Defense Logistics: Army Should Ensure New System Operates in All Situations and Soldiers Complete Training
Fast Facts
The U.S. Army manages over $200 billion in equipment and parts. With a new online system, it anticipates better logistics management—tracking supplies, maintaining property accountability, and monitoring maintenance—and saving $12 billion through 2027. But the Army noted that the system is difficult to use and doesn't work in all combat situations (like remote locations without network access). Also, the Army couldn't confirm whether soldiers are taking all available training on the system.
We recommended that the Army dedicate resources to develop the system's offline capability, and track whether soldiers are completing necessary training.
A soldier logs into the Global Combat Support System-Army, the new online logistics system.
Highlights
What GAO Found
The Global Combat Support System–Army (GCSS–Army)—a web-based information and logistics system—has improved the Army's ability to meet logistics needs during military operations through improved visibility, accountability, and reporting of its assets, such as replacement parts and equipment. However, GCSS–Army does not function in situations where network connectivity is an issue, which could affect combat units' performance during military operations (see figure).
Factors That May Prevent Units from Connecting to the Global Combat Support System–Army during Military Operations
Soldiers GAO interviewed told GAO that during military operations, they may be in a remote location close to an adversary where they may or may not have internet or satellite access; cyberattacks are possible; and mountains could obstruct connectivity. The Army plans to develop and to field a disconnected operations capability by 2023, but whether it will dedicate the appropriate resources remains uncertain. Without a capability to operate GCSS–Army when disconnected from the Army's network, Army forces could lose the timely, accurate, and secure information needed to sustain operations.
The Army generally equipped personnel to operate GCSS–Army, but soldiers may not be taking training necessary to effectively use the system. Soldiers stated that better career-specific training is needed and that they rely on alternative ways of learning how to operate the system, such as social media groups. Army officials acknowledge that GCSS–Army's complexity makes it difficult to use and that soldiers need to devote a lot of time to training and working in the system. However, the Army could not confirm whether soldiers were taking the GCSS–Army training that is needed to be proficient in their specific responsibilities. Without a mechanism to track that soldiers are completing the more advanced, career-specific online training, the Army cannot be sure it is reaping the full benefits of the system.
Why GAO Did This Study
GCSS–Army is a single, web-based system that, once fully implemented, is expected to be used to manage $216 billion in assets annually. This logistics information management system replaces several older systems. The Army estimates it will save $12 billion through fiscal year 2027 by making logistics management more efficient. Department of Defense officials also expect GCSS–Army will help the Army to ensure that its financial statements are validated as audit ready.
House Report 116-120, accompanying a bill for the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020, included a provision for GAO to review GCSS–Army. This report examines, among other things, the extent to which (1) GCSS–Army addresses the needs of soldiers and leaders conducting military operations, and (2) the Army equipped and trained personnel to operate GCSS–Army during military operations. GAO reviewed Army documents and regulations; interviewed officials; observed a system demonstration; and interviewed soldiers who had recent experience using GCSS-Army in operational situations.
Recommendations
GAO recommends that the Army (1) dedicate appropriate resources to meet the Army's plan to develop and to field a capability for GCSS–Army to operate when disconnected from the Army's network, and (2) establish a mechanism to track that soldiers are completing necessary training and gaining proficiency in how to use GCSS–Army. DOD concurred with both recommendations and provided suggestions on which offices in the Army should address them, which GAO incorporated as appropriate.
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of the Army | The Secretary of the Army should ensure that the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Acquisition, Logistics and Technology) dedicates appropriate resources to meet the Army's plan to develop and to field a disconnected operations capability for GCSS–Army. (Recommendation 1) |
In its comments, the Army concurred with our recommendation, stating that developing a disconnected operations capability for GCSS-Army is funded through fiscal year 2022. The Army described its approach as multi-phased, intending to deliver both disconnected mission-critical functions and a new user experience, which will make using GCSS-A more intuitive. The Army's comments indicated the intent to field this capability in 2023. However, in a December 2022 memo, the Army stated that it was discontinuing its pursuit of this capability through an Other Transaction Authority prototype because the selected vendor was not able to comply with the cost and scope to which it initially agreed. The Army determined that this capability should be postponed and realigned under future modernization efforts. The status of this recommendation remained the same in December 2023.
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| Department of the Army | The Secretary of the Army should ensure that the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Army, G-3, in coordination with the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Army, G-4, work with relevant Army stakeholders to establish a mechanism to track that soldiers have completed career-specific training necessary for gaining proficiency in the GCSS–Army system. (Recommendation 2) |
The Army concurred with our recommendation. In its comments on our draft report, the Army stated that HQDA G-3 and HQDA G-4 should task U.S. Army Forces Command and U.S. Army Installation Management Command to ensure Soldiers complete advanced, career-specific training, and establish a mechanism for tracking that Soldiers complete the training necessary to be proficient using the GCSS-Army system. In December 2023 we reviewed Army documentation of the GCSS-Army training classes conducted since 2019, which included the number of Soldiers who (1) attended and (2) successfully completed each training session. An Army official we spoke with explained that the documentation came from the Army Training Requirements and Resources System (ATRRS), which is capable of tracking the GCSS-Army training courses offered at troop schools, reserve component schools, and Army Logistics University. At the unit level, a June 2021 Army order (issued after our report was published) requires the command staff to document that all new GCSS-A end-users have completed key training modules, including GCSS-Army overview, basic navigation, intermediate navigation, and any additional modules that are appropriate to the end-user's roles. The official added that Army G-3 and G-4 officials can examine the data more closely by querying these systems to identify specific individuals who completed the courses. In our view, the Army's ability to track soldiers' completion of GCSS-A training when at school, and the requirement for units to document end-user proficiency, constitutes a mechanism for ensuring that Soldiers are keeping up with and refreshing the skills needed to effectively operate the GCSS-Army system. As such these actions meet the intent of our recommendation.
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