This report focuses primarily on ranges used for  training purposes. Degraded Conditions at Military Training Ranges Adversely Affect Training Activities

Our visits to eight training ranges, along with DOD’s own assessments,  show that military training ranges have been generally deteriorating over  time and lack modernized capabilities. These degraded conditions have  adversely affected training, placed the services at risk of not meeting  DOD’s transformation goals, and jeopardized the safety of military  personnel who use the ranges. Without adequately maintained and  modernized ranges, the department not only compromises the opportunity  to achieve its training transformation goal of sustainable and capable  training ranges but also assumes the risk that its forces will be less  prepared for its missions and subjected to safety hazards. 1). 2). Also, its  communication system is inadequate. Various Factors Affect DOD’s Progress in Improving Training Range Conditions

While OSD and the military services have undertaken a number of  management actions that could improve the conditions of their training  ranges, progress in overall improvements has been limited, due in part to  the lack of a comprehensive approach to manage their training ranges. Also, both the DOD-wide and Navy headquarters-level sustainable  range working groups are primarily focused on encroachment issues and  not on other issues that impact ranges and training, such as maintenance  and modernization. DOD reports and officials identified the following  as factors in the funding shortages:    Training ranges typically have a lower funding priority than many other  installation activities. OSD and the Services Have Not Fully Implemented Previously Recommended Actions

Although policy, management guidance, reports, and plans have either  recommended or required specific actions, OSD and the services have not  fully implemented these previously recommended actions. Conclusions

DOD training ranges are important national assets that have not been  adequately maintained or modernized to meet today’s needs. DOD needs to ensure  that OSD’s comprehensive strategic plan, the services’ implementation  plans, DOD’s training transformation plan, DOD policies, and identified  recommendations include all relevant officials, clearly define their roles  and responsibilities, comprehensively address all sustainability issues,  including the maintenance and modernization of military training ranges,  and are fully implemented to ensure the long-term viability of these  national assets. A variety of  factors, such as ranges having a lower priority in funding, contributes to or  exacerbates funding limitations. Defined training range requirements and a systematic process to  annually assess the conditions of training ranges and their consequent  impact on training, including whether the ranges are able to meet the  specific training requirements of the service and combatant  commanders. Forces  for Combat in Urban Areas.
Why GAO Did This Study

Military training ranges are important national assets and play a critical role in preparing military forces for their wartime mission. The Department of Defense (DOD) has reported for years that it faces increasing difficulties in carrying out realistic training at its ranges due to various constraints. While encroachment issues have had high visibility within DOD and the Congress, much less attention has been given to the overall conditions of training ranges, which can also have an adverse impact on training activities. This report, prepared under the Comptroller General's authority, discusses (1) the condition of military training ranges and their impact on training activities, and (2) what factors are affecting DOD's progress in improving training range conditions.

What GAO Found

GAO's visits to eight training ranges, along with DOD's own assessments show that ranges are deteriorating and lack modernization. This adversely affects training activities and jeopardizes the safety of military personnel. To ensure readiness, servicemembers must have access to capable ranges--a key DOD transformation goal--that enables them to develop and maintain skills for wartime missions. However, GAO observed various degraded conditions at each training range visited, such as malfunctioning communication systems, impassable tank trails, overgrown areas, and outdated training areas and targets. Whenever possible, the services work around these conditions by modifying the timing, tempo, or location of training, but officials have expressed concern that workarounds are becoming increasingly difficult and costly and that they compromise the realism essential to effective training. Without adequate ranges, DOD compromises the opportunity to achieve its transformation goal and assumes the risk that its forces will be less prepared for missions and subjected to hazards. DOD's progress in improving training range conditions has been limited and is partially attributable to a lack of a comprehensive approach to ensure that ranges provide the proper setting for effectively preparing its forces for warfare. First, while the services have individually taken a varying number of key management improvement actions, such as developing range sustainment policies, these actions lack consistency across DOD or focus primarily on encroachment without including commensurate efforts on other issues, such as maintenance and modernization. Second, even though the services cannot precisely identify the funding required and used for their ranges, identified range requirements have historically been inadequately funded, as evidenced by conditions GAO saw, and inadequately addressed. Service officials identified a variety of factors that have exacerbated funding limitations, such as ranges having a lower priority in funding decisions. Third, although DOD policy, reports, and plans have either recommended or required specific actions, DOD has not fully implemented such actions.