123STA T . 22 6 3 PUBLIC LA W 111 –84—O CT. 28 , 2 0 0 9(2)min imi zer i skto t h ein d i v id ual soldier , sailor, airman, or marine o p eratin g in the j oint b attlespa c e
and ( 3 ) provide interoperabilit yw ith other components o f indi - vidual war fighter systems, including body armor and other individual protective systems . (b) COMPTR O L L E R G E N ER A L AS SESSMENT. —T he Comptroller General shall conduct an assessment of the ground combat uniforms and camouflage utility uniforms currently in use in the D epartment of Defense. The assessment shall e x amine, at a minimum, each of the following
( 1 ) The overall performance of each uniform in various anticipated combat environments and theaters of operations. (2) W hether the uniform design of each uniform conforms ade q uately and is interoperable with currently issued personal protective gear and body armor. (3) Costs associated with the design, development, produc- tion, procurement, and fielding of existing service-specific ground combat and camouflage utility uniforms. ( 4 ) Challenges and risks associated with fielding members of the Armed F orces into combat theaters in unique or service- specific ground combat or camouflage utility uniforms, including the tactical risk to the individuals serving in individual augmentee, in-lieu of force, or joint duty assignments of use of different ground combat uniforms in a combat environment. ( 5 ) I mplications of the use of patents and other proprietary measures that may preclude sharing of technology, advanced uniform design, camouflage techniques, and fire retardence. ( 6 ) L ogistical requirements to field and support forces in varying combat or utility uniforms. (c) R EPORT RE QUI RE D .— N ot later than 1 80 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to the congressional defense committees the results of the assess- ment conducted under subsection (b). (d) REQUIREMENT F OR J OINT CRITERIA.—In support of the policy established in subsection (a), the S ecretaries of the military depart- ments, consistent with the authority set out in subtitles B ,C, and D of title 10, U nited States Code, shall establish joint criteria for future ground combat uniforms by not later than 2 7 0 days after the Comptroller General submits the report required under subsection (c). The joint criteria shall take into account the findings and recommendations of such report and ensure that new tech- nologies, advanced materials, and other advances in ground combat uniform design may be shared between the military services and are not precluded from being adapted for use by any military service due to military service-unique proprietary arrangements. SEC.35 3.C ONDIT ION -BA SED M AINTENANCE DEMONST R ATION P RO- G RAMS. (a) TA C TICAL W H EELED V EHICLES P RO G RAM.—The Secretary of the Army may conduct a 12-month condition-based maintenance demonstration program on selected vehicle systems that include on-board diagnostic systems suitable to such a demonstration pro- gram. (b) SURFACE COM B ATANT SHIP PROGRAM.—The Secretary of the Navy may conduct a 12-month demonstration program on selected systems or components of surface combatant ships that include Deadlin e .
