Army Can Better Use Its Soldiers Trained in Critical Shortage Occupations
NSIAD-84-17
Published: Mar 20, 1984. Publicly Released: Mar 20, 1984.
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Highlights
GAO reviewed manpower utilization in the Army to determine: (1) the extent to which soldiers trained in critical shortage occupations are working in areas outside of their occupations; (2) why these soldiers are doing so; and (3) whether opportunities exist to reduce such utilization practices.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of the Army | The Secretary of the Army should examine and resolve those assignment, security clearance, and equipment-related problems that cause some soldiers to work outside of their occupations. |
Closed – Implemented
By December 1983, actions to eliminate security clearance problems reduced background investigation time to an average of 80 to 90 days. DOD and the Army will continue to monitor this situation. Planned improvements in personnel assignment systems and equipment distribution systems should be significantly reduce assignment mismatches.
|
| Department of the Army | The Secretary of the Army should develop an Army-wide listing of critical shortage occupations and issue policy guidance to all commanders on the discretionary use of soldiers with such skills outside of their occupations. |
Closed – Implemented
The Army distributed a list of shortages for fiscal year 1984 in an Army Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel memo dated October 1983. Lists of enlistments and selective reenlistment bonus skills are updated periodically and are available to commanders.
|
| Department of the Army | The Secretary of the Army should ensure compliance by commanders, within the limits of their discretionary authority, to Army policy requiring the utilization of bonus recipients in their prime occupations. |
Closed – Implemented
Revised DOD Instruction 1304.22, April 1983, added provisions regarding the use of bonus recipients. The Secretary of the Army must approve assignments beyond 90 days. In addition, an annual reporting requirement has been established.
|
| Department of the Army | The Secretary of the Army should examine whether additional Army-wide policy should be established to limit the discretionary authority of commanders to utilize noncommissioned officers in select critical shortage occupations for tasks outside of their prime occupations. |
Closed – Implemented
The Army believes that existing directives provide sufficient guidance to correct the problems noted. The Army made this a special subject for 1985 Inspector General inspections and will continue to monitor its progress.
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Topics
Army personnelMilitary trainingPersonnel managementStaff utilizationSecurity investigationsMilitary occupational specialtiesMilitary forcesEnlisted personnelSecurity clearancesMilitary officers