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Defense Management: Munitions Requirements and Combatant Commander's Needs Still Require Linkage

GAO-05-765R Published: Aug 12, 2005. Publicly Released: Aug 12, 2005.
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Highlights

In October 2002 we reported that inadequate linkage existed between near-term munitions needs of the combatant commanders and the purchases made by the military services. The Department of Defense (DOD) concurred with our recommendations and took steps to address them by rewriting the overarching DOD Instruction for determining munitions requirements. Related to our ongoing work on prepositioned stocks, we assessed whether DOD's efforts thus far and initiatives planned for the future will ensure the required linkage since successful implementation of operational war plans is contingent on the availability of the right mix and quantity of munitions. To make our assessment, we obtained and analyzed information from cognizant organizations within DOD, Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), Headquarters and subordinate units of the Military Services, and U.S. Forces Korea (USFK). We conducted our analysis of DOD's munitions requirements process in accordance with generally accepted government auditing standards.

Recommendations

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of Defense To ensure that there is adequate linkage between combatant commanders' munitions needs and the purchases made by the military services, the Secretary of Defense should direct the incorporation of oversight and control measures into DOD Instruction 3000.4 to ensure that all organizations involved in the munitions requirement process fully comply with all requirements.
Closed – Implemented
The Undersecretary of Defense (Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics) issued a memorandum on March 9, 2009 staffing the recommendation for action with an estimated completion date expected by the end of 2009. A contact at the DOD Inspector General's office confirmed that the intent was to update DoD Instruction 3000.4 "DoD Munitions Requirements Process (MRP)" by the end of the calendar year. The updated regulation was signed on September 24, 2009.
Department of Defense To ensure that there is adequate linkage between combatant commanders' munitions needs and the purchases made by the military services, the Secretary of Defense should direct combatant commander to participate in pre- and post Program Objective Memorandum risk assessments.
Closed – Implemented
The Undersecretary of Defense (Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics) issued a memorandum on March 9, 2009 staffing the recommendation for action with an estimated completion date expected by the end of 2009. A contact at the DOD Inspector General's office confirmed that the intent was to update DoD Instruction 3000.4 "DoD Munitions Requirements Process (MRP)" by the end of the calendar year. The updated regulation was signed on September 24, 2009.

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Topics

Defense procurementInternal controlsMilitary operationsMilitary policiesMunitionsPolicy evaluationCompliance oversightGovernment procurementAir Force purchasingTeaching