Transition opportunities for members of the Armed Forces and veterans

(a) Establishment The Secretary shall establish a pilot program within the Bureau of Diplomatic Security of the Department to facilitate the recruitment, training, and hiring of transitioning servicemembers and veterans into positions in the Bureau. (b) Objectives The objectives of the pilot program required by subsection (a) shall include— (1) leveraging the skills, training, and experience of veterans and transitioning servicemembers to meet security and operational needs of the Bureau of Diplomatic Security; (2) providing servicemembers and veterans with a defined pathway to employment in the Department; and (3) supporting workforce development and addressing staffing needs in the Bureau. (c) Eligibility Participants in the pilot program required by subsection (a) shall include Members of the Armed Forces who are within one year of separation or retirement. (d) Implementation The Secretary shall coordinate with the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and Secretary of Labor to— (1) inform servicemembers exiting the military at the Transition Assistance Program (TAP) with an informational packet describing the pilot program required by subsection (a); (2) identify eligible candidates for such program; and (3) provide necessary clearances, onboarding support, and placement assistance after undergoing a successful screening process under such program. (e) Rule of construction Nothing in this section may be construed as creating a separate, non-competitive screening process for servicemembers or veterans. (f) Duration and evaluation (1) In general The pilot program required by subsection (a) shall be carried out for the two-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act. (2) Report Not later than 180 days after the conclusion of the pilot program, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report evaluating— (A) the effectiveness of the program, including its ability to expand the pipeline of qualified candidates; (B) the number of participants in the program hired into permanent or contract positions; (C) the geographic or functional placement of participants in the program and whether such placements addressed identified workforce needs; (D) any lessons learned or recommendations for expansion, modification, or termination of the program; and (E) feedback from participants in the program and relevant hiring offices. (g) Definition In this section, the term appropriate congressional committees means— (1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on Armed Services, and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives; and (2) the Committee on Foreign Relations, the Committee on Armed Services, and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate.