DOD Service Academies: Improved Cost and Performance Monitoring Needed

Highlights

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the management and the operations of three Department of Defense (DOD) service academies, focusing on the: (1) academies' cost-reporting systems; (2) academic programs; (3) assignment, performance, and retention of academy graduates; and (4) effectiveness of external oversight.

Recommendations

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected	Recommendation	Status
Department of Defense	The Secretary of Defense should direct the Comptroller, Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD), to assist the academies in developing appropriate guidance for uniform reporting of all costs that the academies incur.	Closed – Implemented DOD has developed revised guidance.
Department of Defense	The Secretary of Defense should direct the academies to annually report their staffing levels and capital investment costs in addition to their operating costs and cost-per-graduate.	Closed – Implemented DOD agreed and directed the academies to report this data beginning at the end of FY 1992.
Department of Defense	The Secretary of Defense should direct the academies to report what they are doing to address the issues of faculty credentials, faculty turnover, and student time demands.	Closed – Implemented DOD is conducting its own review of these issues.
Department of Defense	The Secretary of Defense should direct the services to develop the means to assess the effectiveness of the academies' programs. Program effectiveness measures would also be applicable to the other officer commissioning programs.	Closed – Implemented When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of Defense	To strengthen the oversight of the service academies, the Secretary of Defense should evaluate alternative means of providing external oversight and advice to the academies.	Closed – Implemented DOD did not agree that the system needs reevaluation and it does not intend to act on this recommendation.
Department of Defense	To strengthen the oversight of the service academies, the Secretary of Defense should establish a focal point within OSD to routinely monitor the academies from a DOD perspective.	Closed – Implemented The ASD (FM&P) Directorate of Accessions Policy has been made the focal point.
Department of Defense	To strengthen the oversight of the service academies, the Secretary of Defense should direct the service secretaries to ensure that audit agencies and inspectors general give more frequent attention to the service academies.	Closed – Implemented DOD agreed to direct the increased audit and IG attention.

See All 7 Recommendations

Full Report

Full Report (64 pages)

Media Inquiries

Sarah Kaczmarek

Managing Director

Office of Public Affairs

media@gao.gov

Public Inquiries

Topics

National Defense

College facultyCost analysisEducation or training costsFederal service academiesFinancial managementHigher educationMilitary cost controlMilitary officersMilitary trainingMilitary forces