# Plain Language Summary of H.R. 8073

This bill directs the U.S. Department of Defense to create a training program for Australian Navy officers to learn how to operate nuclear-powered submarines. The partnership between the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom (called AUKUS) recently agreed that Australia would eventually get nuclear submarines, but Australian officers don't currently have the expertise to run them. This bill sets up a formal exchange program to fix that problem by having Australian officers train alongside American sailors in U.S. Navy nuclear submarine schools.

Here's what the bill actually requires: Starting in 2023, two Australian submarine officers each year will be selected to participate in an intensive training pipeline. These officers will first attend the Navy Nuclear Propulsion School to learn the technical side of running a nuclear reactor underwater. After that training, they'll enroll in the Submarine Officer Basic Course by July 1st of their participation year. Once they complete the course, they'll be assigned to serve on an actual U.S. Navy submarine that's actively deployed at sea, giving them hands-on experience with real operations. The Secretary of Defense also has to report back to Congress within six months with a detailed plan for what this long-term training program should look like, including initial training, follow-up courses, and ongoing education for Australian officers.

The practical impact is fairly straightforward: this is about building the human expertise Australia will need to safely operate and maintain nuclear submarines once they receive them. It's a military partnership move that strengthens ties between the two countries while ensuring that when Australia gets these advanced submarines, they'll have trained officers ready to command them. For most Americans, this won't have a direct impact on daily life, though it does represent a commitment of U.S. military resources and training capacity to support an ally in the Indo-Pacific region.

To direct the Secretary of Defense to establish a joint training pipeline between the United States Navy and the Royal Australian Navy, and for other purposes.

Courtney, Joe

 <p>This bill requires the Department of Defense to carry out an exchange program for Australian submarine officers. Under this program, two such officers shall be selected each year to receive training and, after completing such training, be assigned to duty on an operational U.S. submarine at sea. </p>