Conclusions

Serious weaknesses exist in the Department’s policy and practices for developing core depot maintenance capabilities that are creating gaps between actual capabilities and those that will be needed to support future national defense emergencies and contingencies. If the existing policy is not clarified and current practices continue, the military depots will not have the equipment, facilities, and trained personnel to work on and provide related logistics support on many of the weapon systems and related equipment that will be used by the military in the next 5 to 15 years. While the Department states that it intends for its depots to have these capabilities, actual practices are much different. Core policy does not adequately take into consideration future systems repair needs and the impact of retiring systems on developing future capabilities. Also, other individual service practices negatively impact the establishment of future core capabilities and hinder management oversight. Additionally, investments in new facilities, equipment, and workforce training and revitalization have been limited for an extended period of time. Lastly, there is no strategic plan and associated service implementation plans to create and sustain a viable depot maintenance capability.
What GAO Found

The Department of Defense's (DOD) policy and practices for developing core depot maintenance capabilities are creating gaps between actual capabilities and those needed for future national defense emergencies and contingencies. If the existing policy is not clarified and current practices continue, the military depots will not have the equipment, facilities, and trained personnel to provide logistics support on many of the weapon systems and related equipment for military use in the next five to 15 years. Although DOD intends for its depots to have these capabilities, actual practices are much different. Core policy does not adequately take into consideration future systems repair needs and the impact of retiring systems on developing capabilities. Furthermore, the practices of individual services hinder the establishment of future core capabilities and management oversight. Additional investments in new facilities, equipment, and workforce training and revitalization have been limited for some time. Finally, there is no strategic plan and associated service implementation plans to create and sustain a viable depot maintenance capability.