DOD System of Managing Physical Security at Military Bases

GAO discussed its followup work on the Department of Defense (DOD) system of managing physical security at U.S. military bases. Specifically, GAO reviewed DOD actions taken on recommendations contained in congressional and GAO reports. In many cases, the actions are in the planning stage or have not been fully implemented. The major actions taken by DOD are: (1) establishing a Joint Security Chiefs Council with responsibility for coordinating joint-service security and law enforcement matters, identifying common security problems, promoting consistency in the services' approaches to similar problems, and recommending solutions to these problems; (2) drafting a joint service directive which provides for uniform security procedures for base entry, aircraft, fuels, and communications and automatic data processing equipment; and (3) requesting the services to include manpower and physical security costs in their fiscal year 1983 and 1984 budget requests. DOD believes that its proposed actions, plus the existing physical security plans, programs, and procedures, will satisfy the intent of the congressional subcommittee's concerns. GAO believes that much remains to be done if physical security is to be accomplished in an effective and economical manner. The most important action that DOD needs to take is to expand its role in providing guidance and direction to the services and then following up to ensure that the services' physical security programs are effective, economical, and accomplish common objectives. The DOD effort to accumulate total physical security costs is also a positive step. However, DOD has not provided clear guidance and direction to the services on what costs should be included or excluded. GAO recommended that the services rejustify, substantially reduce, or eliminate what seem to be excessive personnel at several installations and unique equipment requirements.