Overseas Presence: More Data and Analysis Needed to Determine Whether Cost-Effective Alternatives Exist
NSIAD-97-133
Published: Jun 03, 1997. Publicly Released: Jun 03, 1997.
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Highlights
GAO provided information on the Department of Defense's (DOD) approaches to providing U.S. overseas military presence, focusing on: (1) changes in these approaches since the end of the Cold War; (2) funding related to presence; (3) views of regional command officials on the relative importance of security objectives and presence approaches in their regions; and (4) DOD's process for determining presence requirements and alternatives for meeting them.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the CINCs and the Secretary of State, should compile and analyze information on CINCs' presence requirements and approaches in a manner that would allow assessments of the effectiveness of current levels and mixes of forces and activities, and whether alternatives exist that could achieve national security objectives more cost-effectively. |
DOD concurred with the recommendation and is developing a process that will address the planning of engagement (activities) aspect of overseas presence. The recommendation addressed all aspects of presence (activities and forces). GAO continues to believe that DOD should integrate and analyze information on all presence approaches. However, DOD, in its response to Congress, maintained its position that the process it is developing will address engagement activities.
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Topics
Armed forces abroadCost effectiveness analysisDefense appropriationsDefense capabilitiesDefense contingency planningForeign military assistanceInternational relationsMilitary policiesStrategic forcesMilitary forces