S. 5189 — A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, and the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1994, to codify and clarify gender neutral standards for members of certain Armed Forces, and for other purposes.

This section prohibits excluding members of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, or Space Force from occupational specialties, career fields, or assignments on the basis of gender. It requires the Secretary of Defense to submit annual reports to the congressional defense committees on changes to occupational standards and on involuntary reclassifications or separations, disaggregated by specialty and gender. It repeals section 8225 of title 10, United States Code. It modernizes gender-neutral occupational standards under section 543 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1994 by requiring scientifically rigorous processes that consider technical, tactical, cognitive, or physical abilities, extending review periods to at least 18 months with input from Department health care providers and researchers, and directing submission of proposed changes, estimated costs, and supporting research to the congressional defense committees for a 180-day review period (from 60 days). It requires the Secretary to submit the full unredacted review of operational effectiveness of Army and Marine Corps ground combat units to Congress within 7 days of completion, provide a briefing within 30 days, and transmit preliminary findings from the Institute for Defense Analyses. It directs the Comptroller General to review the submission and any Department actions within 180 days. The amendments take effect on September 30, 2026, with the first report due September 30, 2027.