04-14012. Proposed Collection; Comment Request

AGENCY:

Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Personnel and Readiness), DoD.

ACTION:

Notice.

In compliance with Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Personnel and Readiness) announces the following proposed reinstatement of a public information collection and seeks public comment on the provisions thereof. Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of burden of the proposed information collection; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the information collection on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

DATES:

Consideration will be given to all comments received by August 23, 2004.

ADDRESSES:

Written comments and recommendations on the proposed information collection should be sent to the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Personnel and Readiness) (Military Personnel Policy)/Accession Policy, ATTN: Major Ruth Hamilton, 4000 Defense Program, Washington, DC 20301-4000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

To request more information on this proposed information collection or to obtain a copy of the proposal and associated collection instruments, please write to the above address or call [phone].

Title, Associated Form, and OMB Control: Request for Reference, DD Form 370, OMB Control Number 0704-0167.

Needs and Uses: The information collection requirement is necessary to obtain personal reference data, in order to request a waiver, on a military applicant who has committed a civil or criminal offense and would otherwise be disqualified for entry to the Armed Forces of the United States. The DD Form 370 is used to obtain references information evaluating the character, work habits, and attitudes of an applicant form a person of authority or standing within the community.

Affected Public: Individuals or households, non-profit or other for profit businesses, non-profit institutions, local, tribal and state agencies. Normally, this form would be completed by responsible community leaders such as school officials, ministers and law enforcement officials.

Annual Burden Hours: 7,181.

Number of Respondents: 43,000.

Responses Per Respondent: 1.

Average Burden Per Response: .167 hour (10 minutes) per respondent.

Frequency: On occasion.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Summary of Information Collection

This information is collected to provide the Armed Services with specific background information on an applicant. History of criminal activity, arrests, or confinement is disqualifying for military service. An applicant, with such a disqualifier, is required to submit references from community leaders who will attest to his or her character, attitudes or work habits. The DD Form 370 is the method of information collection which requests an evaluation and reference from a specific individual, within the community, who has the knowledge of the applicant's habits, behaviors, personality and character. The information will be used to determine suitability of the applicant for military service and the issuance of a waiver for acceptance.

Dated: June 15, 2004.

L. M. Bynum,

Alternate OSD Federal Register, Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.