Overview
Title
Proposed Collection; Comment Request
Agencies
ELI5 AI
The Department of Defense wants to hear what people think about a new plan to help soldiers get ready for jobs when they leave the military, like learning and working at companies, and they want ideas on how to make it easy and useful. They ask everyone to share their thoughts by February 10, 2025.
Summary AI
The Department of Defense (DoD) is proposing a new information collection related to its SkillBridge program, which helps military personnel transition to civilian jobs by providing training and internship opportunities in their last 180 days of service. This notice invites public comments on the necessity and utility of the information collection, as well as suggestions for minimizing any burdens associated with it. The program is seeking partnerships with organizations interested in providing real-world job experiences to service members during this period. Interested parties can submit comments or apply to become industry partners via the provided contact methods by February 10, 2025.
Abstract
In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, Department of Defense (DoD) announces a proposed public information collection and seeks public comment on the provisions thereof. Comments are invited on: whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed information collection; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and ways to minimize the burden of the information collection on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.
Keywords AI
Sources
AnalysisAI
The document from the Federal Register highlights the Department of Defense's (DoD) proposal to collect information related to the SkillBridge program. This initiative aims to help military personnel smoothly transition into civilian life by providing them with opportunities for practical work experience during their final 180 days of service. The DoD is reaching out to the public for comments and participation in this program, inviting organizations to become industry partners offering training and internships.
General Summary
In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the DoD is seeking feedback on the necessity and utility of this information collection and the potential burden it may pose to respondents. The SkillBridge program connects service members with real-world job experiences, allowing them access to civilian job training at no cost while still receiving military benefits. The document outlines how interested parties can submit comments by February 10, 2025, and apply to become program partners.
Significant Issues and Concerns
There are several areas within the document that may cause confusion or concern. The use of technical language and references to specific legislative authorities might not be easily understood by the general audience. Furthermore, the document does not clarify how the data collected will specifically be used to refine or enhance the SkillBridge program, potentially raising transparency issues.
The estimation of time required to complete responses, cited as an annual burden of 300 hours across all respondents, is stated without detailed explanation on how these figures were calculated, possibly leading to doubts about the reliability of these metrics.
Privacy concerns also arise since public submissions on regulations.gov could include personal identifiers without clear guidance on how privacy will be protected. This issue is especially pertinent when public comments become available for general viewing.
Broad Public Impact
The proposed collection of information and establishment of partnerships could significantly impact service members transitioning from military to civilian life, providing them with valuable skills and experiences that could enhance their future employment opportunities. For the public, it emphasises a structured attempt by the DoD to facilitate this vital transition period for service members, which in turn supports workforce growth and development.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
For service members, this program offers an invaluable opportunity to gain civilian work experience while still benefiting from their military compensation. It provides a structured pathway towards entering the civilian workforce, potentially easing what could be a tumultuous transition process.
For potential industry partners, particularly those within the private sector, this represents an opportunity to access a highly skilled and trained workforce. Partner organizations would benefit from engaging with individuals who bring discipline, leadership skills, and a strong work ethic fostered by military service. However, the burden of additional reporting and compliance requirements could be a disadvantage for some organizations, especially smaller businesses that may lack necessary resources.
Overall, while the DoD's initiative promises positive outcomes for service members and industry partners alike, addressing the concerns about clarity, transparency, and privacy will be crucial for ensuring that these benefits are fully realized.
Issues
• The summary and supplementary information sections could be confusing to a general audience due to the use of technical jargon related to the SkillBridge program and its associated legislative authorities.
• The document does not specify how the DoD will use the collected data to make improvements or variations to the SkillBridge program, which could make it appear lacking transparency regarding the end-use of the data.
• There is no detailed explanation of how the burden hours were calculated, which might lead to questioning the validity of the estimation provided.
• The document could benefit from simplifying the language describing the submission process for becoming a SkillBridge partner, as well as the reporting requirements for those partners.
• It is not explicitly clear how individual privacy will be protected once the submissions are available for public viewing on regulations.gov, particularly concerning personal identifiers in public comments.