Military Ammunition in Europe

GAO reviewed the U.S. Army, Europe's (USAREUR) and the U.S. Air Forces in Europe's (USAFE) ammunition stockpiles, focusing on: (1) the status of U.S. ammunition return programs; and (2) USAREUR and USAFE inspection schedules and security and safety controls. GAO noted that: (1) USAREUR and USAFE have significantly reduced their ammunition storage sites and ammunition stockpiles as a result of the european theater drawdown; (2) USAREUR and USAFE plan to complete their ammunition return programs by the end of 1995 and 1996, respectively; (3) numerous organizations within USAREUR, USAFE, and the Department of Defense (DOD) provide ammunition oversight and control; (4) over the last 5 years, there have not been any major accidents or thefts at U.S. controlled sites; (5) although many facilities have reported problems with maintenance, quantity-distance requirements, and accountability, DOD does not view these problems as systemic and USAREUR and USAFE have developed systems to strengthen facility security and safety; (6) there was a significant ammunition inspection backlog at many USAREUR sites as a result of staffing cuts and diversions to ammunition return activities; (7) there was a ammunition maintenance backlog of about 72,000 staff-hours at the USAFE sites reviewed; (8) the operational status of USAREUR intrusion detection systems varied, but USAREUR officials believed that compensatory measures were sufficient until these systems could be modernized; and (9) although USAFE did not have an intrusion detection system at the site reviewed, USAFE officials expect to have a system installed by 1994.