PUBLIC LAW 104-106—FEB. 10, 1996 110 STAT. 285 and providing a response to an attack-related civil defense emergency arising from an attack of a type for which the Department of Defense has responsibility to provide a supporting response. (3) A description of any actions, and any recommended legislation, that the Secretaries consider necessary for improving the preparedness of the Department of Defense to respond effectively to an attack-related civil defense emergency. TITLE IV—MILITARY PERSONNEL AUTHORIZATIONS Subtitle A—Active Forces SEC. 401. END STRENGTHS FOR ACTIVE FORCES. 10 USC 115 note. (a) FISCAL YEAR 1996. —The Armed Forces are authorized strengths for active duty personnel as of September 30, 1996, as follows: (1) The Army, 495,000, of which not more than 81,300 may be commissioned officers. (2) The Navy, 428,340, of which not more than 58,870 may be commissioned officers. (3) The Marine Corps, 174,000, of which not more than 17,978 may be commissioned officers. (4) The Air Force, 388,200, of which not more than 75,928 may be commissioned officers. (b) FLOOR ON END STRENGTHS.—(1) Chapter 39 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section: "§691. Permanent end strength levels to support two major regional contingencies "(a) The end strengths specified in subsection (b) are the minimum strengths necessary to enable the armed forces to fulfill a national defense strategy calling for the United States to be able to successfully conduct two nearly simultaneous major regional contingencies. "(b) Unless otherwise provided by law, the number of members of the armed forces (other than the Coast Guard) on active duty at the end of any fiscal year shall be not less than the following: "(1) For the Army, 495,000. "(2) For the Navy, 395,000. "(3) For the Marine Corps, 174,000. "(4) For the Air Force, 381,000. "(c) No funds appropriated to the Department of Defense may be used to implement a reduction of the active duty end strength for any of the armed forces for any fiscal year below the level specified in subsection (b) unless the Secretary of Defense submits to Congress notice of the proposed lower end strength levels and a justification for those levels. No action may then be taken to implement such a reduction for that fiscal year until the end of the six-month period beginning on the date of the receipt of such notice by Congress. "(d) For a fiscal year for which the active duty end strength authorized by law pursuant to section 115(a)(1)(A) of this title
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