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 2008-02-08 monographic deposited born digital 42 p. GA 1.13:GAO-08-370R https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-370R P0b002ee180372a72 f:d08370r DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-24 GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-370R machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-370R GAO-08-370R Civilian employees Cost effectiveness analysis Defense conversion Defense operations Health care personnel Military forces Military operations Military personnel Military policies Military procurement Strategic planning Defense Health Program Correspondence A80617

Since September 11, 2001, the high pace of military operations has placed significant stress on U.S. operating forces. In late 2003, the Department of Defense (DOD) reported that several studies had found that tens of thousands of military personnel were performing tasks that were not military essential and that these tasks could be performed more cost effectively by civilian or private-sector contract employees. To address this matter, DOD, in fiscal year 2004, began a multiyear initiative to convert military positions, including military health care positions, to federal civilian or contract positions. Within DOD, the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense, Personnel and Readiness (USD, P&R), has overall responsibility for issuing guidance on manpower management, which includes guidance related to determining the least costly mix of military, civilian, and contract personnel. Additionally, the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) (USD (C)) and the Director, Program Analysis and Evaluation (PA&E) play key roles in determining the costs of military, civilian, and contract personnel. For example, the USD(C) is responsible for developing the composite pay rates used in developing military and civilian personnel budgets and PA&E provides leadership in developing and promoting tools, data, and methods for analyzing allocation of resources. USD, P&R also has responsibility for the Defense Health Program, which provides health care to over 9 million beneficiaries--including military servicemembers and retirees and their families and survivors. This program had estimated costs of $21 billion for fiscal year 2007 and DOD officials anticipate further significant growth in these health care costs. In fact, the costs associated with the program have doubled since fiscal year 2000 due to factors such as increased enrollment, medical inflation, and implementation of the TRICARE for Life program. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-370R/html/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-370R.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-370R/pdf/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-370R.pdf GAO-08-370R https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-370R Correspondence GAO-08-370R; Military Personnel: Guidance Needed for Any Future Conversions of Military Medical Positions to Civilian Positions; Civilian employees Cost effectiveness analysis Defense conversion Defense operations Health care personnel Military forces Military operations Military personnel Military policies Military procurement Strategic planning Defense Health Program Title 10 Section 129cnote 10 U.S.C. 129cnote Title 31 Section 1105(a) 31 U.S.C. 1105(a) Volume 119 Page 3360 119 Stat. 3360 Public Law 109-163 Public Law 109-364 Public Law 110-181