Measuring the Performance of the Department of Defense in Counternarcotics Operations
Abstract
This study provides an analysis of the issue of measuring DOD's performance in counternarcotics operations and offers some insights with which to work toward answering these pressing questions. Since the late 1980's the Department of Defense has been directly involved in supporting the Drug Law Enforcement Agencies (DLEA) in counternarcotics operations. Congress mandated that the Department of Defense take a lead role in monitoring the air and sea trafficking of illegal drugs entering the United States. DOD has received increasing demands from Congress to become more involved in the war on drugs along with increasing annual budget appropriations. The Secretary of Defense has issued broad guidance to the services to stress the high priority he has given the counternarcotics mission. With the emphasis that is now being placed on the counternarcotics challenge, there should be an assessment mechanism in place in order to ascertain the impact of the military's involvement on the drug war. The measurement of DOD's involvement poses some challenging questions given its support role to the Drug Law Enforcement Agencies. What performance criteria are used, when and how they are measured, and who is responsible for measuring performance are all tough questions for which there are no clear answers. The study concludes by suggesting that the military be measured against the achievement of their own objectives as found in their plans and operations orders for supporting the war on drugs.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 09, 1991
- Accession Number
- ADA236898
Entities
People
- Raymond T. Burden
Organizations
- United States Army War College