Information informs army selections on the authorities degree. Now, the GAO says its oversight has been “hindered” by info that’s incomplete or unavailable.
WASHINGTON — A brand new report from the Authorities Accountability Workplace says extra (and higher) knowledge is required to make sure that the U.S. army’s elite warriors and taxpayers get essentially the most bang for his or her buck.
The dimensions of the nation’s particular operations forces, and the calls for upon them, have grown considerably since 9/11.
The variety of personnel that carry out the mission — to advance and defend U.S. nationwide safety pursuits — has elevated from a bit of over 45,000 folks in 2001 to just about 74,000 final 12 months.
The Division of Protection (DOD) collects and makes use of knowledge to supervise these forces whereas they’re deployed.
However, in accordance the GAO report, the data itself has issues, was incomplete or unavailable, and oversight of items has subsequently been “hindered.”
“They’re closely deployed and closely used and stretched to the restrict. So, each greenback and each particular person counts,” mentioned Cary Russell, a director within the GAO’s Protection Capabilities and Administration crew. “And, so it is crucial that the place these sources are positioned are completely the precise place and and in the correct quantity so that you just’re not over-extending or under-extending forces which are on the market.”
Russell mentioned it is pressing that the DOD will get this proper.
“It is everyone’s — the U.S. authorities and within the U.S. taxpayers’ — pursuits that these sources and capabilities be optimized and be put in the precise locations on the proper time to make sure profitable missions,” he mentioned, “and to make sure the outcomes our particular operators are working so onerous to advance.”
The GAO is looking for using normal terminology among the many branches’ completely different particular operations instructions and process forces, and institution a centralized knowledge assortment mechanism.
The DOD concurred with suggestions.
