SUPPORTING STATEMENT
Title of Information Collection (Record of Military Processing – Armed Forces of the United States DD Form 1966)
A. JUSTIFICATION
1. Need for Information Collection
Title 10 U.S. Codes, Sections 504, 505, 508, and 1012, Title 14, U.S. Code, Sections 351 and 632; and Title 50 U.S. Code, Appendix Section 451, and EO 9397 require applicants to meet standards for enlistment into the Armed Forces. This information collection is the basis for determining eligibility of applicants for enlistment in the Armed Forces and is needed to verify data given by the applicant and to determine his/her qualification of enlistment. The information collected aids in the determination of qualifications, term of service, and grade in which a person, if eligible, will enter active duty or reserve status.
2. Use of Information
The primary purpose of this information collection is to gather the necessary data for determining eligibility in the Armed Forces and for establishing personnel records on those enlisted. The DD Form 1966, “Record of Military Processing – Armed Forces of the Unites States”, form associated with this information collection, is used to gather necessary information.
The Military Services and the Coast Guard will use these data to reduce premature discharges by determining applicant eligibility for enlistment. The DD Form 1966 is completed by the applicant and assisted by a Service recruiter, after an oral interview. The information is collected and processed within a one – to two – day period. The information collected accompanies the applicant throughout the enlistment process at the Military Entrance Processing Stations (MEPS).
The data collected has assisted recruiters in determining whether applicants meet
the necessary entrance standards for enlistment in the Armed Forces.
Improved Information Technology.
The Department has determined that the DD Form 1966 is appropriate for electronic generation. The forms are available on the DoD Electronic Forms Website in Fillable Adobe PDF files and used by the Military Entrance Processing Command (MEPCOM) Integrated Resource System (MIRS) at the MEPS. Recruiting stations able to use the form electronically will reduce the burden for not only the respondent, but for the recruiter as well. The MEPS has loaded the DD Form 1966 into the MEPCOM Integrated Resource System (MIRS) to enable the respondents the ability to electronically complete this form. Strategic planning has led to research and development for ongoing initiatives, including biometrics, towards the creation of an integrated system between the armed services and other agencies to share data electronically. This improvement will lessen the burden on moving paper between agencies and will ensure better accuracy of data. Progress of this on-going initiative is contingent upon funding availability.
4. Efforts to Identify Duplication
A review by military recruiting representatives resulted in no findings of duplicate information, records, or reporting. No similar information or verification procedure exists that can be used for this information collection.
Data collected on the DD Form 1966 provides a wide range of demographic information needed to establish eligibility for enlistment in the Armed Forces. No culmination of data from other sources would provide the necessary information for enlistment.
5. Methods Used to Minimize Burden on Small Entities
Small businesses and other small entities will not be affected by this collection.
Consequences of Not Collecting the Information
Information is collected only once per applicant. If collection was stopped, ability
to make determinations for enlistment into the military would be hampered.
Special Circumstances
This collection of information is not conducted under special circumstances; the respondent is asked to complete one form, one time. The information is used for none other than enlistment purposes by the Department of Defense. No requirements are placed on the respondent after providing the information and the personal information collected is kept confidential to the qualification process and the individual’s military records. This collection will be conducted in a manner consistent with guidelines contained in 5 CFR 1320.5 (d) (2).
Agency 60-Day Federal Register Notice and Consultations Outside the Agency
The 60-day Federal Register Notice announcing this information collection (as required by 5 CFR 1320.8(d)) was published in Vol. 74, No. 215, Monday, November 9, 2009, Federal Register, page 215, as required by 5 CFR 1320.8(d). No public comments were received in response to the notice. This information collection was also reviewed by designated representatives from each Service Department Headquarters and Recruiting Commands.
Payments to Respondents
No payments, gifts, or guarantees are made to respondents who provide this
information.
Assurance of Confidentiality
Respondents are advised that statements will be held in strictest confidence and procedures are in place to protect the confidentiality of the information. The forms are maintained in personal records and are seen only by individuals who have a need to verify information contained on the form. The paper forms will be secured to protect Personally Identifiable Information (PII) in accordance to DoD regulations. Records are maintained in secure, limited access, or monitored areas. Physical entry by unauthorized persons is restricted through the use of locks, passwords, or other administrative procedures. Access to personal information is limited to those individuals who require the records to perform their official assigned duties. The Privacy Act Statement is contained on the DD Form 1966.
Personal Identifying Information, Sensitive Questions, and Protection of the
Information
Character and social adjustment questions, Question 24 through 26 on DD Form 1966, are required to preclude the enlistment of unsuitable people into the U.S. Armed Forces who may be a detriment to the preparedness of the military and the security of the Unites States. This information is used by the Services to determine applicant eligibility for enlistment. The questions are preceded by the following:
If “Yes”, explain in Section VI, “REMARKS”.
Data on race/ethnicity are required to be tracked by each Service’s affirmative action plan and assessment process. Religious preference information is voluntary, but is requested to determine the proper mix of chaplains in each Service. Marital status is used to determine appropriate pay and benefits. It is also used to determine the number of dependents, obligations and financial suitability of the applicant. Responses regarding gender are also requested to determine the total number of male and female applicants. Social Security Number (SSN) is requested to ensure accuracy of data on the specified individual applicant. The DD Form 1966 is the genesis for the personnel record, the medical record, and the security records. The SSN is obtained and stored into the initial record (personnel, finance, medical, and security) for proofing, vetting, and maintaining unambiguous person identity for U.S. persons. With the SSN being used for personal identification in major DoD human resource systems (personnel, finance, and medical), it remains the only unique identifier that ensures the accuracy across all the systems to ensure proper data retrieval. The paper forms will be secured to protect Personally Identifiable Information (PII) in accordance to DoD regulations. Records are maintained in secure, limited access, or monitored areas. Physical entry by unauthorized persons is restricted through the use of locks, passwords, or other administrative procedures. Access to personal information is limited to those individuals who require the records to perform their official assigned duties.
Estimates of Annual Response Burden and Labor Cost for Hour Burden to the
Respondent for Collection of Information.
a. Response Burden:
(1) DD Form 1966
Total annual respondents: 510,000
Frequency of response: 1
Total annual responses: 510,000
Burden per response: 20 minutes
Total burden hours: 170,000
Explanation of How Burden was Estimated. An observed average of 20
minutes is taken to complete the six-page form, estimated by a recruiter observing and working with an applicant filling out the form.
Labor Cost to Respondents. There is a labor cost to the respondent to fill out
this form.
510,000 respondents at $7.25hr* at 20 minutes per form = $1,232,500.
*Hourly rate based on U.S. Department of Labor federal minimum wage.
13. Estimates of Other Cost Burden for the Respondent for Collection of Information.
a. Total Capital and Start-up Cost. There is no capitol or set up cost associated
with this information collection.
b. Operation and Maintenance Cost. There are no operational or maintenance
costs associated with this information collection.
14. Estimates of Cost to the Federal Government.
a. Work load requirements.
1. E-5 / E-7 recruiter processes form. Estimated completion time is
20 minutes.
2. GS-06/Step 03 reviews only page 1, to determine completeness of the
responses. Estimated completion time is 5 minutes.
b. Estimated Costs:
1. E-5 / E-7 hourly pay = $15.08 at 20 minutes/form $5.03
2. GS-06/ Step 03 hourly pay = $15.40 at 3 minutes/form $1.28
3. Printing (from MIRS) at .10 cents per form $.10
4. Cost to the Federal Government per respondent $6.41
Total Federal Government costs (510,000 X $6.41) $3,269,100
15. Changes in Burden.
There are no changes in burden for this information collection.
16. Publication Plans/Time Schedule.
Results of this information collection will not be published.
Approval Not to Display Expiration Date.
Approval not to display the expiration data is not being sought.
Exceptions to the Certification Statement.
No exceptions to the certification statement are being sought.
B. COLLECTION OF INFORMATION EMPLOYING STATISTICAL METHODS
Statistical methods are not employed for this collection of information.
| File Type | application/msword |
| File Title | The following are the headings for each question to be used in the Supporting Statement: |
| Author | OUSD PR |
| Last Modified By | Patricia L Toppings |
| File Modified | 2010-04-01 |
| File Created | 2009-10-20 |