Military Manpower: Problems in Accounting for Occupational Shortfalls
NSIAD-88-188
Published: Jul 15, 1988. Publicly Released: Jul 20, 1988.
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Highlights
In response to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Department of Defense's (DOD) personnel management accounting and reporting systems to determine whether they provide DOD managers with the kind of information they need to determine personnel shortfalls and excesses in occupational specialities in the event of a major mobilization.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should review the services' central manpower and personnel management accounting and reporting systems to determine what changes can be made to these systems so that total-force occupational requirements and resources can be related, monitored, and reported. |
Closed – Implemented
The Office of the Secretary of Defense oversight of service manpower requirements and authorizations databases has been improved. New guidance has been implemented. OASD(FM&P) has been established to monitor manpower.
|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should develop and implement policies and procedures for reconciling, analyzing, and reporting total military force needs and resources by occupation for peacetime, mobilization, and wartime operations. |
Closed – Implemented
Significant progress in capability to match inventory, authorizations, and requirements has been made.
|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should use the results of total-force occupational reconciliation and analysis to review and monitor service recruiting, training and assignment plans, strength changes, and force readiness. |
Closed – Implemented
DOD will use "macro" total force data for oversight and resource allocation decisions. DMDC is developing a total occupational force analysis capability using data supplied by the services.
|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should maintain documentation of total-force reconciliations and analyses to support statements of shortfalls and excesses. |
Closed – Implemented
In conjunction with other actions recently directed by the Secretary of Defense, the Office of the Secretary of Defense will determine what documentation is required at the departmental level to provide proper oversight of service programs and maintain which is necessary for its strengthened oversight.
|
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Topics
Combat readinessDefense contingency planningMilitary forcesMilitary occupational specialtiesMilitary systems analysisMilitary trainingMobilizationPersonnel managementStaff utilizationWarfare