DEFENSE TASK FORCE ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE RELEASES ANNUAL REPORT AND STRATEGIC PLAN

The Defense Domestic Violence Task Force announced today the release of its first report and strategic plan. In March 2000, in compliance with Section 591 of the Fiscal Year 2000 National Defense Authorization Act, the secretary of Defense appointed 24 civilian and military members to the Defense Task Force on Domestic Violence. In accordance with the statute, members were charged with formulating a long-term, strategic plan to assist the Department of Defense in eliminating domestic violence within the department. During its three-year life span, the task force is required to submit annual reports to the secretary of Defense on its actions and the activities of the military departments to respond to domestic violence.

In submitting the report, Task Force Co-Chairs, Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Jack W. Klimp, Deputy Chief of Staff for Manpower and Reserve Affairs and Ms. Deborah D. Tucker, executive director, National Training Center on Domestic and Sexual Violence, Austin, Texas, said, "This initial report characterizes the collective thinking of 24 members who represent widely diverse viewpoints on dealing with domestic violence, but who also share a common desire to improve domestic violence prevention and intervention programs within the military. When completed, the result of our collective efforts should be military communities that are safer, more wholesome, and provide a quality of life for our men and women in uniform and their families that is free from fear."

Upon receiving the report, Mr. Charles Cragin, Acting Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, commented, "We are pleased to receive the first annual report of the Defense Task Force on Domestic Violence. The members of the task force have worked hard on behalf of the department and we are very appreciative. Under the governing statute, the department now has 90 days to study the report and then provide it, along with our evaluation, to the Senate and House Armed Services Committees. Our goal is to eliminate domestic violence in our military communities."

This report is available on the web at http://www.dtic.mil/domesticviolence/Report.pdf . For more information on the Defense Domestic Violence Task Force, please go to http://www.dtic.mil/domesticviolence .