Ballistic Missile Defense: Actions Needed to Improve Training Integration and Increase Transparency of Training Resources
GAO-11-625
Published: Jul 18, 2011. Publicly Released: Jul 18, 2011.
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Highlights
Since 2002, the Department of Defense (DOD) has spent over $80 billion on developing and fielding a Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS) comprised of various land-and sea-based elements employed by multiple combatant commands and services. Since the time available to intercept a missile is short, integrating training among all organizations involved is important to connect seams where commands and elements must work together. In response to House Report 111-491 which accompanied H.R. 5136, GAO assessed the extent to which DOD has (1) developed a plan for integrating ballistic missile defense training across and among commands and multiple elements, and identified training roles, responsibilities, and commensurate authorities; and (2) identified and budgeted for the resources to support training. To do so, GAO analyzed DOD training instructions, plans, exercises, and budgets and assessed the extent to which the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) and the services have agreed on training cost estimates and funding responsibilities.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Defense | To enhance DOD's ability to identify and resolve issues in integrating ballistic missile defense training across and among combatant commands and services and to improve training realism, the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, should issue guidance that designates an entity to be responsible for integrating training across and among combatant commands and elements and provide that entity with the authority to develop an overall ballistic missile defense training strategy which includes specific requirements and standards for integrating training and identifying and resolving any gaps in capabilities to enhance integrating training across and among all tiers (or combatant commands and elements). |
In August 2012 the Deputy Secretary of Defense issued a memorandum on Joint Ballistic Missile Defense Training designating U.S. Strategic Command as the joint lead for integrating and synchronizing Joint Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) training. The memo directed U.S. Strategic Command to establish specific requirements and standards for integrating joint training, coordinating its inclusion in service BMD programs of instruction, and identifying joint training gaps for resolution across and among all tiers. The memo also directs U.S. Strategic Command to advocate and propose requirements for joint BMD education in appropriate venues across the military departments. As a result of the memo, there is a now an authority within the department responsible for developing a training strategy and standards for integrating BMD training where commands, tiers, and elements need to work together, effectively addressing our recommendation.
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| Department of Defense | To improve the transparency of the resources to support ballistic missile defense training requirements and to inform budget development, the Secretary of Defense should direct the Secretaries of the Army, Navy, and Air Force and the Director of the Missile Defense Agency to set a firm deadline to complete training cost estimates and element-specific agreements for elements already fielded and establish procedures that require the training cost estimates and element-specific funding agreements delineating funding responsibilities between MDA and the services be completed before additional elements are fielded. |
DOD has taken several steps to implement our recommendation including completing element-specific agreements between the Missile Defense Agency and the services that specify funding responsibilities. For example, since our report was issued, DOD has completed agreements for Aegis Ashore, THAAD, and the TPY-2 radar.
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| Department of Defense | To improve the transparency of the resources to support ballistic missile defense training requirements and to inform budget development, the Secretary of Defense should direct the Secretaries of the Army, Navy, and Air Force and the Director of the Missile Defense Agency to establish procedures that require annual development and reporting of the total BMDS training budget (i.e., all Missile Defense Agency and service costs for individual, unit, and sustainment training and combatant command and service exercise costs). |
8/2012: As of August, 2012 no action has been taken. 7/2013: In May 2013, DOD issued a Report Regarding Ballistic Missile Defense Training Cost Estimates to Congress, citing our report and recommendation, and identifying procedures for annually compiling and reporting on ballistic missile defense training costs, as identified in our recommendation. The report identifies a process, directed by the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Readiness), for the annual reporting of costs associated with ballistic missile defense training, to include costs associated with ballistic missile defense training, education, and exercises for MDA, the military services, and combatant commands. To develop their fiscal year 2012 estimate, the Ballistic Missile Defense Training and Education Group (BTEG) collaborated with the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Readiness) to gather inputs from across the ballistic missile defense training community, and used departmental cost estimating guidance to develop an estimate for fiscal year 2012 training, education, and exercise costs. DOD plans to use the same process to develop their fiscal year 2013 estimate, which they expect to be compiled and forwarded to the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Readiness and Force Management no later than October 31, 2013.
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Topics
Air defense systemsBallistic missile defenseBallistic missilesBudget functionsBudget obligationsCombat readinessCost analysisDefense capabilitiesDefense contingency planningDefense operationsLife cycle costsMilitary budgetsMilitary missionsMilitary trainingStrategic planningTraining utilizationWeapons systemsCost estimatesTransparency