Status of Department of Defense Programs To Improve Defensive Chemical Warfare Capabilities

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Department of Defense's (DOD) program to improve its defensive chemical warfare capabilities, focusing on: (1) DOD doctrine to support military operations in a chemically contaminated environment; (2) the effectiveness of DOD procurement of defensive chemical warfare equipment; (3) DOD force structures for carrying out defensive chemical warfare missions; and (4) defensive chemical warfare training for individual soldiers and units. GAO also discussed defensive chemical warfare activities of the Office of the Secretary of Defense and the Joint Chiefs of Staff.