Rebuilding Near-Term Readiness and Transforming Capabilities to Meet Future Threats

Developing an affordable plan to ensure that U.S. forces are ready to conduct missions at home and abroad now and in the future is critical to our nation's security.

• Since 9/11, U.S. forces have operated at a high pace and gained considerable combat experience. Yet, operations in Iraq and Afghanistan have taken a toll on readiness, especially in the Army and Marine Corps. For example, personnel are deploying frequently and have little time to train for anything other than counterinsurgency missions. Equipment is repeatedly used, causing heavy wear and tear. Units that are not deployed are transferring equipment and personnel to deploying units, causing some shortfalls. Furthermore, the plans to draw down forces in Iraq and increase force levels in Afghanistan will place additional demands on the military and involve considerable costs.

  Highlights of GAO-09-720 (PDF), Highlights of GAO-09-380T (PDF), Highlights of GAO-08-497T (PDF), Highlights of GAO-07-814 (PDF)

• Also, the Air Force and Navy are facing challenges in maintaining aging aircraft and ships.

  Highlights of GAO-08-467SP (PDF), Highlights of GAO-07-415 (PDF)

• While the Army has developed new training strategies, it has not provided for training on a full range of operations nor has it optimized training for reserve component units because it calls for them to conduct unit training for primary missions during the early years of the training cycle. At that time of the cycle, units face personnel and equipment shortages and have limited training time and support.

  Highlights of GAO-09-720 (PDF)

• DOD and the military services have begun the process of retrograding military equipment and supplies from Iraq. However, they have not yet determined how they will repair this equipment and redistribute it to best meet the services' equipment requirements for sustaining current operations and rebuilding the services' equipment readiness.

  Highlights of GAO-08-930 (PDF)

• DOD prepositions equipment at strategic locations around the world to enable it to quickly field combat-ready forces wherever needed to support ongoing and potential military operations. These equipment sets have been somewhat depleted in recent years due to the Department's need to use this equipment to support ongoing operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

  Highlights of GAO-09-147R (PDF)

• Rebuilding readiness is a complex and costly effort but will be even more challenging because, at the same time, the Department is pursuing broad-based initiatives to grow, modernize, and transform its forces. However, DOD has yet to fully develop sound plans and cost estimates for key initiatives, such as staffing and equipping the Army's modular force, and to transition the reserve component to an operational force. In light of the nation's financial challenges, the administration and Congress will need to evaluate the department's plans and establish clear priorities that are achievable within expected resource levels.

  Highlights of GAO-08-669T (PDF), Highlights of GAO-09-131 (PDF), Highlights of GAO-09-720 (PDF)

^ Back to topWhat Needs to Be Done

DOD and the military services need to take several actions to enhance efforts to rebuild readiness, as well as modernize and transform force capabilities:

• DOD needs to develop near-term plans to improve the readiness of its ground forces that include measurable goals, validated requirements, prioritized resource needs, and performance measures to gauge progress.

  Highlights of GAO-08-497T (PDF)

• The Army and the Marine Corps need to establish equipment reset strategies that address equipment shortages in the near term to minimize operational risk and meet the needs of deploying units.

  Highlights of GAO-07-814 (PDF)

• The Army needs to adjust its training strategy to include a plan to support training on a full range of missions, and to account for factors that limit the effectiveness of training for reserve component units on primary missions.

  Highlights of GAO-07-936 (PDF), Highlights of GAO-09-720 (PDF)

• DOD needs to efficiently and effectively redeploy its excess equipment in Iraq, and to redistribute this equipment to sustain ongoing operations in Afghanistan and to most effectively equip U.S. military forces at home and abroad.

  Highlights of GAO-08-930 (PDF)

• DOD needs to rebuild and sustain its prepositioned equipment sets around the world to ensure that it can meet equipment requirements for sustaining current operations and meeting future contingencies.

  Highlights of GAO-09-147R (PDF)

• The Army needs to develop a results-oriented plan, that better links funding to results; complete a plan for developing doctrine for its modular forces; and better assess the effectiveness of modular forces with authorized levels of equipment and personnel.

  Highlights of GAO-09-131 (PDF)

• The Army needs to finalize an implementation plan and cost estimates for the transition of its reserve component to an operational force and to include such costs in its funding plans.

  Highlights of GAO-09-898 (PDF)

^ Back to topKey Reports

Reserve Forces

Reserve Forces

Operation Iraqi Freedom

Military Readiness

Iraq and Afghanistan

More Reports