| Defense Management: Actions Needed to Evaluate the Impact of Efforts to Estimate Costs of Reports and Studies |
10 May 2012 |
33 pages |
| Authors:
Sharon L Pickup; James A Reynolds; Bruce Brown; Frances A Dymond; Mae Jones; Terry Richardson; Karen Richey; Amber L ; Robert Sharpe; Amie Steele; Stacey Steele; Sonja S Ware; Karen N Willems; GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE WASHINGTON DC
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 | Citing long-term fiscal challenges affecting the federal government, in May 2010, the Secretary of Defense directed the Department of Defense (DOD) to undertake a departmentwide initiative to assess how the department is staffed, organized, and operated with the goal of reducing excess overhead costs and reinvesting these savings in sustaining DOD s current force structure and modernizing its weapons portfolio.1 1 Remarks as delivered by former Secretary of Defense Robert ... |
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| Border Security: Observations on Costs, Benefits, and Challenges of a Department of Defense Role in Helping to Secure the Southwest Land Border |
17 Apr 2012 |
17 pages |
| Authors:
Brian J Lepore; Mark Pross; Yecenia Camarillo; Carolynn Cavanaugh; Nichole Willems; Lori Kmetz; Charles Perdue; Richard Powelson; Terry Richardson; Jason Wildhagen; GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE WASHINGTON DC
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| The National Guard, with its dual federal and state roles, has been in demand to meet both overseas operations and homeland security requirements. Over the last decade the National Guard has experienced the largest activation of its forces since World War II. At the same time, the Guard s domestic activities have expanded from routine duties, such as responding to hurricanes, to include activities such as helping to secure U.S. ... |
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| Military Education: Improved Oversight and Management Needed for DOD's Fellowship and Training-with-Industry Programs |
Apr 2012 |
66 pages |
| Authors:
Brenda S Farrell; Laura Talbott; Darreisha Bates; Maria McCollester; Erin Preston; Sara Olds; Terry Richardson; Amie Steele; Cheryl Weissman; Allen Westheimer; GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE WASHINGTON DC
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| The Department of Defense (DoD), which includes the military services, selects mid- to upper-career-level military officers to participate in fellowship and training-with-industry programs conducted at non-DoD organizations such as universities, think tanks, private corporations, federal agencies, and Congress. For some fellowships, the military departments pay a fee or tuition to the host organization. GAO was directed to review DoD's use of these programs. GAO's objectives were to determine the following: ... |
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| Defense Biometrics: Additional Training for Leaders and More Timely Transmission of Data Could Enhance the Use of Biometrics in Afghanistan |
Apr 2012 |
41 pages |
| Authors:
Brian Lepore; Marc Schwartz; Grace Coleman; Mary Coyle; Davi M D Agostino; Bethann E Ritter; Amie Steele; Spencer Tacktill; Ashley Alley; Timothy Persons; Terry Richardson; John Van Schaik; Michael Willems; GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE WASHINGTON DC
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| The collection of biometrics data, including fingerprints and iris patterns, enables U.S. counterinsurgency operations to identify enemy combatants and link individuals to events such as improvised explosive device detonations. GAO was asked to examine the extent to which (1) DOD's biometrics training supports warfighter use of biometrics, (2) DOD is effectively collecting and transmitting biometrics data, and (3) DOD has developed a process to collect and disseminate biometrics lessons learned. ... |
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| Defense Workforce: DOD Needs to Better Oversee In-sourcing Data and Align In-sourcing Efforts with Strategic Workforce Plans |
Feb 2012 |
40 pages |
| Authors:
Brenda S Farrell; Belva M Martin; Marion Gatling; Randy DeLeon; Tim DiNapoli; Simon Hirchfeld; John Krump; Ramzi Nemo; Terry Richardson; Erik Wilkins-McKee; GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE WASHINGTON DC
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| The Department of Defense (DOD) relies on contractors for varied functions, and obligated about $200 billion in fiscal year 2010 for contracted services. In-sourcing moving contracted work to performance by DOD employees has been one tool through which DOD managed its workforce. The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011 required DOD to report on its fiscal year 2010 in-sourcing decisions and required GAO to assess DOD s report. ... |
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| Coast Guard: Continued Improvements Needed to Address Potential Barriers to Equal Employment Opportunity |
Dec 2011 |
36 pages |
| Authors:
Yvonne D Jones; Neil A Pinney; Cheri Y Truett; Irina Carnevale; Robert Gebhart; Lois Hanshaw; Angela Leventis; Terry Richardson; GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE WASHINGTON DC
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| In the past, allegations of management weakness and inadequate provision of civil rights services were made against the U.S. Coast Guard's (USCG) Civil Rights Directorate (CRD). To address these allegations, in 2008, the Director of CRD commissioned an external review of CRD's operations. As a result of recommendations made in that review, CRD has developed steps, such as reorganizing its operations, with the intent of program improvement. As requested, GAO ... |
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| Observations on the Costs and Benefits of an Increased Department of Defense Role in Helping to Secure the Southwest Land Border |
12 Sep 2011 |
36 pages |
| Authors:
Davi M D'Agostino; Mark A ; Yecenia Camarillo; Nicole Harms; Lori Kmetz; Charles Perdue; Richard Powelson; Terry Richardson; Jason Widhagen; GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE WASHINGTON DC
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| The Ike Skelton National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011 mandated, in part, that GAO report on the security of the southwest land border of the United States and ongoing efforts to improve such security by July 6, 2011.1 Specifically, we assessed: Objective 1: What is known about the costs and benefits of an increased DOD role to help achieve operational control over the southwest land border, including the ... |
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| Army and Marine Corps Training: Metrics Needed to Assess Initiatives on Training Management Skills |
JUL 2011 |
32 pages |
| Authors:
Sharon Pickup; Michael Ferren; Jerome Brown; Kenya Jones; Ashley Lipton; Lonnie McAllister; Terry Richardson; GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE WASHINGTON DC
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| Marine Corps forces have deployed repeatedly with limited time between deployments. At their home stations, combat training centers, and other locations, units have focused their limited training time on training for counterinsurgency operations. Prior to deploying, units also conduct a large scale exercise referred to as a culminating training event. With the drawdown of forces in Iraq, the services have begun to resume training for a fuller range of offensive, ... |
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| Military Readiness: Army and Marine Corps Reporting Provides Additional Data, but Actions Needed to Improve Consistency |
Jun 2011 |
41 pages |
| Authors:
Sharon L Pickup; Michael Ferren; Jim De Ashley; Randy Leon; Nicole Harms; Richard Powelson; Terry Richardson; Jodie Samuel; Amie Steele; Nicole Volchko; GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE WASHINGTON DC
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| Current Army and Marine Corps guidance has generally improved the quantity and objectivity of readiness information available to decision makers. As in the past, Army Regulation 220-1 and Marine Corps Order 3000.13 direct units to report on two types of missions--the core missions for which units were designed as well as any other missions they may be assigned, but recent changes to the guidance also added new requirements. Units must ... |
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| Defense Management: Comprehensive Cost Information and Analysis of Alternatives Needed to Assess Military Posture in Asia |
May 2011 |
71 pages |
| Authors:
Brian; Lepore; Robert L Repasky; Jeff Hubbard; Joanne Landesman; Ying Long; Greg Marchand; Richard Meeks; Charles Perdue; Lisa Reijula; Terry Richardson; GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE WASHINGTON DC
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| The Department of Defense (DoD) is currently conducting the largest transformation of military posture in the Pacific region since the end of World War II. Transforming posture in Korea, Japan, and Guam will affect tens of thousands of military personnel and their families and require the construction of hundreds of new facilities and more than 3,500 housing units. GAO was asked to examine the following: (1) initiatives in Korea, their ... |
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| Military Training: Continued Actions Needed to Guide DOD's Efforts to Improve Language Skills and Regional Proficiency |
29 Jun 2010 |
17 pages |
| Authors:
Sharon L Pickup; Patricia Lentini; Edward Anderson; Gabrielle Carrington; Nicole Harms; Susan Langley; Terry Richardson; Rebecca Rygg; Matthew Ullengren; Chris Watson; GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE WASHINGTON DC
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| Today, and in the foreseeable future, military operations require U.S. personnel to work alongside multinational partners and among local populations. The Department of Defense (DoD) has placed a greater emphasis on transforming language and regional proficiency capabilities, which includes cultural awareness. GAO's prior work has found that integrated strategic plans with measurable goals and funding priorities linked to goals can help guide organizational transformations. Decision makers also require complete information ... |
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| Elections: DOD Can Strengthen Evaluation of Its Absentee Voting Assistance Program |
Jun 2010 |
45 pages |
| Authors:
Jack Edwards; Carleen Bennett; Bonita Anderson; Melissa Blanco; Chanee Gaskin; Nicole Harms; Mae Jones; Jennifer Madison; Amanda Miller; Terry Richardson; Michael Silver; Susan Tindall; Yong Song; GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE WASHINGTON DC
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| Under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA), citizens covered are permitted to register and vote absentee. The Secretary of Defense has the primary responsibility for federal UOCAVA functions, and the Department of Defense's (DOD) Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) facilitates absentee voters' participation in federal elections. Since 2001, the DOD Office of Inspector General and GAO have reviewed FVAP's efforts and recommended improvements to its procedures and ... |
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| Homeland Defense: DOD Needs to Take Actions to Enhance Interagency Coordination for Its Homeland Defense and Civil Support Missions |
Mar 2010 |
59 pages |
| Authors:
David M D'Agostino; Jenkin; William O Jr; Penney H St Caramia; Lorelei James; Tommy Baril; Courtney R Reid; David G Lygy; Raymond A Griffith; Katie A Mauldin; McAllister; Lonnie J III; Terry Richardson; Robert Robinson; Cheryl A Weissman; Erik Wilkins-McKee; Michael Willems; GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE WASHINGTON DC
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| DOD has a number of strategy, policy, and guidance documents related to interagency coordination for its homeland defense and civil support missions; however, DOD entities do not have fully or clearly defined roles and responsibilities because key DOD documents are outdated, are not integrated, or are not comprehensive. Previous GAO work, the National Response Framework, and DOD strategy and guidance all identify the need for clearly defined roles and responsibilities ... |
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| Homeland Defense: DOD Can Enhance Efforts to Identify Capabilities to Support Civil Authorities during Disasters |
Mar 2010 |
65 pages |
| Authors:
Davi M D'Agostino; Jenkins; William O St Jr; Lorelei James; Joseph W Kirschbaum; Nicholas Benne; Grace Coleman; Michael Hanson; David Lysy; Lonnie J McAllister; Eric E Petersen; Terry Richardson; Bethann E Ritter; Wesley Sholtes; Cheryl Weissman; Jena Whitley; GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE WASHINGTON DC
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| In addition to its primary mission of warfighting, the Department of Defense (DoD) plays an important role in civil support. Four years after the poorly coordinated national response to Hurricane Katrina, issues remain about DoD's progress in identifying its capability requirements for supporting a coordinated civilian-military response to a catastrophic domestic event. This report addresses the extent to which DoD has done the following: (1) identified and addressed its capability ... |
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| Military Recruiting: Clarified Reporting Requirements and Increased Transparency Could Strengthen Oversight over Recruiter Irregularities |
Jan 2010 |
62 pages |
| Authors:
Brenda S Farrell; Elizabeth McNally; Natalya Barden; Seth Carlson; K N Harms; Joanne Landesman; Katherine Lenane; Amber Lopez; Steven Putansu; Terry Richardson; Daniel Webb; GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE WASHINGTON DC
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| To sustain a viable military force, the Department of Defense (DoD) depends on recruiting several hundred thousand qualified individuals into the military each year. The service components rely on their recruiters to act with the utmost integrity because even a single incident of wrongdoing on the part of a recruiter -- a recruiter irregularity -- can adversely affect the service components' ability to recruit qualified individuals. The most common types ... |
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| Military Readiness: DoD Needs to Strengthen Management and Oversight of the Defense Readiness Reporting System |
Sep 2009 |
86 pages |
| Authors:
Sharon L Pickup; Randolph C Hite; Michael Ferren; Neelaxi Lakhmani; April Baugh; Mathew Butler; Richard J Hagerman; Nicole Harms; James Houtz; John Lee; Stephen Pruitt; Terry Richardson; Karen Richey; Karl Seifert; Kristy Williams; GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE WASHINGTON DC
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| The Department of Defense (DoD) reports data about the operational readiness of its forces. In 1999, Congress directed DoD to create a comprehensive readiness system with timely, objective, and accurate data. In response, DoD started to develop the Defense Readiness Reporting System (DRRS). After 7 years, DoD has incrementally fielded some capabilities and, through fiscal year 2008, reported obligating about $96.5 million. GAO was asked to review the program, including ... |
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| Military Personnel: Reserve Compensation Has Increased Significantly and is Likely to Rise Further as DOD and VA Prepare for the Implementation of Enhanced Educational Benefits |
06 Jul 2009 |
25 pages |
| Authors:
Brenda S Farrell; George Scott; Elizabeth McNally; Patrick DiBattista; Tracy Burney; Tim Carr; Grace Coleman; Pawnee A Davis; Nicole Harms; Charles Perdue; Terry Richardson; Adam Van Smith; John Schaik; GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE WASHINGTON DC
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| We estimate that total federal compensation for reservists grew by about 25 percent, from about $18.5 billion in fiscal year 2001 to nearly $23.1 billion in fiscal year 2007 in constant fiscal year 2009 dollars. Per capita compensation for part-time reservists, who comprise about 91 percent of the reserve force, increased nearly 52 percent, from $14,400 in fiscal year 2001 to $22,000 in fiscal year 2007.12 Per capita compensation for ... |
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| Force Structure: Actions Needed to Improve DOD's Ability to Manage, Assess, and Report on Global Defense Posture Initiatives |
02-Jul-2009 |
37 pages |
| Authors:
John Pendleton; Robert L Repasky; Shirley Min; Joanne Landesman; Greg Marchand; Terry Richardson; Ricardo Marquez; GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE WASHINGTON DC
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| In its ongoing global realignment of U.S. forces and installations, the Department of Defense (DOD) plans to reduce the number of troops permanently stationed overseas, consolidate overseas bases, and establish a network of smaller forward locations with limited personnel. Realigning the U.S. overseas posture involves closing obsolete and redundant bases, constructing new facilities costing billions of dollars, and ensuring that other needed infrastructure is in place to support realigned forces ... |
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| Financial Management: DOD Needs to Clarify Its General Gift Fund Policies to Provide for Effective Oversight |
27-May-2009 |
34 pages |
| Authors:
Terry Richardson; Laura Durland; Bonita Anderson; Gregory Marchand; Stephanie Moriarty; Mae Jones; Brain J Lepore; GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE WASHINGTON DC
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| From fiscal year 2005 through fiscal year 2008, the military services received about $295 million in monetary and nonmonetary gifts from individuals and organizations wishing to donate gifts to the Department of Defense (DoD). Section 2601(a) of Title 10, U.S. Code, is a long-standing authority under which the secretaries overseeing DoD, the military services, and the Coast Guard may accept a gift on the condition that the gift be used ... |
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| Defense Business Transformation: Status of Department of Defense Efforts to Develop a Management Approach to Guide Business Transformation |
09 Jan 2009 |
35 pages |
| Authors:
Sharon L Pickup; Deborah Yarborough; Grace Coleman; K N Harms; Suzanne Perkins; Terry Richardson; Joseph Watkins; Angela Watson; GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE WASHINGTON DC DEFENSE CAPABILITIES AND MANAGEMENT
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| The Department of Defense (DOD) spends billions of dollars to maintain key business operations that support the warfighter. The GAO has reported on weaknesses in DOD's business operations that result in billions of dollars being wasted annually, reduced efficiencies, ineffective performance, inadequate accountability, and a lack of transparency. Currently, DOD has sole responsibility for 8, and shares responsibility for another 7, of the federal government's 27 programs or activities GAO ... |
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| Force Structure: The Army Needs a Results-Oriented Plan to Equip and Staff Modular Forces and a Thorough Assessment of Their Capabilities |
Nov 2008 |
66 pages |
| Authors:
John H Pendleton; Gwendolyn Jaffe; Margaret Morgan; Kelly Baumgartner; Hillary Benedict; Herbert Bowsher; Kurt Burgeson; Grace Coleman; Stephen Faherty; Barbara Gannon; David Hubbell; Jim Melton; Steve Pruitt ;Steven Rabinowitz; Terry Richardson; Kathryn Smith; Karen Thornton; J A Walker; GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE WASHINGTON DC
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| Amid ongoing operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Army embarked in 2004 on a plan to create a modular, brigade-based force that would be equally capable as its divisional predecessor in part because it would have advanced equipment and specialized personnel. GAO has previously reported that restructuring and rebuilding the Army will require billions of dollars for equipment and take years to complete. For this report, GAO assessed the extent ... |
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| Military Personnel: Evaluation Methods Linked to Anticipated Outcomes Needed to Inform Decisions on Army Recruitment Incentives |
18-Sep-2008 |
19 pages |
| Authors:
Brenda S Farrell; David Moser; Catherine H Brown; Charles Perdue; Joanne Landesman; Julia Matta; Terry Richardson; Barbara J Williams; GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE WASHINGTON DC
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| Since the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, the United States has launched several military operations that have dramatically increased the operations tempo of the military services and required the large-scale mobilization of reservists. These factors have particularly affected the active Army, Army Reserve, and Army National Guard, which have shouldered the bulk of the personnel burden associated with ongoing operations in Iraq. A ... |
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| Military Personnel: Better Debt Management Procedures and Resolution of Stipend Recoupment Issues Are Needed for Improved Collection of Medical Education Debts |
01 Apr 2008 |
22 pages |
| Authors:
Brenda S Farrell; David Moser; Rebecca Beale; Janine Cantin; Nicole Harms; Terry Richardson; Cheryl Weissman; Matthew Young; GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE WASHINGTON DC
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| Military physicians and other health care professionals are needed to support operational forces during war or other military conflicts and to maintain the wellbeing of the forces during nonoperational periods. These professionals also provide health care services to military retirees and dependents. The Department of Defense (DOD) acquires its health care professionals primarily through two programs the Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship Program and the Financial Assistance Program with which ... |
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| Force Structure - Need for Greater Transparency for the Army's Grow the Force Initiative Funding Plan |
18 DEC 2007 |
14 pages |
| Authors:
Wendy Jaffe; Kelly Baumgartner; Grace Coleman; Barbara Gannon; Terry Richardson; Kathryn Smith; Karen Thornton; GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE WASHINGTON DC
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| In January 2007, the Secretary of Defense announced an initiative to expand the Army from a total of 1,037,000 to 1,112,000 active and reserve soldiers by fiscal year 2013--an increase of 74,200 military personnel--in order to meet increasing strategic demands and to help reduce stress on the force. This planned expansion includes building six additional active modular brigade combat teams and additional modular support units, which will require a substantial ... |
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| Managing Sensitive Information: DOD Can More Effectively Reduce the Risk of Classification Errors |
JUN 2006 |
48 pages |
| Authors:
Davi M. D'Agostino; Ann Borseth; Mattias Fenton; Adam Hatton; Barbara Hills; David Keefer; David Mayfield; Jim Reid; Terry Richardson; Marc Schwartz; GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE WASHINGTON DC
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| A lack of oversight and inconsistent implementation of the Department of Defense's (DoD) information security program are increasing the risk of misclassification. DoD's information security program is decentralized to the DoD component level, and the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence (OUSD(I)), the DoD office responsible for DoD's information security program, has limited involvement with, or oversight of, components' information security programs. While some DoD components and ... |
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| Defense Management. Fully Developed Management Framework Needed to Guide Air Force Future Total Force Efforts |
JAN 2006 |
39 pages |
| Authors:
Janet St. Laurent; Robert Repasky; Hugh Brady; John Clary; Alissa Czyz; George Delgado; Nicole Harms; Penney Harwell; Kenneth Patton; Terry Richardson; GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE WASHINGTON DC
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| The Air Force used an iterative process to develop its 20-year force structure plan with periodic review and oversight by senior-level Department of Defense (DOD) and Air Force officials; however, stakeholders have different views on the extent to which the Air Force sought and addressed input from process participants. The plan included a reduction in the legacy fighter fleet residing largely within the Air National Guard and the acquisition of ... |
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| Defense Health Care. Force Health Protection and Surveillance Policy Compliance Was Mixed, but Appears Better for Recent Deployments |
NOV 2004 |
50 pages |
| Authors:
Clifton E. Spruill; Steve Fox; Rebecca Beale; Margaret Holihan; Lynn Johnson; Susan Mason; William Mathers; Clara Mejstrik; Christopher Rice; Terry Richardson; GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE WASHINGTON DC
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| Overall compliance with DOD s force health protection and surveillance policies for servicemembers who deployed in support of OIF varied by service, by installation, and by policy requirement. Army and Air Force compliance during OIF for the installations in our review appears much better compared to the installations included in our previous review7 of OEF and OJG. Installations we examined from the Marine Corps, on the other hand, generally had ... |
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| Military Personnel: Improvements Needed to Increase Effectiveness of DOD's Programs to Promote Positive Working Relationships between Reservists and Their Employers |
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34 pages |
| Authors:
Brenda S Farrell; Tracy Williams; Shana Wallace; Terry Richardson; Tobin McMurdie; Nicole Harms; Rudy Chatlos; Janine Cantin; Renee Brown; Bonita Anderson; David Schmitt; Matthew Young; GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE WASHINGTON DC
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| Since September 11, 2001, the Department of Defense (DOD) has relied on more than 650,000 members of the National Guard and Reserve to support operations at home and abroad. As demobilized reservists return to civilian life and their civilian employment, the difficulties some face in maintaining positive working relationships with their employers is an area of interest. Maintaining employers' continued support for their reservist employees will be critical if DOD ... |
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