DOD Data Show Demographic and Deployment Characteristics of Hundreds of Thousands of Reservists Deployed in Support of GWOT

Our analysis of DOD data indicates that more than 531,000 reservists have  been mobilized in support of GWOT and more than 378,000 reservists, or  about 71 percent of the number mobilized, have been deployed in support  of GWOT through June 30, 2006 (see fig. The data also indicate that the vast majority of reservists  who deployed in support of GWOT were U.S. citizens, White, and male. Since  fiscal year 2003, the total number of mobilizations has declined, while the  number of deployments remained stable through fiscal year 2005. Our analysis of DOD data indicates that across the services, the majority  of reservists have been deployed once, and of those deployed in support of  GWOT, most—about 307,000 reservists, or 81 percent—have spent a year  or less deployed. Alternatively, more than 65,000 reservists, or 17 percent,  have spent more than 1 year but less than 2 years deployed, and about  6,000 reservists, or fewer than 2 percent, have spent more than 2 years  deployed. Further, about 90 percent of those  who responded identified themselves as non-Hispanic and 8 percent as  Hispanic (see table 3). Data for the Volunteer Status, Location Deployed, and Unit Deployed Variables Were Either Not Available or Not Reliable

We were unable to analyze the volunteer status variable because the data  do not exist for all of the reserve components. DMDC and the services, as required by DOD policy,  have taken steps to improve the reliability of the mobilization data;  however, more action is needed to improve the reliability of CTS data and  DMDC’s analyses of those data. For example, (1) the rebaselining effort  resulted in substantial changes being made to the mobilization data, and  the Army—which has mobilized and deployed the largest number of  reservists for GWOT—has not completed this rebaselining effort, which  the Joint Staff tasked DMDC and the services to do in November 2005;   (2) we identified data issues that DOD has not addressed that could  further improve the reliability of the data, such as standardizing the use of  key terms like deployment; and (3) DMDC does not have effective controls  for ensuring the accuracy of its data analyses used to produce reports as  required by federal government internal control standards. DMDC and the Services Are Updating the Mobilization Data in CTS, but Concerns Remain

We have found the deployment and mobilization data we used to be  sufficiently reliable for our purposes (that is, providing descriptive data),  and DMDC and the services have recently taken steps to improve the  reliability of mobilization data. However, additional steps are needed to  make mobilization data more reliable. Navy officials said that the Navy has  validated its personnel records and established a common baseline of data  with DMDC. DOD data analyses are important because decision makers at DOD and in  Congress need the data to make sound decisions about reserve force  availability, medical surveillance, and planning and budgeting. Further, DOD has not documented key procedures and  processes for verifying the data analyses it provides to its customers, thus  compromising its ability to ensure the accuracy, completeness, and  consistency of these analyses. Until decision makers in DOD and Congress  have accurate, complete, and consistent data and analyses, they will not be  in the best position to make informed decisions about the myriad of  reserve deployment matters. Appendix I: Scope and Methodology

Our objectives were to determine (1) what Department of Defense (DOD)  data indicate are the number of reservists mobilized and deployed in  support of the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT), and the selected  demographic and deployment characteristics of those deployed and   (2) whether DOD’s reserve deployment and mobilization data and analyses  are reliable. We then  worked with the Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC) to identify the  data fields within DMDC’s Contingency Tracking System (CTS) that best  provided information about the selected demographic and deployment  variables we wanted to analyze.
Why GAO Did This Study

GAO has previously reported on the Department of Defense's (DOD) ability to track reservists deployed to the theater of operations and made recommendations. Reliable mobilization and deployment data are critical for making decisions about reserve force availability and medical surveillance. Because of broad congressional interest, GAO initiated a review under the Comptroller General's authority to conduct evaluations on his own initiative to determine (1) what DOD data indicate are the number of reservists mobilized and deployed in support of the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT) and the selected demographic and deployment characteristics of those deployed and (2) whether DOD's reserve deployment and mobilization data and analyses are reliable. GAO analyzed data and data analyses from DOD's Contingency Tracking System (CTS) and interviewed agency officials.

What GAO Found

GAO's analysis of DOD data indicates that more than 531,000 reservists have been mobilized in support of GWOT as of June 30, 2006, and more than 378,000 reservists, or 71 percent of the number mobilized, have been deployed. The number of reservists deployed increased through fiscal year 2003 and remained stable through fiscal year 2005. The majority of reservists have been deployed once. GAO's analysis further indicates that of the more than 378,000 reservists who have deployed in support of GWOT, 81 percent have spent a year or less deployed and 17 percent of reservists have spent more than 1 year but less than 2 years deployed. Of those who deployed, almost 98 percent were U.S. citizens. Since GWOT began, about 78 percent of reservists who were deployed were White, about 14 percent were Black or African American, and almost 90 percent identified themselves as non-Hispanic and 8 percent as Hispanic. Of those who were deployed, 89 percent were male and 11 percent were female. There were three variables--volunteer status, location deployed, and unit deployed--required by DOD policy for which the Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC) could not provide data because the data either did not exist or were not reliable enough for the purposes of GAO's report. GAO found the deployment and mobilization data used to be reliable for providing descriptive information. However, the mobilization data, some deployment data fields, and DMDC's processes for data analyses need improvement. DMDC and the services have recently taken steps to improve the reliability of mobilization data; however, additional steps are needed to make mobilization data more reliable. DMDC and the services have undertaken a large-scale, challenging effort to replace all previous service-provided mobilization data in DMDC's CTS database with new data from the services, referred to as "rebaselining." To date, the Air Force has certified that it has rebaselined its data and Navy officials say they have validated their personnel files and established a common baseline of data with DMDC. The Army, which has mobilized the largest number of reservists, has not completed its rebaselining effort and has not set a deadline for completion. Also, DOD has not fully addressed other data issues that could affect the accuracy and completeness of the data, such as standardizing the use of key terms and ensuring that the services address data issues identified by DMDC as well as provide data for all required data fields, such as location, to DMDC. Also, because the data analyses DMDC provided had numerous errors, GAO questions the effectiveness of its verification procedures and other supporting procedures, all of which DMDC has not documented. Until DOD addresses data issues and DMDC documents the internal control procedures it uses to analyze data and verify its analyses of the data, the information provided to decision makers within Congress and DOD may be unreliable and decision makers will not be in the best position to make informed decisions about reserve force availability and reservists' exposure to health hazards.