S4479-118

What This Bill Does

The COMMAND Act of 2024 requires the Department of Defense to provide all newly commissioned military officers with training on the U.S. Constitution before they report to their first operational assignment. The Secretary of Defense has 180 days after the bill's enactment to implement this training program.

Who Benefits and How

• Newly commissioned officers benefit by receiving formal education on constitutional principles relevant to their service, including civil-military relations, separation of powers, and restrictions on domestic use of military force.
• The Armed Forces as an institution benefits from officers who have a stronger foundation in constitutional principles and understand their oath of loyalty to the Constitution.
• The American public benefits from military officers who are better educated on constitutional limits on military power and the proper relationship between civilian and military authority.

Who Bears the Burden and How

• The Secretary of Defense must develop and implement the training curriculum within 180 days.
• The Department of Defense bears the administrative and financial burden of creating and delivering the training program to all newly commissioned officers.

Key Provisions

• Mandates constitutional training for all newly commissioned officers before their first operational assignment
• Training must emphasize officers' loyalty to the Constitution, not to any individual or political party
• Requires instruction on civil-military relations and separation of powers
• Includes education on constitutional restrictions on domestic use of military force
• Sets a 180-day deadline for the Secretary of Defense to implement the requirement