Defense Headquarters: DOD Needs to Periodically Review and Improve Visibility Of Combatant Commands' Resources

Abstract

To perform its missions around the world, DOD operates geographic combatant commands each with thousands of personnel. In response to direction from the congressional committees to review the resources of the combatant commands, GAO (1) identified the trends in the resources devoted to DOD s geographic combatant commands and their service component commands, and (2) assessed the extent that DOD has processes in place to manage and oversee the resources of the combatant commands. For this review, GAO obtained and analyzed data on resources, to include authorized positions and mission and headquarters-support costs, for five regional combatant commands and their service component commands, excluding U.S. Central Command. GAO also interviewed officials regarding commands manpower and personnel policies and procedures for reporting resources. GAO recommends DOD: require a periodic evaluation of the combatant commands size and structure; use existing systems to manage and track all assigned personnel; develop a process to gather information on authorized manpower and assigned personnel at the service component commands; and require information in the budget on authorized positions, full-time equivalents, and funding for each combatant command. DOD nonconcurred with GAO s first recommendation, but GAO believes it is still needed to add rigor to the manpower requirements process. DOD concurred with GAO s three other recommendations.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 01, 2013
Accession Number
ADA579991

Entities

People

  • Carol D. Petersen
  • Cynthia L. Grant
  • John H. Pendleton
  • John Van Schaik
  • Marie A. Mak
  • Meghan C. Perez
  • Oscar W. Mardis
  • Richard K. Geiger
  • Richard S. Powelson
  • Tobin J. Mcmurdie

Organizations

  • United States Government Accountability Office

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Combatant Commanders
  • Congress
  • Employment
  • Financial Management
  • Military Personnel
  • Military Science
  • National Security
  • Organizational Structure
  • Personnel Management
  • Unified Combatant Commands
  • United States
  • United States Africa Command
  • United States Central Command
  • United States European Command
  • United States Government
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Defense Acquisition Program Management
  • Government Contracting/Procurement.
  • Joint Military Operations and Doctrine.