Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has ordered a review of the military awards and decoration process, Pentagon Press Secretary Rear Adm. John Kirby said. “Now that we’re getting towards the end of the combat mission in Afghanistan, [Hagel] wants to take a more holistic view of the awards process and the decoration process,” Kirby said. The review is slated for completion by “the end of the year or early 2015,” said Kirby. While all services are expected to participate, the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness will lead the effort, according to a Jan. 29 release.
Adm. Christopher Grady, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs and head of the Joint Requirements Oversight Council, is pushing a “portfolio” approach to requirements and wants his position to have “more teeth” so he can enforce it.