A new Government Accountability Office report says the U.S. Army has been unable to track the assignment of uniformed personnel to duties previously performed by civilian or contractor employees.GAO said Monday it found the Army freed up soldiers during fiscal years 2013 and 2014 to serve as grounds maintenance personnel, lifeguards, gym attendants and other positions outside the service members’ occupational specialties.
However, the military branch did not implement a policy for commanders to document and report costs associated with the use of borrowed military manpower over the past two fiscal years, the report states.
The agency noted the Army needs to provide oversight of soldiers’ temporary civilian duties because borrowed military manpower assignments could affect its budgetary, training and readiness activities.
GAO also recommended that the military service develop guidelines and requirements to monitor the amount of time and money used when service members perform civilian work.
