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Management of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Exercise Program Has Been Strengthened, But More Needs To Be Done

NSIAD-85-46 Published: Mar 05, 1985. Publicly Released: Mar 05, 1985.
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Highlights

GAO assessed the current management of the Department of Defense (DOD) joint exercise program to determine the effect of actions taken since a 1979 report and whether opportunities exist for further improvements.

Recommendations

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of Defense The Secretary of Defense should direct JCS and the unified commands to adhere more stringently to JCS guidance concerning: (1) timely submission of exercise requirements; and (2) preparation of more informative command analyses and assessments.
Closed – Implemented
JCS took action to ensure better compliance with its guidance, including the formation of a working group of key military representatives to monitor exercise scheduling, limits, and scope. DOD agreed to stress the need for adequate exercise analysis and reporting.
Department of Defense The Secretary of Defense should direct JCS to develop procedures that will ensure more precise exercise program schedules and budgets and will reduce to a minimum the number of changes to the schedule that occur after budget approval. These procedures, if properly implemented, should consider transportation efficiencies.
Closed – Implemented
DOD developed new procedures which will consider transportation efficiencies and result in improved exercise schedules and airlift budgets. These procedures should also reduce the number of schedule changes after exercise budget approval.
Department of Defense The Secretary of Defense should direct JCS to take the lead in establishing a comprehensive exercise results system that includes all major JCS exercise program results. Such a system would allow JCS and other defense organizations to account for, act on, and share the results throughout the defense community.
Closed – Implemented
JCS implemented a universal lessons-learned system. When fully operational in late 1987, it will allow all services to share reported lessons learned.

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Topics

Transportation
Airlift servicesCombat readinessDefense budgetsDefense contingency planningInformation systemsMilitary forcesMilitary operationsMilitary trainingMobilizationProgram management