Enlisted Force Management: Past Practices and Future Challenges
NSIAD-91-48
Published: Jan 22, 1991. Publicly Released: Jan 22, 1991.
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Highlights
GAO reviewed the Department of Defense's (DOD) management of enlisted forces, focusing on how the Army and Air Force: (1) managed the size and composition of their enlisted forces; (2) planned for enlisted force reductions; and (3) complied with enlisted force management requirements.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Defense | To improve the management of enlisted personnel, the Secretary of Defense should require the use of the objective force as a more stable, long-term target. |
DOD does not plan to revise its directives until the drawdown is complete, which is estimated at 1-2 years from now.
|
| Department of Defense | To improve the management of enlisted personnel, the Secretary of Defense should require the services to manage their enlisted personnel more closely to the program objective force target, particularly with regard to the career force, and provide written justification when deviations are necessary. |
DOD requires the services to include in their annual enlisted force plans any deviations from the previous plans.
|
| Department of Defense | To improve the management of enlisted personnel, the Secretary of Defense should develop guidance on how to determine the level of seniority needed. |
The drawdown policy objectives and controls of January 16, 1991 require the services to prepare plans that specifically establish the accession level, the percent years of service 1-6 level, the percent years of service 7-20 level, and the percent years of service 20+ level to sustain requirements with the established fiscal year 1995 end strength.
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Topics
Air Force personnelArmy personnelBudget cutsCareer planningDefense cost controlEnlisted personnelMilitary downsizingMilitary promotionsPersonnel managementReductions in force