Skip to main content

Department of the Army

Jump To:

Recent Reports

View More Reports

Open Recommendations (136 total)

Domestic Abuse: Actions Needed to Enhance DOD's Prevention, Response, and Oversight

GAO-21-289
Show
1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of the Army The Secretary of the Army should issue guidance, such as through updating its service FAP policy, to specify the risk assessment tools required to be used and the type of personnel responsible for implementing each tool. (Recommendation 17)
Open – Partially Addressed
The Army concurred with this recommendation, and in August 2021, stated that the Army will review and determine whether it needs to update its FAP policy to specify risk assessment tools and the personnel responsible to implement the tools. In February 2023, the Army provided documentation of guidance that states the Commander, U.S. Army Medical Command is responsible for directing all FAP chiefs to implement use of standardized risk assessment tools. To fully implement the recommendation, the Army will need to issue guidance that specifies the type of personnel responsible for implementing each required tool. As of April 16, 2024, the Army has not provided documentation that meets these requirements. We will continue to monitor the Army's efforts to address this recommendation and will update its status as more information becomes available.

Military Training: The Services Need to Ensure That All Commanders Are Prepared for Their Legal Responsibilities

GAO-21-338
Show
1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of the Army The Secretary of the Army should comprehensively assess the entire continuum of legal training provided to commanders throughout their careers to help ensure that they are receiving legal training at the time, in the amount, and on the mix of topics needed to prepare them for the legal responsibilities of their positions. (Recommendation 14)
Open – Partially Addressed
DOD partially concurred with this recommendation, but its proposed actions in response meet the intent of our recommendation. As of August 2021, Army officials stated that Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), supported by The Judge Advocate General's Legal Center and School, will compile a summary of all legal instruction provided in Professional Military Education courses and required command preparation courses. The Judge Advocate General (TJAG) will evaluate the timing, amount, and mix of topics to determine their appropriateness to the legal responsibilities of the level of command. TJAG will assist TRADOC to make appropriate updates to ensure the right topics are taught in the right amounts and that topics are taught consistently across all offerings of similar courses. The officials estimated that these actions would be completed in July 2022, to be implemented in fiscal year 2023. GAO followed up with DOD in June 2022, May 2023, and August 2023, but had not received an update as of September 2023. In February 2024, DOD noted that Army echelons at Brigade and above have significant training as noted in GAO's report and that such training continues. Further, DOD noted that Army TJAG is also pursuing an initiative from the People First Task Force to expand SOLO to Battalion Commanders and Command Sergeant Majors at Battalion and Brigade level and that the expansion will be piloted in FY25 as the Army seeks to build out funding for the initiative in the POM Cycle. To conduct the review of legal education for echelons below Battalion Command, DOD noted that Army TJAG invested in a dedicated Training Officer (O-4 Judge Advocate) who led a team that undertook a holistic review of legal training across the Army identifying several issues. According to the Army, that team found that training was not compliant with Article 137 of the UCMJ; that training neglected fundamental areas, particularly Investigations; there was limited synchronization with instruction provided at ROTC; and that lessons were generally not at the proper learning level with no vignettes or limited practical application. Further, Army TJAG directed that training aimed at eliminating bias be included where appropriate in consideration of the Independent Review Team on Racial Disparity in the Military Justice System. DOD also provided several slide decks for and summaries about legal training provided by the Army. The information that DOD provided demonstrates positive progress by the Army toward addressing GAO's recommendation. However, documentation of the Army's review and how it ensured that commanders are receiving legal training at the time, in the amount, and on the mix of topics needed to prepare them for the legal responsibilities of their positions was not provided and is needed to close the recommendation.

Small Business Research Programs: Agencies Should Further Improve Award Timeliness

GAO-22-104677
Show
1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of the Army The Secretary of the Army should evaluate the effectiveness of steps taken to improve SBIR award timeliness and take any necessary additional steps in order to consistently meet SBA award timeliness guidelines. (Recommendation 5)
Open – Partially Addressed
In its February 2022 letter responding to our report, DOD concurred with this recommendation. According to the letter, the Department of the Army was implementing several initiatives to improve SBIR award timeliness and meet all SBA award timeliness guidelines, including: establishing a centralized Army SBIR Contracting Center of Excellence (CCOE) for centralized execution of all SBIR awards; establishing simplified and streamlined proposal, review and contract package requirements to expedite awards; and leveraging all procurement flexibilities to improve SBIR award timeliness. The Army also provided the Memorandum of Understanding to establish the CCOE and other documentation stating that the CCOE was fully operational in March 2022--covering 80 percent of Army's SBIR awards with the intent to expand the coverage to the remainder of the Army's SBIR awards in fiscal year 2023. Additionally, the Army provided information stating that it had implemented a new proposal evaluation tool, which enables concurrent reviews. In December 2023, we obtained and analyzed publicly available Army SBIR award data for FY22. Our analysis indicated that the Army did not meet SBA's award timeliness guidelines in FY22. Further, in combination with prior fiscal years, the Army has not met SBA's timeliness guidelines in at least 3 of the preceding 5 years based on available data. Going forward, we will follow up to obtain data on Army's SBIR award timeliness in subsequent fiscal years to determine if actions the agency has taken have resulted in being able to consistently meet SBA's award timeliness guidelines.

Sexual Assault: DOD and Coast Guard Should Ensure Laws Are Implemented to Improve Oversight of Key Prevention and Response Efforts

GAO-22-103973
Show
1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of the Army The Secretary of the Army should ensure all required information is included in the annual reports. (Recommendation 2)
Open – Partially Addressed
The Department of Defense concurred with this recommendation in March 2022. As of August 2023, the department had updated its data call to the military services and National Guard Bureau for the Fiscal Year 2022 Annual Report Annual Report on Sexual Assault in the Military (published in April 2023). We reviewed this report and identified that it included some required information we identified as missing from prior reports. However, it did not include all required information. We will review the next annual report when it is published.

Sexual Harassment and Assault: The Army Should Take Steps to Enhance Program Oversight, Evaluate Effectiveness, and Identify Reporting Barriers

GAO-22-104673
Show
1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of the Army The Secretary of the Army should ensure that the Director of the Army SHARP Program publishes or directly links all relevant resources to assist commanders in implementing their SHARP programs in a single, easily accessible location, such as the SHARP Learning Portal, and comprehensively publicizes the list to commanders so that existing resources are readily available and easily accessible when needed. (Recommendation 4)
Open – Partially Addressed
The Army concurred with this recommendation. In December 2022, the Army requested closure of this recommendation as implemented. Specifically, the Army added a specific "Commanders Resources" page to the SHARP website which includes a number of relevant resources or links directly to such resources. Further, the Army stated that it would highlight these resources in all pre-command courses and utilize communication plans to ensure command teams are aware of these resources, but did not provide details or documentation of these communication plans. While the Army has taken steps to publish or directly link all relevant resources to assist commanders in implementing their SHARP programs on its new "Commanders Resources" page, it has not developed a plan to comprehensively publicize the page. In January 2024, the Army stated that it is working to develop a communication plan and expects to complete it by July 31, 2024. In order to implement this recommendation, the Army should develop and provide documentation of its plan to comprehensively publicize the "Commanders Resources" page. We will continue to monitor actions the Army has taken in response to this recommendation and will provide updated information as appropriate.

Army Modernization: Army Should Improve Use of Alternative Agreements and Approaches by Enhancing Oversight and Communication of Lessons Learned

GAO-21-8
Show
1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of the Army The Secretary of the Army should direct the Army Futures Command, in collaboration with the Army Contracting Command and the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology, to regularly analyze information on the use of prototype other transactions for Army modernization. (Recommendation 1)
Open – Partially Addressed
The Department of the Army concurred with this recommendation but, as of December 2023, has yet to fully demonstrate actions to implement it. In July 2022, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Procurement issued a memo stating that regular analysis of information on the use of prototype other transactions for Army modernization would improve the Army's practices, products, and services for the warfighter. In December 2023, an Army official confirmed that Army Futures Command is working with its Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) to identify an appropriate means to capture and track accurate and complete data on prototype other transactions. The official added that capturing complete data will require collaboration with Army Contracting Command and establishing best practices across organizations under Army Futures Command. Further, a December 2023 Army memo confirms planned actions to support implementation of this recommendation. Specifically, the memo states that the Army created a new acquisition advisor role at DEVCOM headquarters to provide guidance, oversight, and direct support for implementing, tracking and assessing the use of prototype other transactions, among other activities. The memo also states that Army DEVCOM has used recent investments in digital tools to create databases and generate a dashboard and reports that account for many--but not all--alternative agreements, which include prototype other transactions. The Army's actions have resulted in progress toward fully implementing this recommendation. However, until the Army institutes practices that facilitate regular, coordinated analyses of the department's distribution and trends involving its use prototype other transactions, the Army risks making modernization decisions using fragmented information.

Army Modernization: Army Should Improve Use of Alternative Agreements and Approaches by Enhancing Oversight and Communication of Lessons Learned

GAO-21-8
Show
1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of the Army The Secretary of the Army should direct the Army Futures Command, in collaboration with the Army Contracting Command, to regularly analyze information on the use of grants, cooperative agreements, research other transactions, technology investment agreements, partnership intermediary agreements, and cooperative research and development agreements for Army modernization. (Recommendation 2)
Open – Partially Addressed
The Department of the Army concurred with this recommendation but, as of July 2023, has yet to fully demonstrate actions to implement it. In July 2022, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Procurement issued a memo stating that regular analysis of information on the use of of grants, cooperative agreements, research other transactions, technology investment agreements, partnership intermediary agreements, and cooperative research and development agreements for Army modernization would improve the Army's practices, products, and services for the warfighter. The memo solicited support from the Commanding General of Army Contracting Command to formalize a team to lead efforts to implement this recommendation. In July 2023, an Army official stated that Army Futures Command is working with its Combat Capabilities Development Command to identify an appropriate means to capture and track accurate and complete data on the different types of agreements . The official added that capturing complete data will require collaboration with Army Contracting Command and establishing best practices across organizations under Army Futures Command.. We will continue to monitor the Army's efforts to establish a defined, repeatable process--which could include publishing policy or guidance--that demonstrates Army implementation of this recommendation.

Defense Health Care: Actions Needed to Define and Sustain Wartime Medical Skills for Enlisted Personnel

GAO-21-337
Show
1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of the Army The Secretary of the Army should develop annual retention goals, by skill level, for enlisted medical personnel. (Recommendation 24)
Open
The Army concurred with this recommendation and stated in November 2023 status update that implementing actions were underway, with an estimated completion date of March 31, 2024. We will update the status of this recommendation once we confirm what actions the Army has taken.

Sexual Harassment and Assault: The Army Should Take Steps to Enhance Program Oversight, Evaluate Effectiveness, and Identify Reporting Barriers

GAO-22-104673
Show
1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of the Army The Secretary of the Army should develop a suite of performance measures that measure the desired outcomes for the SHARP program and, at a minimum, are clearly defined, objective, balanced, and enable consistent tracking of program performance over time. (Recommendation 7)
Open
The Army concurred with this recommendation. In December 2022 the Army stated that it will work with the DOD Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office (SAPRO) and the Office for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ODEI) to develop standardized performance measures for the SHARP program. In January 2024, the Army stated that it is working in coordination with the office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness (USD(P&R)) to address this recommendation in connection with a related recommendation from the Independent Review Team Report on Sexual Assault in the Military (IRT), which directs the development and implementation of metrics related to sexual harassment and sexual assault as part of readiness tracking and reporting. DOD plans to implement this IRT recommendation, and by extension, our recommendation, in 2028. In order to implement this recommendation, the Army needs to develop a suite of performance measures, such as standardized performance measures developed in collaboration with SAPRO and ODEI, that measure the desired outcomes of the SHARP program and meet the requirements laid out in our recommendation. We will continue to monitor the Army's actions in response to this recommendation and will provide updated information as appropriate.

National Guard Helicopters: Additional Actions Needed to Prevent Accidents and Improve Safety

GAO-23-105219
Show
1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of the Army The Secretary of Army should ensure the Director of the Army National Guard assesses the resource and workload allocations of safety personnel to determine whether helicopter units are appropriately staffed, or if any adjustments are needed to workloads or resource levels to implement operational flight safety programs. (Recommendation 5)
Open
The Army concurred with this recommendation with comment. In a corrective action plan provided to us in February 2024, Army officials noted that they intend to perform a staffing-level study as there is not a recent, comprehensive study for staffing aviation flight facilities. The Army estimates that this study will be completed by the end of September 2028. By taking this action, the Army will have visibility on whether their aviation facilities are appropriately staffed and what an appropriate staffing level would be, which is in alignment with what GAO recommended in March 2023.
View More Recommendations

Related Pages