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 1996-05-01 monographic deposited born digital 13 p. GA 1.13:T-NSIAD-96-154 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-T-NSIAD-96-154 P0b002ee18039be82 f:ns96154t DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-28 GAOREPORTS-T-NSIAD-96-154 machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-T-NSIAD-96-154 T-NSIAD-96-154 Chemical warfare Biological warfare Military training Combat readiness Medical equipment Defense capabilities Military operations Immunization services Military materiel Military research Persian Gulf War JCS Status of Resources and Training System DOD Biological Integrated Detection System DOD Automatic Chemical Agent Alarm Testimony NSIAD GAO discussed the capability of U.S. forces to fight and survive chemical and biological warfare. GAO noted that: (1) none of the Army's crisis-response or early-deployment units have complied with requirements for stocking equipment critical for fighting under chemical or biological warfare; (2) the Department of Defense (DOD) has established two joint service groups to prioritize chemical and biological defense research efforts, develop a modernization plan, and develop support plans; (3) although DOD has begun to field a biological agent detection system, it has not successfully fielded other needed equipment and systems to address critical battlefield deficiencies; (4) ground forces are inadequately trained to conduct critical tasks related to biological and chemical warfare, and there are serious weaknesses at all levels in chemical and biological defense skills; (5) medical units often lack the equipment and training needed to treat casualties resulting from chemical or biological contamination; (6) DOD has inadequate stocks of vaccines for known threat agents and not implemented the immunization policy established in 1993; and (7) the primary cause of these deficiencies is a lack of emphasis along the DOD command chain, with DOD focusing its efforts and resources on other priorities. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-T-NSIAD-96-154/html/GAOREPORTS-T-NSIAD-96-154.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-T-NSIAD-96-154/pdf/GAOREPORTS-T-NSIAD-96-154.pdf GAO/T-NSIAD-96-154 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-T-NSIAD-96-154 Testimony GAO/T-NSIAD-96-154; Chemical and Biological Defense: Emphasis Remains Insufficient to Resolve Continuing Problems; Chemical warfare Biological warfare Military training Combat readiness Medical equipment Defense capabilities Military operations Immunization services Military materiel Military research Persian Gulf War JCS Status of Resources and Training System DOD Biological Integrated Detection System DOD Automatic Chemical Agent Alarm Public Law 103-160