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Financial Management: Army Lacks Accountability and Control Over Equipment

AIMD-93-31 Published: Sep 30, 1993. Publicly Released: Sep 30, 1993.
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Highlights

GAO reviewed the Army's Continuing Balance System-Expanded (CBSX) central logistics system, focusing on whether: (1) internal controls for managing and maintaining accountability for Army equipment are adequate; and (2) equipment records maintained by individual Army units are accurate.

Recommendations

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of the Army To improve the Army's CBSX compatibility rate and the accuracy of unit equipment records, the Acting Secretary of the Army should require the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics to place CBSX accuracy, including unit compatibility rates and accounting for in-transit equipment balances, among the Command Logistics Review Program special interest items.
Closed – Implemented
Reports from the U.S. Army Logistics Integration Activity (USALIA) indicate that CBSX reporting accuracy and timeliness is a special interest item in FY 1995 as it has been in the past.
Department of the Army To improve the Army's CBSX compatibility rate and the accuracy of unit equipment records, the Acting Secretary of the Army should revise regulations governing the recording of equipment transactions and physical count procedures to specifically require units to inspect equipment data plates to validate the type of equipment received and subsequently counted to ensure that equipment is recorded accurately and that errors are corrected during physical counts.
Closed – Implemented
In DOD's November 22, 1993, response to the GAO report, DOD nonconcurred with the recommendation, asserting that the Army had already documented, in sufficient detail, guidance for recording equipment transactions and conducting physical counts of equipment. Rather, DOD contended that the problem was lack of compliance with existing guidance--which would be emphasized.
Department of the Army To improve the Army's CBSX compatibility rate and the accuracy of unit equipment records, the Acting Secretary of the Army should direct commanders to implement the Command Supply Discipline Program and to require corrective action when evaluations identify noncompliance with equipment regulations.
Closed – Implemented
Army Regulation 710-2 (Unit Supply Update 14, dated February 28, 1994) directs implementation of the Command Supply Discipline Program and prompt command corrective actions when evaluations highlight problems with compliance. According to the DOD IG, this guidance has been fully implemented.

Full Report

Full Report (30 pages)

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Topics

Auditing and Financial Management
Accounting errorsAccounting proceduresArmy suppliesEquipment inventoriesEquipment managementFederal records managementInternal controlsInventory control systemsLogisticsMilitary inventories