§8227 Notifications on manning of afloat naval forces

Summary

The Navy must notify the congressional defense committees in writing within 30 days after each fiscal quarter if any covered ship had manning fit below 87 percent or manning fill below 90 percent for more than 14 days during that quarter. The notice must name the ship and hull number, give its homeport, show current fit and fill percentages, report the lowest levels and dates if they happened or projected lows and dates if they will happen, give projected dates to reach at least 87% fit and 90% fill and to reach at least 92% fit and 95% fill if those levels are not yet met, explain why the Navy has not or will not meet 87%/90% including which ratings or skills are needed, and describe what the Navy is doing to fix the problem. A sailor in a higher paygrade can count as filling a lower billet, but a lower-paygrade sailor cannot count as filling a higher billet. Starting October 1, 2025, the Secretary of the Navy may not assign more than one crew to a covered ship that is a surface combatant if any surface combatant was reported under the rule in the prior 12 months. The ban does not apply to a littoral combat ship set up for mine countermeasures if the Secretary gives Congress a certification and detailed explanation that the ship cannot meet mine-countermeasure requirements, as determined by the relevant combatant commander, with only one crew. Definitions (one line each): covered ship = a commissioned battle force ship on the Naval Vessel Register; manning fill = number of assigned personnel by rating versus required; manning fit = correct ratings, Navy Enlisted Classifications, and paygrades versus required; surface combatant vessel = littoral combat ships (LCS–1 and LCS–2), frigates (FFG–62), destroyers (except DDG–1000), or cruisers (CG–47).