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Reserve Forces: Aspects of the Army's Equipping Strategy Hamper Reserve Readiness

NSIAD-93-11 Published: Feb 18, 1993. Publicly Released: Feb 18, 1993.
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Highlights

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO evaluated the Army's strategies for equipping National Guard and reserve units.

Recommendations

Matter for Congressional Consideration

Matter Status Comments

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of the Army To ensure that all units of the Army's contingency force achieve a high state of readiness, the Secretary of the Army should raise the equipping priority of the fourth package of support units to be commensurate with other contingency force support units.
Closed – Implemented
In April 1993, the Army completed a review of the fourth package of support units. No changes in priority resulted from that review. Priority continues to be based on estimated deployment date under the DOD "First-to-Fight" policy, rather than strictly by placement in the contingency force. Unit priority is reassessed on a semiannual basis to reflect changes in world events. This provides needed flexibility.
Department of the Army The Secretary of the Army should reassess the costs and benefits of continuing the existing Army policy that permits equipment redistribution at lower levels of organization and among major Army commands regardless of higher equipping priorities elsewhere.
Closed – Implemented
The Army has reassessed its equipment distribution policies and continues to support the current policy because it meets current DOD guidance of "first to fight, first to equip." In addition, cost and loss-of-flexibility issues preclude change to redistribution policies at this time.

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Government Operations
Armed forces reservesArmy procurementCombat readinessDefense contingency planningGround warfareLogisticsMilitary land vehiclesMilitary materielSurplus federal propertyTelecommunications equipment