Opportunities Exist to Improve Future Comprehensive Master Plans for Changing U.S. Defense Infrastructure Overseas
Abstract
After the end of the Cold War and the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, the U.S. militarys overseas presence began to change. Force structure was reduced or relocated and the number of overseas military installations was decreased, often dramatically. Much of the Department of Defenses (DOD) remaining overseas infrastructureinstallations and facilities used to support U.S. forces overseasremained organized around Cold War strategic concepts, even though new threats, new deployment concepts, and new geopolitical realities have emerged. Recently, DODs Quadrennial Defense Review Report1 addressed, among other issues, further reorienting the U.S. military global posture. The report called for developing a permanent overseas basing system that provides U.S. forces greater flexibility in critical areas of the world, as well as providing temporary access to facilities in foreign countries. In 2004, President Bush announced what was described as the most comprehensive restructuring of U.S. military forces overseas since the end of the Korean War. Closely thereafter, DOD issued a report entitled Strengthening U.S. Global DefensePosture,2 also referred to as the integrated global presence and basing strategy, that outlined adjustments in the various theaters overseas. While the strategy is intended to enhance flexibility and achieve efficiencies, new facilities totaling billions of dollars will be required according to DOD plans.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 27, 2005
- Accession Number
- AD1177144
Entities
People
- Barry W. Holman
Organizations
- United States Government Accountability Office