Comments on Navy's Manpower, Personnel, and Training Planning Process

GAO examined two Navy weapons systems to determine how and when the Navy developed manpower, personnel, and training (MPT) requirements and whether they influenced the systems' design or maintenance and operational concepts to minimize life cycle costs.

Because of the lack of available documentation and weapons system personnel changes, GAO was unable to determine the effectiveness of the Navy's past planning for these systems. However, the Navy has recognized these problems and is developing methodology to address them. The planned Military Manpower versus Hardware Procurement (HARDMAN) methodology is designed to help project managers analyze potential hardware/manpower trade-offs. In addition, the Navy has developed standard procedures to consider MPT implications during concept exploration. Therefore, the Navy should be able to identify MPT requirements before the development and validation phase of the weapons systems' acquisition process and consider how they affect supportability and life cycle costs. The Navy intends to pilot HARDMAN on six systems in fiscal year 1984. Given the Navy's efforts to improve MPT planning, GAO has deferred its evaluation and plans to monitor the HARDMAN progress and review its design and implementation after it has had time to influence planning. However, GAO found a continuing resistance to MPT planning among some Navy people responsible for systems development and related activities. In addition, many of the directives, instructions, and notices which govern Navy acquisitions and related MPT planning do not reflect current Department of Defense policy, procedures, and emphasis on MPT, while others are inconsistent.