Reserve Officers' Training Corps:
Questions Related to Organizational Restructuring
NSIAD-96-56: Published: Feb 6, 1996. Publicly Released: Feb 21, 1996.
- Full Report:
Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the proposed closing of Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) regional headquarters at Fort Knox, Kentucky, and the impact of ROTC restructuring at Fort Lewis, Washington, and Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
GAO found that: (1) because of questions relating to readiness, housing, and costs, the proposal to close the ROTC regional headquarters at Fort Knox has not been approved by the Army; (2) as a result, the regional headquarters remains open at Fort Knox and the summer camp operated at Fort Knox is expected to remain in place through fiscal year 1996 and possibly 1997; and (3) still unresolved are questions about the impact of the ROTC program on training and readiness of combat units stationed at certain bases that house and support ROTC summer camp programs, the adequacy and condition of housing at bases being considered for consolidation of the ROTC program, both on a short- and longer-term basis, and the costs to address the housing problem.
Recommendation for Executive Action
Status: Closed - Implemented
Comments: The Cadet Command at the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command has completed its long-range broad-based study of ROTC restructuring. The study recommended having a single advanced camp at Fort Lewis, Washington for the foreseeable future. The Army has decided that its advanced camp will remain at Fort Lewis for the foreseeable future and is considering converting excess buildings for this use rather than building new facilities.
Recommendation: The Secretary of the Army should direct that a broad-based assessment be made of ROTC restructuring to include readiness, housing, and cost issues to accommodate the long-term needs of ROTC within the context of the Army's total base structure.
Agency Affected: Department of Defense: Department of the Army