(a) Merit requirement
Any Department of Defense military personnel action related to accessions, promotions, nominative assignments, command selection, and military and civil schooling selection and training shall be based exclusively on individual merit, fitness, capability, and performance.
(b) Consideration of race prohibited
Consideration of an individual’s race, ethnicity, or national origin in any military personnel action is prohibited throughout the Department of Defense.
(c) Limited exception for tasking of specific missions
(1) In general
This section shall not be construed to prohibit tasking for specific, unconventional missions in foreign countries, where the anticipated ground operating environment of indigenous populations may justify consideration of race, ethnicity, or national origin when tasking for the mission to optimize mission success.
(2) Combatant commander approval required
Any tasking pursuant to the exception described in paragraph (1) shall require the approval of the combatant commander concerned.
(3) Reporting requirement
Not later than 60 days after a tasking pursuant to the exception described in paragraph (1), the Secretary of Defense shall report the tasking to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The report shall describe—
the mission, including location and duration;
the staffing of the mission;
the demographic factors warranting the tasking;
the number of personnel involved, including their rank, position, and race, ethnicity, and national origin; and
the rationale for the tasking.