Next Mission Act

Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall carry out a program to award multiyear grants to entities described in subsection (b) that provide to covered individuals the services described in subsection (c).

To be eligible to receive a grant under the pilot program, an entity shall—

(1) be a private, nonprofit organization;

(2) have a record of successfully providing career services (including job placement) or job training;

(3) have rigorous evaluation practices that indicate efficiency;

(4) have partnerships with entities (such as employers, governmental agencies, and nonprofit entities) to provide services described in subsection (c); and

(5) be able to train online to reach rural participants and reduce costs.

Grants awarded under this section shall be used to provide, at no cost to a covered individual, the following services:

(1) Assessment of education, work history, and employment goals, to determine appropriate employment services.

(2) Preparation for civilian employment, including mock interviews, salary negotiation training, use of professional networking platforms, or company research.

(3) Providing industry-specific learning pathways that—

(A) focus on stable, high-demand fields as determined by labor market information;

(B) help a covered individual choose a career pathway and navigate training requirements;

(C) help a covered individual apply skills acquired in the Armed Forces to a civilian career;

(D) include one-on-one assistance from a career services professional or academic advisor; and

(E) include coursework or other forms of education and training required for industry-recognized credentials and certifications.

(4) Job placement.

In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary shall give priority to an entity whose program outcomes have been independently verified by a third-party.

In carrying out this program, the Secretary of Defense shall consult with other Federal entities, including—

(1) the Office of Transition and Economic Development of the Department of Veterans Affairs; and

(2) the Veterans Employment and Training Service of the Department of Labor.

The Secretary of Defense shall establish metrics for the pilot program, including—

(1) the number of covered individuals who receive and complete skills training;

(2) the number of covered individuals who secure employment;

(3) the job retention rate for covered individuals described in paragraph (2); and

(4) the median salary of covered individuals described in paragraph (2).

Each grantee under this section shall submit to the Secretary an assessment of the feasibility of expanding the services offered under the grant program to—

(1) members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces; and

(2) covered individuals located outside the United States.

The authority to provide a grant under this section shall terminate on the date that is three years after the date on which the Secretary implements the grant program under this section.

Not later than six months after the termination of the pilot program, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report that includes—

(1) a description of specific activities carried out under this section;

(2) the metrics and evaluations used to assess the effectiveness of the grant program; and

(3) a summary of the assessments submitted to the Secretary under subsection (g).

In this section, the term covered individual means—

(1) a member of the Armed Forces participating in the Transition Assistance Program of the Department of Defense under sections 1142 and 1144 of title 10, United States Code; or

(2) a spouse of a member described in subparagraph (A).