DoD Force Mix Issues: Greater Reliance on Civilians in Support Roles Could Provide Significant Benefits

Abstract

As the Department of Defense (DoD) continues to downsize its work forces, DoD officials increasingly express concern for maintaining high operational requirements. Using civilians in support positions has been cited as a cost-effective way to help ensure that the best use is made of military personnel. At the request of the Chairman, Subcommittee on Readiness, House Armed Services Committee, GAO examined DoD's guidance and decision-making processes, for determining whether to use civilians or uniformed personnel. Specifically, GAO examined (1) DoD and the military services' effort to replace military personnel in support positions with civilian employees and (2) the adequacy of planning for the future use of civilian employees and contractor personnel to support military operations in combat areas. GAO also followed up on actions taken to correct problems identified after DoD and the services assessed civilian deployments to the Persian Gulf War.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 01, 1994
Accession Number
ADA285824

Entities

Organizations

  • United States Government Accountability Office

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Human Systems
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Administrative Personnel
  • Civilian Personnel
  • Combat Areas
  • Combat Forces
  • Contingency Operations (Military)
  • Data Processing
  • Employment
  • Enlisted Personnel
  • Logistics
  • Medical Personnel
  • Military Operations
  • Military Personnel
  • Military Science
  • National Security
  • Personnel Management
  • United States
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Defense Acquisition Program Management
  • Personnel Management and Statistics in the Military and Department of Defense