Honorary promotions on the initiative of the Department of Defense

Section 1563a of title 10, United States Code, is amended— (1) in subsection (a)— (A) in paragraph (1)— (i) by striking the Secretary may make an honorary promotion (whether or not posthumous) of a former and inserting the Secretary of a military department may make an honorary promotion, including a posthumous honorary promotion, of a former; and (ii) by striking if the Secretary determines that the promotion is merited; and (B) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following: (2) The honorary grade to which a member described in paragraph (1) is promoted shall be commensurate with such member’s contributions to the armed forces or the national defense. (3) The Secretary of a military department is not authorized to make an honorary promotion under paragraph (1) solely on the basis that a member described in paragraph (1) was recommended for such promotion prior to separating from the armed forces. (4) (A) The Secretary of a military department is only authorized to make an honorary promotion under paragraph (1) upon receipt of a favorable recommendation by a board of at least three independent officers convened specifically for the purpose of reviewing the proposed honorary promotion. (B) For purposes of this paragraph, an officer is an independent officer if— (i) the officer has no relationship with the former member or retired member of the armed forces whose proposed honorary promotion is the subject of review by the board on which such officer will serve under this paragraph; and (ii) the officer has no personal interest in the proposed honorary promotion.; (2) in subsection (b), by striking The Secretary and inserting The Secretary of a military department; and (3) in subsection (c), by striking the Secretary and inserting the Secretary of the military department concerned.