May 7, 2025
Mrs. Kiggans of Virginia (for herself, Mr. Courtney, Mr. Bacon, and Mr. Panetta) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services
To provide for greater defense workforce integration, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Defense Workforce Integration Act of 2025
.
Sec. 2. Integration of military and civilian hiring processes
(a) In general
Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretaries concerned shall establish a pathway for medically disqualified entry-level service members to enter civilian positions for which they are qualified in the Department of Defense or any of its components.
(b) Air Force DRIVE program
The Air Force’s Develop, Redistribute, Improve, Vault, Expose (DRIVE) program shall be considered sufficient to meet the requirements of subsection (a) and may, but need not, serve as a baseline from which the other military departments design their programs.
(c) Entry-Level service member defined
In this section, the term entry-level service member means a regular or reserve member of the Armed Forces who is currently attending or has military orders to attend within 90 days—
(1)
basic training;
(2)
a technical school of the Armed Forces;
(3)
a service academy;
(4)
the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC); and
(5)
an officer accession program, including officer candidate school, officer training school, officer development school, or equivalent program.
Sec. 3. Provision of information on career opportunities in the defense industrial base to persons ineligible for military service
Chapter 50 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
996. Provision of information on career opportunities in the defense industrial base to persons medically disqualified for military service
(a) Establishment
The Secretary of Defense shall establish and implement a program to provide individuals who are not medically qualified for military service with information on employment opportunities in the defense industrial base or other employment opportunities in support of the national interests of the United States.
(b) Program
The program established under subsection (a) shall inform and refer persons described in subsection (a) to employment, apprenticeship, and training opportunities in—
(1)
the defense industrial base;
(2)
cybersecurity or intelligence support roles;
(3)
research and development in defense technologies;
(4)
national emergency and disaster preparedness; or
(5)
any other non-military opportunity the Secretary considers in the national interests of the United States.
(c) Collaboration
The Secretary of Defense shall consult with entities in the defense industrial base, other Federal agencies, and academic institutions to carry out this section.
Sec. 4. Provision to Navy personnel of information on career opportunities at Military Sealift Command
The Secretary of the Navy shall provide information about career opportunities at Military Sealift Command and workforce training programs for shipbuilders to all Navy personnel as part of the Transition Assistance Program process.
Sec. 5. Report
Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report describing implementation of the requirements under sections 2 and 4 of this Act and section 996 of title 10, United States Code, as added by section 3 of this Act.