Title: Military readiness
Description: Since 2000, the Navy has undertaken a number of initiatives to achieve greater efficiencies and reduce costs. For example, it has reduced crew sizes on some of its surface ships and has moved from instructor-led to more computer-based training. In House Report 111-166, which accompanied the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010, the House Armed Services Committee directed GAO to review the training, size, composition, and capabilities of the Navy's ship crews. This report assesses the extent to which the Navy (1) used valid assumptions and standards in determining crew sizes for cruisers and destroyers, and (2) has measured the impact of changes to its training programs, including on the time it takes personnel to achieve various qualifications. To do so, GAO analyzed Navy procedures for determining crew size compared to guidance, analyzed current Navy metrics to measure training impact, and interviewed relevant officials and conducted visits to 11 ships. What GAO Recommends GAO is recommending that the Navy validate the underlying assumptions and standards it uses to calculate workforce requirements, and as necessary, based on this assessment, reevaluate its cruiser and destroyer workload requirements. GAO is also recommending that the Navy develop additional metrics to measure the effectiveness of Navy training. DOD agreed with these recommendations.
Subjects: Operational readiness, Evaluation, Sailors, Training of, Measurement, Personnel management, Naval education, United States. Navy, United States
Places: United States