SUPPORTING STATEMENT - PART A
Record of Military Processing – Armed Forces of the United - 0704-0173
1. Need for the Information Collection
Title 10 U.S. Code, 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, terms of service, and grade in which a person, if eligible, will enter active duty or reserve status.
2. Use of the 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 USMEPCOM Form 680-3A-E is the applicant authorization to release medical information to the Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) to begin the process required to meet enlistment qualifications. The DD Form 1966 is the main source document for military enlistment or continued military service records. The information collected is used to feed other DoD and service–specific forms that later would be used to issue identification cards and receive benefits associated with military service.
The Military Services and the Coast Guard will use these data to reduce premature discharges by determining applicant eligibility for enlistment. The information collected on USMEPCOM Form 680-3A-E is transferred electronically into the DD Form 1966 after the applicant meets enlistment standards and decides to enlist. 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 MEPS.
The data collected has assisted recruiters in determining whether applicants meet the necessary entrance standards for enlistment in the Armed Forces.
3. Use of Information Technology
Approximately 90% of all respondents provide the required information electronically. A small portion of minors are required to print out the form for their parent or legal guardian to sign, but the Department is working to increase the acceptability of electronic signatures for this population.
The DD Form 1966 is 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 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. Non-duplication
The information obtained through this collection is unique and is not already available for use or adaptation from another cleared source.
5. Burden on Small Businesses
This information collection does not impose a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small businesses or entities.
6. Less Frequent Collection
Information is collected only once per applicant. If collection was stopped, ability to make determinations for enlistment into the military would be hampered.
7. Paperwork Reduction Act Guidelines
This collection of information does not require collection to be conducted in a manner inconsistent with the guidelines delineated in 5 CFR 1320.5(d)(2).
8. Consultation and Public Comments
Part A: PUBLIC NOTICE
A 60-Day Federal Register Notice (FRN) for the collection published on Friday, August 16, 2024. The 60-Day FRN citation is 89 FRN 66700.
No comments were received during the 60-Day Comment Period.
A 30-Day Federal Register Notice for the collection published on Friday, November 22, 2024. The 30-Day FRN citation is 89 FRN 92667.
Part B: CONSULTATION
No additional consultation apart from soliciting public comments through the Federal Register was conducted for this submission.
9. Gifts or Payment
No payments or gifts are being offered to respondents as an incentive to participate in the collection.
10. Confidentiality
A Privacy Act Statement is located on forms DD1966 and USMEPCOM FORM 680-3A-E. Respondents are advised with the PAS on the form that their data are for OFFICIAL USE ONLY and will be maintained and used in strict confidence in accordance with Federal law and regulations and those procedures are in place to protect the confidentiality of the information. The paper forms will be secured to protect PII in accordance with DoD regulations. The erroneous release of PII might cause legal action from individuals against DoD and/or the government.
System of Records Notice SORNS: The following System of Records Notice (SORN) covers the collection of PII within the DD Form 1966 and USMEPCOM Form 680-3A-E.: United States Military Entrance Processing Command (USMEPCOM) Integrated Resource System (USMIRS), A0601-270 at: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/04/21/2021-08286/privacy-act-of-1974-system-of-records.
Completed forms may also be used to initiate official military personnel records in accordance with the following SORNS:
Navy: https://dpcld.defense.gov/Privacy/SORNsIndex/DOD-wide-SORN-Article-View/Article/570310/n01070-3/
Marine Corp: https://dpcld.defense.gov/Privacy/SORNsIndex/DOD-wide-SORN-Article-View/Article/570626/m01070-6/
Air Force: https://dpcld.defense.gov/Privacy/SORNsIndex/DOD-Component-Article-View/Article/569821/f036-af-pc-c/
A copy of the draft PIA and approved SSNJM for the USMEPCOM Integrated Resource System (USMIRS) has been provided with this package for OMB review.
The records are retained in accordance with each recruiting and official military personnel SORNS.
11. Sensitive Questions
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.
Data collected on race and ethnicity is used throughout the application process as a means of validating the applicant’s identity. The revised standards, per OMB Bulletin No.00-02, Guidance on Aggregation and Allocation of Data on Race for Use in Civil Rights Monitoring and Enforcement, http://whitehouse.gov/omb/bulletins_b00-02/ provides the recruiters with the necessary information to assist the applicants with properly completing the race and ethnicity blocks on the DD Form 1966. 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.
12. Respondent Burden and its Labor Costs
Part A: ESTIMATION OF RESPONDENT BURDEN
Collection Instrument(s)
[DD1966]
Number of Respondents: 423,000
Number of Responses Per Respondent: 1
Number of Total Annual Responses: 423,000
Response Time: 20 minutes
Respondent Burden Hours: 141,000 hours
[USMEPCOM FORM 680-3A-E]
Number of Respondents: 423,000
Number of Responses Per Respondent: 1
Number of Total Annual Responses: 423,000
Response Time: 22 minutes
Respondent Burden Hours: 155,100 hours
Total Submission Burden (Summation or average based on collection)
Total Number of Respondents: 423,000
Total Number of Annual Responses: 2
Total Respondent Burden Hours: 296,100 hours
Part B: LABOR COST OF RESPONDENT BURDEN
Collection Instrument(s)
[DD1966]
Number of Total Annual Responses: 423,000
Response Time: 20 minutes
Respondent Hourly Wage: $7.25
Labor Burden per Response: $2.42
Total Labor Burden: $1,022,250
[USMEPCOM FORM 680-3A-E]
Number of Total Annual Responses: 423,000
Response Time: 22 minutes
Respondent Hourly Wage: $7.25
Labor Burden per Response: $2.66
Total Labor Burden: $1,124,475
Overall Labor Burden
Total Number of Annual Responses: 846,000
Total Labor Burden: $2,146,725
The Respondent hourly wage was determined by using the federal minimum wage and can be found on the Department of Labor Wage Website (https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/minimum-wage/history/chart)
13. Respondent Costs Other Than Burden Hour Costs
There are no annualized costs to respondents other than the labor burden costs addressed in Section 12 of this document to complete this collection.
14. Cost to the Federal Government
Part A: LABOR COST TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
Collection Instrument(s)
[DD1966]
Number of Total Annual Responses: 423,000
Processing Time per Response: 20 minutes
Hourly Wage of Worker(s) Processing Responses: $46.49
Cost to Process Each Response: $15.50
Total Cost to Process Responses: $6,555,089.93
[USMEPCOM FORM 680-3A-E]
Number of Total Annual Responses: 423,000
Processing Time per Response: 22 minutes
Hourly Wage of Worker(s) Processing Responses: $46.49
Cost to Process Each Response: $17.06
Total Cost to Process Responses: $7,217,154.09
Overall Labor Burden to the Federal Government
Total Number of Annual Responses: 846,000
Total Labor Burden: $13,772,244.02
Part B: OPERATIONAL AND MAINTENANCE COSTS
Cost Categories
Equipment: $0
Printing: $0
Postage: $0
Software Purchases: $0
Licensing Costs: $0
Other: $0
Total Operational and Maintenance Cost: $0
Part C: TOTAL COST TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
Total Labor Cost to the Federal Government: $13,772,244
Total Operational and Maintenance Costs: $0
Total Cost to the Federal Government: $13,772,244
15. Reasons for Change in Burden
There has been no change in burden since the last approval.
16. Publication of Results
The results of this information collection will not be published.
17. Non-Display of OMB Expiration Date
We are not seeking approval to omit the display of the expiration date of the OMB approval on the collection instrument.
18. Exceptions to “Certification for Paperwork Reduction Submissions”
We are not requesting any exemptions to the provisions stated in 5 CFR 1320.9.
| File Type | application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document |
| Author | Kaitlin Chiarelli |
| File Modified | 0000-00-00 |
| File Created | 2024-11-28 |