These bills contain numerous provisions that affect military personnel, retirees, and their family members. The initial House version of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014, H.R. 113-66 ). Related CRS products are identified to provide more detailed background information and analysis of the issues. Some issues were addressed in the FY2013 National Defense Authorization Act and discussed in CRS Report R42651, FY2013 National Defense Authorization Act: Selected Military Personnel Policy Issues , coordinated by [author name scrubbed]. Those issues that were considered previously are designated with a " * " in the relevant section titles of this report. *Military Pay Raise

Background: Increasing concern with the overall cost of military personnel, combined with ongoing military operations in Afghanistan, has continued to focus interest on the military pay raise. Discussion: Many believe that more can and should be done to address the issue of sexual assault in the military. There is significant legislative activity on the issue with a number of options being considered. Section 535 of P.L. The enacted provision requires that a study on the subject be reported to Congress within 180 days of enactment of the bill. References : CRS Report R42651, FY2013 National Defense Authorization Act: Selected Military Personnel Policy Issues , coordinated by [author name scrubbed].
Military personnel issues typically generate significant interest from many Members of Congress and their staffs. Ongoing operations in Afghanistan, along with the operational role of the Reserve Components, further heighten interest in a wide range of military personnel policies and issues.
The Congressional Research Service (CRS) has selected a number of the military personnel issues considered in deliberations on the initial House-passed version of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014 and on the bill that was enacted and became law (P.L. 113-66). This report provides a brief synopsis of sections that pertain to personnel policy. These include end strengths, pay raises, health care, and sexual assault, as well as less prominent issues that nonetheless generate significant public interest.
This report focuses exclusively on the annual defense authorization process. It does not include language concerning appropriations, veterans' affairs, tax implications of policy choices, or any discussion of separately introduced legislation, topics which are addressed in other CRS products. Some issues were addressed in the FY2013 National Defense Authorization Act and discussed in CRS Report R42651, FY2013 National Defense Authorization Act: Selected Military Personnel Policy Issues, coordinated by [author name scrubbed]. Those issues that were considered previously are designated with a "*" in the relevant section titles of this report.