Air Force Manpower Program: Improvements Needed in Procedures and Controls
NSIAD-87-137
Published: Jun 25, 1987. Publicly Released: Aug 03, 1987.
Skip to Highlights
Highlights
In response to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Air Force Management Engineering Program (MEP) to determine if the Air Force based its manpower requirements on sound and rigorous processes.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of the Air Force | The Secretary of the Air Force should strengthen the operational procedures and management controls in the standards development process used in MEP by establishing specific procedures for documenting the review and update of standards and monitoring compliance. |
Closed – Implemented
Revised procedures for updating standards and monitoring compliance have been put into effect and the MEP quarterly report format has been revised.
|
| Department of the Air Force | The Secretary of the Air Force should strengthen the operational procedures and management controls in the standards development process used in MEP by improving the accuracy of the staffing standards coding system to identify the type of standard or other method of determining manpower needs on which a given requirement is based. |
Closed – Implemented
An April 1986 message to the commands emphasized the need for accurate coding. The commands are implementing internal commands. Also, the number of codes has been reduced.
|
| Department of the Air Force | The Secretary of the Air Force should strengthen the operational procedures and management controls in the standards development process used in MEP by developing a way to ensure that the currency of staffing standards is reasonably maintained during the transition to the functional review approach to developing standards. |
Closed – Implemented
Procedures have been put in place for annual review of currency standards.
|
| Department of the Air Force | The Secretary of the Air Force should strengthen the operational procedures and management controls in the standards development process used in MEP by enforcing the requirement that staffing guides be reviewed for currency and establishing monitoring procedures to ensure compliance. |
Closed – Implemented
The Air Force initiated staff assistance visits to major commands. Commands have implemented internal controls to preclude overlooking currency review of guides.
|
| Department of the Air Force | The Secretary of the Air Force should strengthen the operational procedures and management controls in the standards development process used in MEP by ensuring that efficiencies identified through the functional review process receive an independent review. |
Closed – Implemented
The Air Force instituted functional review policies to ensure that critical issues are raised to the proper level for resolution.
|
| Department of the Air Force | The Secretary of the Air Force should strengthen the management controls in the standards application and recording processes of MEP by establishing improved standards application procedures and guidance to ensure that: (1) standards application and recording is consistent across all commands; (2) work-load counts are extracted from prescribed sources; and (3) resulting manpower requirements are accurately recorded on manpower documents. |
Closed – Implemented
The Air Force stated that it does not believe that additional controls are necessary.
|
| Department of the Air Force | The Secretary of the Air Force should strengthen the management controls in the standards application and recording processes of MEP by providing improved training on the standards application process. |
Closed – Implemented
Standards application and work-load verification are now emphasized in the manpower school at Kessler Air Force Base.
|
| Department of the Air Force | The Secretary of the Air Force should strengthen the management controls in the standards application and recording processes of MEP by clarifying the existing 20-percent verification policy. |
Closed – Implemented
Step-by-step instructions for the 20-percent verification policy have been developed and incorporated into AFR 26-1, which was published in fiscal year 1989.
|
| Department of the Air Force | The Secretary of the Air Force should strengthen the management controls in the standards application and recording processes of MEP by establishing a system for monitoring compliance with the verification process by incorporating controls, such as: (1) a periodic certification that work load has been verified; (2) a requirement that adequate documentation be maintained until the next application cycle; and (3) an independent spot check verification of work load. |
Closed – Implemented
Verification of these areas has been added to the Staff Assistance Checklist.
|
Full Report
Office of Public Affairs
Topics
Air Force personnelMilitary cost controlMonitoringPersonnel managementProgram managementReporting requirementsWork measurementMilitary forcesData errorsEngineering