more than two consecutive terms of service without approval of the Secretary of Defense.

    All members of the Board shall receive per diem and travel for official travel relating to the Board. Members of the Board, who are appointed by the Secretary as SGE members, will serve without compensation.

  13. Subcommittees: DoD, when necessary and consistent with the Board's mission and DoD policies and procedures, may establish subcommittees, task forces, and working groups to support the Board. Establishment of subcommittees will be based upon a written determination, to include terms of reference, by the Secretary of Defense, the Deputy Secretary of Defense, or the USD(P&R), as the DoD Sponsor. The Department will establish four permanent subcommittees. The subcommittees will have no more than 15 members and will normally meet once per quarter. A subcommittee Chairperson will be appointed by the Secretary of Defense. The four permanent subcommittees and their missions are:
    1. Subcommittee on Creating a Continuum of Service will examine what programs and processes are key to allowing personnel to seamlessly meet DoD's requirements.
    2. Subcommittee on Enhancing DoD's Role in the Homeland is focused on improving the capability and capacity of the reserve component to address the increasing threats to the homeland.
    3. Subcommittee on Ensuring a Ready, Capable, Available, and Sustainable Operational Reserve is focused on retaining the operational capability and experience within the reserve component to meet future threats.
    4. Subcommittee on Supporting Service Members, Families, and Employers assesses whether the current programs and policies are meeting the needs of an operational reserve.

    Such subcommittees shall not work independently of the Board, and shall report all their recommendations and advice solely to the Board for full deliberation and discussion. Subcommittees, task forces, or working groups have no authority to make decisions and recommendations, verbally or in writing, on behalf of the Board. No subcommittee or any of its members can update or report, verbally or in writing, on behalf of the Board, directly to the DoD or any Federal officer or employee.

    All subcommittee members will be appointed in the same manner as the Board members; that is, the Secretary of Defense will appoint subcommittee members even if the member in question is already a member of the Board.

    Subcommittee members, if not full-time or permanent part-time Government employees, shall be appointed to serve as experts and consultants, under the authority of 5 U.S.C. § 3109, and shall serve as SGE members. The Secretary of Defense or the Deputy Secretary of Defense may approve the appointment of subcommittee members for one-to-four year terms of service, with annual renewals; however, no member, unless authorized by the Secretary, may serve more than two consecutive terms of service. With the exception of travel and per diem for official travel related to the Board or its subcommittees, subcommittee members shall serve without compensation.

    Each subcommittee member is appointed to provide advice to the Government on the basis of his or her best judgment without representing any particular point of view and in a manner that is free from conflict of interest.

    All subcommittees operate under the provisions of FACA, the Sunshine Act, governing Federal statutes and regulations, and established DoD policies and procedures.

  1. Recordkeeping: The records of the Board and its subcommittees shall be handled according to Section 2, General Records Schedule 26, and governing DoD policies and procedures. These records shall be available for public inspection and copying, subject to the Freedom of Information Act of 1966 (5 U.S.C. § 552, as amended).
  2. Filing Date: May 2, 2013
  3. Modified: June 13, 2013