Sizing and Organizing the Force to Meet National Security Demands

Ongoing combat and stability operations around the world have required significant numbers of ready forces, both active and reserve. Persistent high operational tempo has resulted in stress on military forces from multiple deployments, especially for some skills in high demand, and increased reliance on contractors for critical support activities. Moreover, the military is seeking to prevent conflict in other regions—such as creating a command to focus on Africa—and such efforts require significant interagency collaboration and an emphasis on different skills. At the same time, homeland defense and support for civil authorities have taken on new priority. While DOD has taken steps to meet short-term operational needs, it has not yet determined how it will meet the longer-term challenges of reassessing the size, composition, and organization of its total force to protect the country from current, emerging, and future conventional and unconventional security threats.

• The Army has changed the organization of its forces from divisions to modular brigade combat teams and is implementing a rotational readiness strategy to support persistent operations.

  Highlights of GAO-08-145 (PDF), Highlights of GAO-09-131 (PDF)

• Reserve component forces have taken on operational roles and experienced multiple deployments.

  Highlights of GAO-09-898 (PDF)

• DOD has established the Northern Command to conduct homeland defense and civil support missions in the United States —a shared responsibility of local, state, and federal agencies.

  Highlights of GAO-08-251 (PDF)

• Several factors have inhibited interagency collaboration for national security, including the lack of overarching strategies as well as structural and workforce issues.

  Highlights of GAO-09-904-SP (PDF)

• DOD's reliance on contractors to support ongoing operations has increased significantly.

  Highlights of GAO-08-436T (PDF), Highlights of GAO-09-362T (PDF)

^ Back to topWhat Needs to Be Done

• DOD needs to assess its requirements for the skills and personnel levels it will need to respond to new missions and changes in the defense strategy, as well as a range of potential missions in support of civilian authorities at home. Its assessment should include a detailed analysis of overall personnel levels and allocation of personnel among the services, the balance of active military and reserve forces, the appropriate role and level of contractor support, and the potential range of homeland defense and civil support missions.

  Highlights of GAO-05-200 (PDF), Highlights of GAO-08-572T (PDF), Highlights of GAO-08-251 (PDF)

• DOD needs to finalize policies and implement and processes for preparing and supporting reserve forces in their operational roles of support of large-scale, long term operations.

  Highlights of GAO-09-898 (PDF)

• Northern Command needs to work with other federal and state partners to formalize guidance and procedures—such as memorandums of understanding or charters—to help ensure interagency agreements can be relied on.

  Highlights of GAO-08-251 (PDF)

^ Back to topKey Reports

Reserve Forces

Homeland Defense

Homeland Defense

Force Structure

Defense Management

Defense Management

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