Operation Desert Storm: War Highlights Need to Address Problem of Nondeployable Personnel
NSIAD-92-208
Published: Aug 31, 1992. Publicly Released: Sep 16, 1992.
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Highlights
Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO examined the issue of nondeployable military personnel for Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, focusing on: (1) the extent of nondeployable personnel; (2) the factors contributing to nondeployability; and (3) systemic weaknesses that could impair future readiness and deployability.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should provide additional policy guidance and emphasis as needed to require the services to identify the magnitude of temporary and permanent nondeployable personnel in both active and reserve forces. |
DOD issued revised guidlines on effective family care planning intended to preclude nondeployability problems. Army initiated an Army-wide assessment of deployability to heighten attention to this problem.
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| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should strengthen the Status of Resources and Training System reporting system to require the services to more fully reflect the impact of temporary and long-term nondeployable personnel, both active and reserve, in their reports. |
Congress has legislatively mandated action by the National Guard to establish holding acounts for persons in training status and avoid their inclusion in unit data -- distorting readiness ratings. DOD has tightened up readiness reporting requirements for reserve and active components.
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Topics
Armed forces reserve trainingCombat readinessDefense capabilitiesDefense contingency planningDefense operationsStaff utilizationMilitary personnelMilitary trainingWarfareMilitary forces