Army Needs Better Data To Develop Policies for Sole and Inservice Parents

As a result of congressional concern, GAO conducted a review of military policies for sole and inservice parents and the affect of such parents on the Army's ability to meet its mission. GAO tried to determine whether the Army has a valid basis for making policy decisions regarding sole and inservice parents.

GAO believes that restricting the enlistment, reenlistment, and assignment of all sole and inservice parents cannot be supported, because the Army lacks reliable data on which to base policy decisions. Some Army definitions of dependents of sole and inservice parents are not clear and do not distinguish between physical custody and legal custody, nor do they specify whether inservice parents include members of the Reserves. A GAO survey of firstline supervisors disclosed that, while the performance of sole and inservice parents differed somewhat when compared to other service members, most parents attended and performed work at least satisfactorily and would most likely be available and punctual in the event of war or a national emergency. Research shows that individuals recruited to replace sole and inservice parents would not be as qualified because the number of 18-year-olds and persons graduating from high school will be declining during the next 20 years. In addition, GAO has determined that the Army's Dependent Care Counseling Program, whose purpose is to ensure the deployability of sole and inservice parents, can be improved.

Recommendations

Our recommendations from this work are listed below with a Contact for more information. Status will change from "In process" to "Open," "Closed - implemented," or "Closed - not implemented" based on our follow up work.

Director: Kenneth J. Coffey Team: General Accounting Office: Federal Personnel and Compensation Division Phone: (202) 275-5140