Pursuit's Take
DOD has not established a strategic policy for retrograde and reset that is consistent with leading practices on sound strategic management planning.
GAO recommended in May 2016 that DOD develop and require the use of consistent information and descriptions of key terms regarding retrograde and reset in relevant policy and other guidance. However, descriptions of retrograde and reset still vary, and the services use the same terms differently. GAO continues to believe that if DOD does not ensure the use of consistent terms–especially retrograde and reset–and descriptions in policy and other departmental documents used to inform budget estimates on retrograde and reset, Congress may not receive the consistent and accurate information that it needs to make informed decisions concerning retrograde and reset.
The Army, Navy, and Air Force have not developed implementation plans. GAO recommended in its May 2016 report that the Secretaries of the Army, Navy, and Air Force develop service-specific implementation plans for retrograde and reset that incorporate elements of leading practices for sound strategic management planning. However, as of March 2017, the Army, Navy, and Air Force have not developed plans for the retrograde and reset of their equipment and do not have plans to do so, according to service officials. GAO continues to believe that Army, Navy, and Air Force service-specific implementation plans that articulate goals and strategies for retrograde and reset of equipment are important and reinforce the need for DOD to establish a strategic policy consistent with leading practices to guide and inform the services’ plans.
Read the full report