Under the authority, direction, and control of the Secretary of Defense, the USD(P&R) is the principal staff assistant and advisor to the Secretary and Deputy Secretary of Defense for Total Force management as it relates to readiness; National Guard and Reserve component affairs; health affairs; training; and personnel requirements and management, including equal opportunity, morale, welfare, recreation, dependents education, and quality of life matters. In the exercise of this responsibility, the USD(P&R) shall:

    l   Develop policies, plans, and programs for:

              --   Total Force personnel and their allocation among DoD Components and between the Active and Reserve components to ensure efficient and effective support of wartime and peacetime operations, contingency planning, and preparedness.

              --   Reserve component affairs to promote the effective integration of Reserve component capabilities into a cohesive Total Force.

              --   Health and medical affairs sufficient to provide, and maintain readiness to provide, medical services and support to members of the Armed Forces during military operations, and to provide medical services and support to members of the Armed Forces, their dependents, and others entitled to DoD medical care.

              --   Recruitment, training, equal opportunity, compensation, recognition, discipline, and separation of all DoD personnel, to include both military (Active, Reserve, and retired) and civilian.

              --   The quality of life of DoD personnel and their dependents, including family support, allowances, transition assistance, community services, and dependents education.

              --   DoD morale, welfare, and recreation programs and supporting nonappropriated fund revenue-generating programs including commissaries and exchanges.

              --   Interagency and intergovernmental activities, special projects, or external requests that create a demand for DoD personnel resources.

    l   Serve as OSD focal point for readiness issues; develop policies, management structures, and administrative processes to ensure forces have sufficient readiness to execute the National Military Strategy; oversee Total Force personnel and medical readiness; and coordinate with other Principal Staff Assistants and cognizant officials in the Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and in the Services on other aspects of readiness.

    l   Analyze the Total Force structure as related to quantitative and qualitative military and civilian personnel requirements, utilization, readiness and support. Administer and implement controls on military and civilian personnel strengths for Military Departments, Defense Agencies, and other DoD Components.

    l   Provide overall direction in the development and implementation of quality standards for the curricula, faculty, academic operations, and resource management of DoD-conducted, -sponsored, -contracted, or -funded programs, courses of instruction, and institutions concerned with education or professional development of DoD civilians.

    l   Review and evaluate the requirements of the Defense Acquisition Board's major defense acquisition programs and proposed weapon systems for personnel, training, and readiness implications, and the implications of weapon systems maintainability for qualitative and quantitative personnel requirements and for readiness.

    l   Formulate policy for and ensure coordination of DoD Noncombatant Evacuation Operations (NEO).

    l    Participate in those planning, programming, and budgeting activities that relate to assigned areas of responsibility.

    l    Serve on boards, committees, and other groups pertaining to assigned functional areas and represent the Secretary of Defense on personnel, readiness, Reserve component, health, dependents education, quality of life, and compensation matters outside of the Department.

     The above functions are carried out through the following key OSD personnel:

    l    Assistant Secretary of Defense (Force Management Policy) (DoDD 5124.5)

    l   Assistant Secretary of Defense (Health Affairs) (DoDD 5136.1)

    l   Assistant Secretary of Defense (Reserve Affairs) (DoDD 5125.1)

    l   Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Readiness)

    l   Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Program Integration)

    l   Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Planning)

     In addition, the USD(P&R) exercises authority, direction, and control over the following:

     l    Defense Commissary Agency (DoDD 5105.55), in conjunction with the Commissary Operating Board, through the ASD(FMP)

   l   Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDD 1342.20), through the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Force Management Policy)

   l   DoD Human Resources Activity (DoDD 5100.87)

   l   TRICARE Management Activity (DoDD 5105.46), through the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Health Affairs)

   l   Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, through the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Health Affairs), pursuant to the authority vested in the Secretary of Defense by Chapter 104 of 10 U.S.C., except that the authority to appoint the President, USUHS, is reserved to the Secretary of Defense (DoDD 5105.45)

   l   Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute, through the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Force Management Policy)

   l   Office of the Chancellor for Education and Professional Development (DoDD 5124.7)

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