Operation Desert Storm: DOD Met Need for Chemical Suits and Masks, but Longer Term Actions Needed
NSIAD-92-116
Published: Apr 07, 1992. Publicly Released: May 07, 1992.
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Highlights
Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed Department of Defense (DOD) supply of chemical equipment, focusing on whether: (1) adequate supplies of chemical protective suits, masks, and mask filters were available for Operations Desert Storm and Desert Shield; and (2) DOD is effectively managing chemical equipment acquisition and distribution.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
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Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should direct the Secretary of the Army, in cooperation with the Director of the Defense Logistics Agency, to develop and implement a long-range action plan with target dates to ensure that required chemical defense equipment is available for all military personnel when needed. At a minimum, the plan should reassess the quantities, characteristics, and capabilities for all chemical protective suits, masks, and other chemical defense equipment, as appropriate to meet both peacetime and wartime needs, taking into account the changing threat and shrinking force size. The plan should reassess the industrial base needed to meet those requirements and the steps to develop this industrial base, and procurement methods or procedures to ensure the selection of quality producers. |
Although DOD agreed with the recommendation, it claimed the Army had already prepared a revised nuclear, biological, and chemical modernization plan which incorporates all of the issues covered by GAO's recommendation. GAO plans to examine the adequacy of this plan during future reviews.
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Topics
Chemical warfareCombat readinessDefense capabilitiesChemical weaponsDefense procurementDepartment of Defense contractorsEquipment contractsIndustrial mobilizationMilitary inventoriesMilitary materielMilitary operations