Chemical Warfare: Soldiers Inadequately Equipped and Trained to Conduct Chemical Operations
NSIAD-91-197
Published: May 29, 1991. Publicly Released: May 29, 1991.
Skip to Highlights
Highlights
Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Army's Chemical Defense Program, focusing on whether the Army adequately trained and equipped its forces to survive and sustain operations in a chemical environment.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of the Army | The Secretary of the Army should ensure that commanding officers responsible for conducting training fully comply with the minimum training standards set forth in Army regulations. |
Closed – Implemented
The Army re-emphasized the need for advanced and integrated NBC training. The Department of Defense will continue to require unit commanders to conduct NBC training to sustain proficiency levels. Existing review and inspection procedures will be used to verify compliance.
|
| Department of the Army | The Secretary of the Army should ensure that the commanding officers of the Training and Doctrine Command and the Chemical School jointly evaluate the integration of chemical doctrine into the training guidance at the other branch schools and take the necessary corrective actions. The evaluation, as a minimum, should: (1) emphasize the need to conduct routine training in full protective gear until all personnel are capable of recognizing and adequately responding to the performance degradation that occurs after extended periods in the gear; and (2) require that all combat and support personnel undergo the required chemical training under realistic conditions and demonstrate the ability to perform assigned tasks at a minimally acceptable level while in full protective gear. |
Closed – Implemented
The response acknowledged that some proponents had not integrated the latest defense doctrines completely into their doctrines and training publications, but stated that routine renewal of new publications ensures that NBC chemical aspects are addressed adequately. GAO found that these reviews were not adequate. The Training and Doctrine Command has taken action to ensure the process is working.
|
| Department of the Army | The Secretary of the Army should require that commanding officers annually report to their rating officials the extent to which all combat and support personnel have undergone the required chemical training and demonstrated the ability to perform assigned tasks at a minimally acceptable performance level while in full protective gear. |
Closed – Implemented
A management information system, including a training status reporting system, is being developed.
|
| Department of the Army | The Secretary of the Army should require commanding officers' rating officials to consider the officers' reports on chemical training in evaluating their performance. |
Closed – Not Implemented
Commanders are already required to judge the ability of their subordinates to perform mission essential tasks. Establishing a new special rating category for chemical defense would not be advisable as it would not apply equally to all unit commanders.
|
| Department of the Army | The Secretary of the Army should direct the Commander, U.S. Army, Europe, to comply with the existing requirements that fixed sites have approved chemical decontamination plans and that the plans be practiced at least annually. |
Closed – Implemented
Given the reduced threat in Europe, the Army staff will ask U.S. Army, Europe, to review the requirement for fixed site chemical decontamination plans.
|
| Department of the Army | The Secretary of the Army should ascertain whether the funding level and priorities for developing, producing, and delivering chemical protective equipment should be changed. |
Closed – Implemented
No new action is proposed, only a continuation of the normal budget preparation cycle review.
|
| Department of the Army | The Secretary of the Army should ascertain whether authorized chemical equipment levels should be modified and equipment availability increased. |
Closed – Implemented
Equipment is being fielded to meet the Army's requirements in consonance with the changing force structure.
|
| Department of the Army | The Secretary of the Army should ascertain whether production problems being encountered with new chemical protective equipment are being resolved. |
Closed – Implemented
Production problems with new equipment are resolved when identified normally during first article testing. Also, procedures exist to correct shortcomings identified by unit commanders based on their mission analysis.
|
Full Report
Office of Public Affairs
Topics
Army personnelArmy suppliesChemical warfareCombat readinessDefense capabilitiesEducation program evaluationEmergency preparednessMilitary inventoriesMilitary operationsMilitary training