The  requirement that GAO evaluate the plans submitted pursuant to  subsections 366(a) and (b) within 90 days of receiving the report from  DOD has also been extended through fiscal year 2018. We found that the 2012  Sustainable Ranges Report met the annual statutory reporting  requirements for DOD to describe its progress in implementing its  sustainable ranges plan and any actions taken or to be taken in  addressing training constraints caused by limitations on the use of military  lands, marine areas, or airspace. In its 2012 report, DOD provided  updates to several elements of the plan required by the act to be included  in DOD’s original submission in 2004. DOD Met the Annual Reporting Requirements in Its 2013 Sustainable Ranges Report

The 2013 Sustainable Ranges Report met the annual statutory reporting  requirements for DOD to describe its progress in implementing its  sustainable ranges plan and any actions taken or to be taken in  addressing training constraints caused by limitations on the use of military  lands, marine areas, or airspace. These  elements include (1) proposals to enhance training range capabilities and  address any shortfalls, (2) goals and milestones for tracking progress  implementing DOD’s sustainment plan, and (3) projected funding  requirements for implementing planned actions, among others. In its 2013 report, DOD also reported on four  emerging challenges to training and its training ranges. All of the military services  reported that their range assessment data had not significantly changed  from the 2012 report. The elements of DOD’s 2013 Sustainable Ranges Report describe the  department’s progress in implementing its comprehensive plan and  addressing training constraints at its ranges, thus meeting the annual  reporting requirements of the act. DOD Has Implemented All Prior GAO Recommendations

DOD has implemented all of the 13 recommendations made by GAO  since 2004 for expanding and improving its reporting on sustainable  ranges. DOD subsequently addressed these 2  recommendations by developing and launching a range assessment  module within the Defense Readiness Reporting System. Additionally,  DOD created a range visibility tool within its range scheduler system to  enable a user to query and identify the availability of training ranges  across the Army, Marine Corps, and Navy. Future improvements include  plans to provide a link to the Air Force range scheduling system to  optimize utilization of training resources. In its written  comments, reproduced in appendix III, DOD stated that it agrees in  general with the report. Appendix I: Scope and Methodology

To determine whether the Department of Defense’s (DOD) 2013  Sustainable Ranges Report met the reporting requirements specified in  section 366(a) of the Bob Stump National Defense Authorization Act for  Fiscal Year 2003, as amended, we reviewed the report and compared it  with those requirements. We identified the actions DOD has taken to meet  these recommendations in its reporting submissions on sustainable  ranges. Military Training: DOD’s Report on the Sustainability of Training Ranges  Addresses Most of the Congressional Reporting Requirements and  Continues to Improve with Each Annual Update.
Why GAO Did This Study

As U.S. forces draw down from Afghanistan and home training is expanded, the competition for training ranges may also increase. Section 366 of the Bob Stump National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2003 (as amended) required DOD to submit a comprehensive plan to address training constraints caused by limitations on the use of military lands, marine areas, and airspace available in the United States and overseas for training, and provide annual progress reports on these efforts through 2018. The act also requires GAO to submit annual evaluations of DODs reports to Congress within 90 days of receiving them from DOD. In this report, GAO examined (1) whether DODs 2013 Sustainable Ranges Report met the legislative requirements; and (2) whether DOD acted on GAO previous recommendations to improve its submissions.
GAO is not making any recommendations in this report. In commenting on this report, DOD stated that it agrees in general with the report.

What GAO Found

The 2013 Sustainable Ranges Report of the Department of Defense (DOD) met the annual statutory reporting requirements for the department to describe its progress in implementing its sustainable ranges plan and any additional actions taken or planned for addressing training constraints caused by limitations on the use of military lands, marine areas, or airspace. DOD's 2013 report provides updates to several elements of the plan that the act required it to include in its annual progress reports, including (1) proposals to enhance training range capabilities and address any shortfalls; (2) goals and milestones for tracking progress in the implementation of its sustainment plan; and (3) projected funding requirements for each of the military services to implement their planned actions. DOD reported that there were no significant changes in range capability or encroachment since 2012. It identified emerging challenges to training range sustainability, and reported on actions being taken to mitigate them. It used goals and milestones in its progress updates, and reported its projected funding requirements for implementing planned actions. Together these elements describe DOD's progress in implementing its comprehensive plan and addressing training constraints at its ranges, thus meeting the annual reporting requirements of the act.
DOD has now implemented all prior GAO recommendations focused on meeting the requirements of the act and improving report submissions. GAO reported in 2012 that DOD had implemented all but 2 of 13 prior recommendations. DOD has subsequently addressed these 2 recommendations by developing and launching the range assessment module within the Defense Readiness Reporting System. Additionally, DOD created a range visibility tool within its range scheduler system to enable a user to query and identify the availability of training ranges across the Army, Marine Corps, and Navy to optimize utilization of training resources. Future improvements include plans to provide a link to the Air Force range scheduling system. Through the changes DOD has implemented in its annual reporting over the past several years, the department has continually improved reporting on the sustainability of its ranges.