United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 2001-07-27 monographic deposited born digital 33 p. GA 1.13:GAO-01-840 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-840 P0b002ee180379ddd f:d01840 DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-28 GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-840 machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-840 GAO-01-840 Combat readiness Marine Corps training Military aviation Naval training Munitions F-14 Aircraft F/A-18 Aircraft Maverick Missile AGM-65 Missile Hornet Aircraft Other Written Product A01489 Over the last several years senior Navy officials have testified before Congress about the effects of shortages in training resource on the readiness of aviation units. This report examines one of these resources--ordnance for air-to-ground training--to assess the potential for enhancing Navy and Marine Corps tactical aviation unit readiness by improving training ordnance management. The availability of Navy and Marine training ordnance depends on an accurate requirements determination process, a procurement program that supports identified needs, and an allocation process that puts the right amount of ordnance where it is needed for training. The Navy program has problems with all three of these elements. Neither the Navy nor Marine Corps provides request data that reflects the training needs identified in its training instruction. Although both services have linked their ordnance requirements to readiness in their training instructions, neither services' request indicates that its instruction serves as the basis for identifying its needs. There are many factors that impact each service's ability to fully execute its training plans. However, GAO believes each service has the knowledge and ability to develop more accurate and justifiable training ordnance requirements. Training ordnance shortages limit the amount of training and exercises aircrews can carry out and reportedly affect their proficiency in certain tasks. The shortages also extend the period of time where units are at lower readiness levels and force them to make a last-minute "rush" to achieve readiness just before deployment. This increases the risk that units may not be sufficiently prepared if they suddenly are needed for an unexpected deployment. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-840/html/GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-840.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-840/pdf/GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-840.pdf GAO-01-840 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-840 Other Written Product GAO-01-840; Military Readiness: Management of Naval Aviation Training Munitions Can Be Improved; Combat readiness Marine Corps training Military aviation Naval training Munitions F-14 Aircraft F/A-18 Aircraft Maverick Missile AGM-65 Missile Hornet Aircraft