Reserve Forces: Plans Needed to Improve Army National Guard Equipment Readiness and Better Integrate Guard into Army Force Transformation Initiatives
GAO-06-111
Published: Oct 04, 2005. Publicly Released: Oct 20, 2005.
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Highlights
Recent military operations have required that the Army rely extensively on Army National Guard forces, which currently comprise over 30 percent of the ground forces in Iraq. Heavy deployments of Army National Guard forces and their equipment, much of which has been left overseas for follow-on forces, have raised questions about whether the Army National Guard has the types and quantities of equipment it will need to continue supporting ongoing operations and future missions. GAO was asked to assess the extent to which (1) the Army National Guard has the equipment needed to support ongoing operations and (2) the Army can account for Army National Guard equipment left overseas. GAO also assessed the Army's plans, cost estimates, and funding strategy for equipping Guard units under its modular and rotational force initiatives.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Defense | The Department of Defense should direct the Secretary of the Army to develop and submit to Congress a plan and funding strategy that addresses the equipment needs of the Army National Guard for the Global War on Terrorism and addresses how the Army will transition from short-term equipping measures to long-term equipping solutions. This plan should address the measures the Army will take to ensure it complies with existing DOD directives to safeguard reserve component equipment readiness and provide a plan to replace depleted stocks resulting from equipment transferred to the active Army, so that the Guard can plan for equipping the force for future missions. |
Closed – Not Implemented
DOD agreed with the recommendation. The Army sees its Campaign Plan as its plan for equipping the forces, although GAO would like to see more detail. DOD has approved plans to replace only a small portion of the equipment Army National Guard forces were directed to leave overseas. While the Army Campaign Plan sets a goal of fully equipping all Army forces, the plan does not fully identify resources or set timelines for achieving this goal. No change in this status is expected.
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| Department of Defense | The Department of Defense should direct the Secretary of the Army to develop and submit to Congress a plan for the effective integration of the Army National Guard into its rotational force model and modular force initiatives. This plan should include the specific equipment requirements, costs, timelines, and funding strategy for converting Army National Guard units to the modular force and the extent to which Guard units will have comparable types of equipment and equipment levels as the active modular units. |
Closed – Implemented
Since our report, the Army has taken steps to integrate the Army National Guard into its rotational modal and modular force initiatives. Specifically, the Army developed an annex to its Army Campaign Plan that specifies responsibilities and delegates actions for implementing its rotational force generation model, including the integration of reserve components into the rotational force, and the Army has converted the majority of Army National Guard combat forces into modular designs. The 2010 Army Equipping Plans make clear that all operating forces will receive similar equipment based on their position in the rotational force generation model rather than component.
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| Department of Defense | The Department of Defense should direct the Secretary of the Army to develop and submit to Congress a plan for the effective integration of the Army National Guard into its rotational force model and modular force initiatives. This plan should include an analysis of the equipment the Army National Guard's units will need for their missions in each phase of the rotation cycle. |
Closed – Implemented
DOD agreed with the recommendation. The Army's 2009 Campaign Plan includes an annex that describes processes for implementing the Army Force Generation Model, including Army National Guard and Army Reserve Forces. The Army Modernization plan for 2010 discusses equipment for the rotational force generation model. Together, these two address the intent of the recommendation.
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| Department of Defense | The Department of Defense should direct the Secretary of the Army to develop and submit to Congress a plan for the effective integration of the Army National Guard into its rotational force model and modular force initiatives. This plan should include how the Army will manage implementation risks to modular forces if full funding is not provided on the expected timeline. |
Closed – Implemented
Since our report, the Army has taken steps to integrate the Army National Guard into its rotational modal and modular force initiatives. Specifically, the Army developed an annex to its Army Campaign Plan that specifies responsibilities and delegates actions for implementing its rotational force generation model, including the integration of reserve components into the rotational force, and the Army has converted the majority of Army National Guard combat forces into modular designs. Due to the continued urgency of supporting operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Department of Defense has decided to accept risk to its generating force and give priority to all operating forces regardless of component. The 2010 Army Equipping Plans makes clear that all operating forces will receive similar equipment based on their position in the rotational force generation model rather than component.
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Topics
AccountabilityArmed forces abroadCost of warCombat readinessDefense capabilitiesEquipment inventoriesInventory controlMilitary inventoriesMilitary operationsNational Guard