Military Transformation: The Army and OSD Met Legislative Requirements for First Stryker Brigade Design Evaluation, but Issues Remain for Future Brigades
Highlights
The Army continues to transform units, known as Stryker brigades, into lighter, rapidly deployable, and more capable forces. Because Stryker brigades are an entirely new design, the fiscal year 2002 National Defense Authorization Act required the Army to conduct an evaluation of the design, to include deployment of the brigade and execution of combat missions across the full spectrum of potential threats. The act also required the Secretary of Defense to certify that the evaluation results indicate the design is both operationally effective and suitable. As one in a series of reviews of Army transformation, GAO monitored the evaluation to assess (1) whether the Army and the Secretary of Defense met legislative requirements, (2) how the Army evaluated both the operational effectiveness and suitability of the brigade's design, (3) what the brigade's performance was during the evaluation, and (4) how the Army plans to mitigate issues identified during the evaluation.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Defense | To assist the Stryker Brigade Combat Teams' transformation efforts, the Secretary of Defense should direct the Secretary of the Army to develop a plan that completes the mitigation efforts on those issues not addressed prior to deploying the brigade. |
Closed – Implemented
GAO reviewed the Army's Stryker Brigade Design Evaluation and identified issues related to the brigade's training and design. GAO recommended that the Army develop a plan that completes mitigation efforts on the issues identified during the evaluation prior to the brigade's deployment to Iraq. According to Army documents and follow-up interviews with Army officials, the Army did develop and complete a plan to mitigate the issues prior to the deployment of the Army's Stryker Brigade to Iraq in late 2003.
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| Department of Defense | To assist the Stryker Brigade Combat Teams' transformation efforts, the Secretary of Defense should direct the Secretary of the Army to apply, as applicable, adjustments made to the training, design, and equipment of the brigade to future Stryker brigades. |
Closed – Implemented
After observing the Army's Stryker Brigade Design Evaluation, we identified weaknesses related to training, design, and equipment. The Army took steps to mitigate those weaknesses for the first Stryker Brigade's deployment to Iraq. Because the Army was developing several other Stryker brigades, we recommended that the Army apply those adjustments as they stood-up the other Stryker brigades. The Army has since developed the ability to formally pass on knowledge, to include designating Fort Lewis, Washington, as the Army's Center of Excellence for the Stryker; encouraging interaction between Stryker commanders; use of Stryker transition teams; and developing formalized training at Training and Doctrine Command institutions.
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