Objectives, Scope, and Methodology

We reviewed the lessons learned programs in the military services and the Joint Staff to determine their effectiveness in (1) collecting all significant lessons learned information, (2) analyzing lessons to identify recurring weaknesses, (3) disseminating lessons to all potential users, and (4) implementing corrective action and validating results. Most Services Do Not Perform Trend Analyses or Prioritize Recurring Deficiencies

The Marine Corps, the Air Force, the Navy, and the Joint Staff do not analyze their lessons learned information to identify trends in performance weaknesses. The Army has recently made excellent use of trend analyses. For example, the Army analyzed the extent of friendly fire incidents at its National Training Center from 1990 to 1993 and developed a corrective action plan to address this serious deficiency. Dissemination of Lessons Learned Information Is Generally Adequate

The Air Force does not disseminate lessons learned information to its units on a routine basis because it does not have a centralized lessons learned program. Services’ Use of Available Lessons Learned Information Is Limited

Regardless of the availability and widespread distribution of lessons learned information, most services have used this information only on a limited basis. The principal reason for not making greater use of the information is the lack of training in how to easily access the databases.
Why GAO Did This Study

GAO reviewed the effectiveness of the military's lessons learned programs in: (1) collecting all significant lessons learned information; (2) analyzing the information to identify recurring weaknesses; (3) disseminating the information to all potential users; and (4) implementing corrective actions and validating results.

What GAO Found

GAO found that the Marine Corps, the Air Force, and the Navy do not: (1) include all significant information from training exercises and operations in their lessons learned programs; and (2) analyze their lessons learned information to identify trends in performance weaknesses. In addition, GAO found that: (1) Marine Corps lessons learned data continue to highlight recurring deficiencies during major combined arms exercises in such areas as maneuver, fire support, engineering, chemical threat, intelligence, communications, and electronic countermeasures; (2) although the dissemination of lessons learned information is adequate, the Air Force does not make its information readily available to all potential users; (3) regardless of the availability and widespread distribution of lessons learned information, most services use this information on a limited basis because they lack the training in how to access the databases; and (4) the Army has made excellent use of trend analysis to develop a corrective action plan to address the highest priority areas.