United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office National Security and International Affairs Division author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 1999-06-16 monographic deposited born digital 34 p. GA 1.13:NSIAD-99-119 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-NSIAD-99-119 P0b002ee1803938dd f:ns99119 DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-24 GAOREPORTS-NSIAD-99-119 machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-NSIAD-99-119 NSIAD-99-119 Combat readiness Logistics Defense contingency planning Spare parts Defense capabilities Human resources utilization Equipment maintenance Equipment inventories Army supplies Reporting requirements DOD Unit Status and Identity Report DOD Status of Resources and Training System JCS National Military Strategy Letter Report NSIAD A123124 Members of Congress have raised concerns about the combat readiness of U.S. military forces because of reductions in force size and the expanding demands of peacekeeping and humanitarian assistance operations. GAO found that, although the details are classified, a high percentage of active duty Army units have the major equipment items they need to do their wartime jobs. Moreover, Army information shows that units are maintaining the bulk of their equipment in a fully mission-capable condition. Despite these positive indications of readiness, current readiness reporting systems are not comprehensive enough to reveal all readiness weaknesses. Two factors suggest that the Army could have difficulty sustaining equipment in the event of two nearly simultaneous wars. First, there is a significant shortage of maintenance personnel with the right skills and tenure. As a result, unit maintenance personnel are working longer and harder to keep equipment in a fully mission-capable condition. Second, Army officials are concerned that shortages of war reserve repair parts could seriously affect the operational availability of many of the Army's primary weapon systems. Army officials said that they have started to fund critical shortages. GAO makes recommendations to improve the reporting of (1) auxiliary equipment shortages in unit status reports and (2) equipment conditions in congressional readiness reports. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-NSIAD-99-119/html/GAOREPORTS-NSIAD-99-119.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-NSIAD-99-119/pdf/GAOREPORTS-NSIAD-99-119.pdf GAO/NSIAD-99-119 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-NSIAD-99-119 Letter Report GAO/NSIAD-99-119; Military Readiness: Readiness Reports Do Not Provide a; Combat readiness Logistics Defense contingency planning Spare parts Defense capabilities Human resources utilization Equipment maintenance Equipment inventories Army supplies Reporting requirements DOD Unit Status and Identity Report DOD Status of Resources and Training System JCS National Military Strategy