In recognizing the extent of DOD’s corrosion problem, Congress enacted  legislation as part of the Bob Stump National Defense Authorization Act  for Fiscal Year 2003 that directed the Secretary of Defense to designate an  officer or organization to be responsible for the prevention and mitigation  of corrosion of military equipment and infrastructure. These initiatives are: (1) expansion of  the emphasis on corrosion prevention and mitigation within DOD to  include coverage of infrastructure; (2) application uniformly throughout  DOD of requirements and criteria for the testing and certification of new  corrosion-prevention technologies for equipment and infrastructure with  similar characteristics, similar missions, or similar operating  environments; (3) implementation of programs, including supporting  databases, to ensure that a focused and coordinated approach is taken  throughout DOD to collect, review, validate, and distribute information on  proven methods and products that are relevant to the prevention of  corrosion of military equipment and infrastructure; and (4) establishment  of a coordinated research and development program for the prevention  and mitigation of corrosion for new and existing military equipment and  infrastructure that includes a plan to transition new corrosion prevention  technologies into operational systems. Strategy Does Not Identify Specific Funding and Personnel Resources

While DOD’s corrosion strategy generally addresses the issue of funding,  it does not include any estimates of the specific dollar amounts that  are needed for its near- or long-term implementation. The officials said they expect to have firm estimates by December 2004. These estimates projected  that DOD and the military services would need a total of about $1.9 billion  in departmentwide corrosion prevention and mitigation resources for  fiscal years 2004 through 2009. In terms of personnel resources, the strategy generally provided an  assessment of the personnel necessary to manage the corrosion program  effectively in DOD and the services, but the strategy did not identify the  level of personnel resources needed to implement the strategy. Lack of Outcome-Based Performance Measures and Baseline Study Hamper Tracking Progress and Setting Priorities

While DOD’s corrosion strategy includes performance measures and  milestones, they are not the outcome-oriented metrics that are needed to  successfully monitor the department’s progress in mitigating corrosion  and its impacts. However, while the long-term strategy acknowledges the critical  importance of developing a baseline of corrosion costs, including those  related to safety and readiness, DOD does not plan to complete such a  baseline until 2011. While the strategy contains a policy memorandum that sets up a review  process for corrosion-related issues for major weapon systems programs  (e.g., Joint Strike Fighter), it does not extend this review to non-major  weapon systems (e.g., Torpedo Defense System Program) and  infrastructure programs. In addition, DOD’s new corrosion strategy does not include any corrosion  planning or review requirements for the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff’s  Focused Logistics Capabilities Board. However,  because the strategy falls short of providing the basic elements of an  effective management plan, DOD’s ability to implement it successfully  remains at risk. We are recommending that the  Secretary of Defense instruct the Undersecretary of Defense for  Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, in consultation with the DOD  Comptroller, take the following actions:    Establish a date to complete the corrosion baseline study well before its  original estimated completion date of 2011 in order that cost-effective  resource priorities and results-oriented performance measures can be  established to monitor progress in reducing corrosion and its impacts on  equipment and infrastructure;    Establish a funding mechanism to implement the corrosion strategy that  would be consistent with the strategy’s long-term focus; and    Submit to Congress, as part of the fiscal year 2006 budget submission, a  report identifying the long-term funding and personnel resources needed  to implement the strategy, a status report of corrosion reduction projects  funded in fiscal year 2005, and the status of a baseline study.
Why GAO Did This Study

Each year, the Department of Defense (DOD) spends an estimated $20 billion to repair the damage to military equipment and infrastructure caused by corrosion. Furthermore, corrosion profoundly impacts military readiness as well as the safety of military personnel. In the Bob Stump National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2003, Congress directed that DOD develop a long-term corrosion strategy, including specific requirements, and that GAO assess it. DOD submitted its strategy in December 2003. This report assesses the potential of the corrosion strategy (in terms of three elements--resources, performance metrics, and policy guidance) to effectively prevent and mitigate corrosion and its effects on military equipment and infrastructure.

What GAO Found

While DOD's new long-term corrosion strategy generally addresses the requirements in the congressional mandate, it falls short of representing a comprehensive plan needed to implement successfully the strategy and manage DOD's extensive corrosion problems in the future. An effective, results-oriented strategy identifies resources required to achieve its goals and outcome-based performance metrics that can measure progress toward achieving those goals. Without addressing certain key elements, the strategy is unlikely to serve as an effective tool in preventing and mitigating corrosion and its effects on military equipment and infrastructure. These shortcomings could lead to the loss of billions of dollars in avoidable maintenance costs and the degradation of safety and readiness. GAO's review of three key elements showed the following. Funding and personnel resources--The strategy does not identify the level of funding and personnel resources needed to implement the corrosion reduction plan in the near- or long-term. Officials in DOD's corrosion office said that resource needs are still being determined and firm estimates should be available in December 2004. However, preliminary projections made by the corrosion task force indicated that the DOD-wide corrosion reduction program would require about $1.9 billion for fiscal years 2004 through 2009. DOD and the services, however, have not included any funds for fiscal year 2004 and less than 10 percent of the task force's fiscal year 2005 estimates. While the strategy calls for a mechanism that ensures sustained, long-term funding, DOD has been using a year-by-year funding approach. Performance measures and milestones--While the strategy includes some performance measures and milestones, they are not the resultsoriented metrics needed to successfully monitor the program's progress. In addition, DOD does not plan to complete a critically needed, corrosion cost baseline study until 2011 because of limited funding. Without results-oriented metrics and a baseline, DOD will not be in a sound position to establish cost-effective resource priorities or monitor progress toward corrosion reduction. Policy guidance--While the strategy strengthens DOD's policy guidance on corrosion prevention and mitigation, improvements can be made. The new guidance establishes a review process for corrosion prevention plans for major weapon systems programs, such as the Joint Strike Fighter. However, the guidance does not extend the review to non-major weapons systems and infrastructure programs, which are under the purview of the military services. The guidance also does not require the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff's Focused Logistics Functional Capabilities Review to consider corrosion prevention planning when it reviews project requirements.