10 U.S.C. § 1782 — Surveys of military families

(a) Authority. To determine how effective Federal military-family programs are and whether new programs are needed, the Secretary of Defense may survey: (1) active-duty members, members in an active status^*, and retired members of the armed forces^*; (2) their family members; and (3) survivors of deceased retired members and people who died while on active duty^*. (b) Responses To Be Voluntary. Responses must be voluntary. (c) Federal Recordkeeping Requirements. For a survey authorized by (a) that includes a person listed there who is not a United States employee, or is not treated as one for section 3502(3)(A)(i) of title 44, that person is treated as a United States employee for that section. This section does not otherwise define that term. (d) Survey Required for Fiscal Year 2010. Despite (a), the Secretary had to conduct a survey authorized by (a) during fiscal year 2010. Afterward, additional surveys may be conducted no less often than once every three fiscal years.