(a) The Adjutant General is the Commander of the National Guard of the Virgin Islands, subordinate only to the Governor. While so serving, the Adjutant General is entitled to compensation from the Government of the Virgin Islands in an amount not to exceed that of the highest paid commissioner of any executive department of the Government of the Virgin Islands as the Governor shall determine excluding a commissioner temporarily assigned in the executive branch pursuant to title 3 Virgin Islands Code, section 451b. The Governor shall designate the rank, not to exceed that of Major General, in which the Adjutant General shall serve.
(b) To be qualified for appointment to the office of Adjutant General, he must—
(1) be a citizen of the United States;
(2) have resided in the Virgin Islands at least one year immediately prior to his appointment; and
(3) be a commissioned officer or a former commissioned officer of the Armed Forces of the United States.
(c) The Adjutant General shall—
(1) Exercise the supervision and direct command of the National Guard of the Virgin Islands.
(2) Prepare such reports as may be requested by Federal officials.
(3) Keep and administer all the funds appropriated and shall be in charge of all the property entrusted to the National Guard of the Virgin Islands, and shall render an annual report of such funds and property to the Commander-in-Chief and the Legislature of the Virgin Islands.
(4) Make annual estimates of funds and prepare the budget required for the operation of the National Guard of the Virgin Islands exclusive of Federal funds.
(5) Promulgate, in the name of the Commander-in-Chief, orders, directives and regulations to maintain the National Guard of the Virgin Islands duly trained, disciplined, uniformed and equipped at all times.
(6) Recommend for appointment by the Commander-in-Chief, an officer of the National Guard of the Virgin Islands, holding the rank of Brigadier General, to serve as Assistant Adjutant General who shall perform such duties as the Adjutant General may require and who shall in the absence or inability of the Adjutant General serve as Acting Adjutant General and perform the duties required thereof; and to further recommend for appointment by the Commander-in-Chief a general grade officer of the National Guard of the Virgin Islands to serve as Executive Assistant to the Adjutant General who will perform such duties as the Adjutant General may require.
(7) Serve as a member of the VITEMA Council and the Homeland Security Council established pursuant to Chapter 10, Sections 1007 and 1031, respectively, of this title.
(8) Perform such other functions prescribed by the Commander-in-Chief and by the laws of the Territory of the Virgin Islands.
(d) Subject to annual appropriations, the Adjutant General shall establish and administer the Youth About Face program. The program must:
(1) operate as a summer and year-round after-school life preparation program for economically disadvantaged and at-risk youth from 13-17 years of age;
(2) provide schoolwork assistance, focusing on the skills needed to master basic high school competencies and functional life skills, including teaching students to work effectively in groups;
(3) provide basic instruction in computer skills;
(4) teach basic problem-solving, decision making, and reasoning skills;
(5) provide, through computer simulations, instruction on how the business world and free enterprise work;
(6) provide training in basic skills that businesses require for employment consideration; and
(7) teach home finance and budgeting and other daily living skills.
(e) Subject to annual appropriations, the Adjutant General shall establish and administer the Forward March job-readiness programs for economically disadvantaged young adults ages 18-29, who are directed to Forward March by the Department of Labor. The Forward March program must:
(1) provide training on topics that directly relate to the skills required for real-world success;
(2) emphasize functional life skills, computer literacy, interpersonal relationships, critical thinking skills, business skills, pre-employment and work maturity skills, job-search skills and job-specific skills;
(3) explore careers activities, including how to be a successful and effective employee;
(4) provide extensive opportunities for participants to practice generic job skills in a supervised work setting; and
(5) upon completion of the program, return participants to the Department of Labor for placement in the job placement pool.