(a) Study
(1) Agreement
The Secretary of Defense shall seek to enter into an agreement—
with an entity described in paragraph (2) pursuant to which such entity shall conduct a comprehensive study on the propensity to serve of military-connected students; and
not later than year after the date of the enactment of this Act.
(2) Eligible entity
An entity described in this paragraph is a national nonprofit organization that—
focuses on the educational environment of military-connected youth;
is a partner to an institution of higher education; and
has demonstrated expertise in research, mixed-methods methodology, or adolescent development.
(3) Scope
Such study shall—
examine the relationship between family military tradition and legacy, including generational service, parental attitudes toward service in the Armed Forces, and household military culture, and a student’s propensity to serve in the Armed Forces;
assess the relationship between academic environmental factors (including participation in JROTC, access to military-affiliated mentors and counselors, and type of school) and the propensity to serve;
evaluate the role of peer support programming in shaping plans after secondary school among military-connected students;
catalog factors that enhance or detract from the propensity to serve identified by military-connected students, their parents or guardians, and school personnel; and
aggregate findings by subgroup, including by grade level, gender, race, ethnicity, geographic region, and school type.
(4) Methodology
Study shall be conducted—
using mixed methods, including—
a quantitative survey administered to a nationally representative sample of not fewer than 1,500 military-connected students, using a purpose-built and validated instrument measuring the propensity to serve, family military legacy, JROTC participation, and school environment; and
semi-structured qualitative interviews with not fewer than 60 participants, including military-connected students, their parents or guardians, JROTC instructors, school counselors, school liaison officers, and program coordinators; and
in accordance with—
the Federal Policy for the Protection of Human Subjects (part 46 of title 45, Code of Federal Regulations including provisions applicable to research involving minors;
the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act ( Public Law 93–380 ; 20 U.S.C. 1232g ); and
applicable guidance of the Department of Defense governing the conduct of research on human subjects.
(5) Optional participation
Participation in the study shall be voluntary. A military-connected student who is under 18 years of age may not participate without the informed written consent of a parent or legal guardian.
(b) Reports
(1) Interim report
Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives an interim report on such a study, including—
whether the Secretary has entered into an agreement under subsection (a);
whether such study has begun; and
any preliminary findings available at the time of the report.
(2) Final report
Not later than two years after the Secretary enters into an agreement under subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a final report on the results of the study. Such a final report shall include—
a detailed description of the study methodology, sample characteristics, and data collection procedures;
the quantitative findings, including statistical analyses of the relationship between family military legacy, school environment, JROTC participation, peer-to-peer program participation, and the propensity to serve;
the qualitative findings, including key themes derived from interviews with military-connected students, their parents or guardians, and school personnel;
an integrated analysis of quantitative and qualitative findings;
findings disaggregated by grade level, gender, race, ethnicity, geographic region, and school type;
recommendations for the Secretary regarding military recruitment strategy, development of JROTC programs, and support services for military-connected students; and
recommendations to Congress regarding legislative action based on such findings.
(3) Form
The reports required under this subsection shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex if the Secretary determines such annex is necessary.
(c) Definitions
In this section:
The term military-connected student means a secondary school student—
enrolled in grade 11 or 12; and
who has at least one parent or guardian who is currently serving, or who previously served, in the Armed Forces.
The term propensity to serve means a student’s self-reported likelihood of joining the Armed Forces after graduation from secondary school.
The term JROTC means the Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps program authorized under chapter 102 of title 10, United States Code.