Requirements relating to wellness checks for health and welfare of certain members of the Armed Forces

(a) Wellness checks (1) Wellness checks required (A) In general The Secretary of Defense shall issue such regulations, policies, and procedures as may be necessary to require that, whenever appropriate following a member of the Armed Forces sustaining any significant injury or illness or being on sick call, a wellness check is conducted to account for the health and welfare of such member. (B) Significant injury or illness or sick call For purposes of subparagraph (A), a member of the Armed Forces shall be considered to have sustained a significant injury or illness or to be on sick call if a medical professional recommends an absence of the member from regular duties for 24 hours or longer, such as placing the member on quarters or recommending convalescent leave. (2) Methods of contact In conducting a wellness check for a member of the Armed Forces pursuant to paragraph (1), if the member does not respond to such check conducted via an electronic or telephone communication method, the individual conducting the check shall progress to an in-person method of contact. (3) Result of failure to locate If, as a result of a wellness check conducted pursuant to paragraph (1) for a member of the Armed Forces, the individual conducting such check is unable to locate such member, the individual shall refer to the applicable regulations, policies, and procedures of the Department of Defense regarding the determination and reporting of such member as missing, absent unknown, absent without leave, or duty status-whereabouts unknown. (b) Implementation by unit commanders In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary of Defense shall ensure that each unit commander coordinates with the judge advocates assigned or attached to, or performing duty with, the unit under the command of such commander for assistance in the implementation of any regulation, policy, or procedure required under subsection (a) with respect to such unit. (c) Additional actions by unit commanders (1) In general On a routine basis, each unit commander shall— (A) review the requirements contained in the document titled Commander’s Critical Information Requirements, dated January 2020, or any successor document, to ensure such requirements— (i) have been issued or updated during the three-year period preceding any such review; (ii) reflect the medical issues or safety incidents of members of the Armed Forces that the commander deems sufficiently significant; and (iii) have been distributed to the unit under the command of such commander; and (B) host confidential wellness meetings with subordinate commanders at which such commanders may discuss with one or more medical officers assigned to such unit any significant injuries or illnesses affecting members of the Armed Forces serving in or with such unit. (2) Wellness meetings Confidential wellness meetings under paragraph (1)(B) may be integrated with existing command, staff, or health-of-the-force synchronization meetings if the confidentiality of the medical and personal information a member of the Armed Forces is appropriately maintained. (d) Training (1) In general Each Secretary concerned, and the Secretary of Defense with respect to civilian personnel of the Department of Defense, shall ensure that training on the importance of accountability with respect to health and welfare, and the significant negative outcomes that may occur when accountability procedures fail, is integrated into existing command, leadership, and prevention training programs to the maximum extent practicable (2) No need for separate training requirement A separate standalone training requirement is not required for purposes of carrying out paragraph (1). (e) Secretary concerned defined In this section, the term Secretary concerned has the meaning given that term in section 101(a) of title 10, United States Code.