Why GAO Did This Study DOD's three manufacturing arsenals provide manufacturing, supply, and technical support services for the military services and allies during national emergencies and contingency operations. The Fiscal Year 2014 NDAA required DOD to report to Congress on its arsenals and included a provision for GAO to review DOD's report. This report assesses (1) actions DOD has taken to assign work to the manufacturing arsenals to generate sufficient revenue to recover their operating expenses, (2) the extent to which DOD is strategically positioned to sustain the manufacturing arsenals' critical capabilities, and (3) the extent to which DOD's September 2014 report addresses statutory reporting elements and is consistent with relevant research presentation standards for a defense research study. To conduct this review, GAO analyzed documentation, visited the arsenals, and interviewed relevant DOD officials. GAO assessed DOD's September 2014 report against the statutory elements and generally accepted research standards.

DOD MANUFACTURING ARSENALS: Actions Needed to Identify and Sustain Critical Capabilities

With its large industrial base of ammunition plants and arsenals, the Army has more ordnance manufacturing capacity than it needs. This study proposes a strategic vision for this capacity and explores four options for managing it: privatization, creation of a federal government corporation, consolidation, and recapitalization on multifunction posts. It weighs the options from different perspectives, including feasibility, economic viability, and risk posed to national interests. ISBN: 0-8330-3322-0 Price: $30.00 Page count: 350

The U.S. Army has 3 gov¿t.-owned and operated manufacturing arsenals that it considers vital to DoD¿s industrial base because they provide products or services that are either unavailable from private industry or ensure a ready and controlled source of technical competence and resources in case of national defense emergencies. These are: Pine Bluff Arsenal, AR; Rock Island Arsenal, IL; and Watervliet Arsenal, NY. The Nat. Defense Authorization Act for FY 2001 authorized the Arsenal Support Program Initiative (ASPI), designed to help maintain the viability of the Army's manufacturing arsenals. This review determined the extent to which the Army has addressed the intended purposes set forth in the ASPI authorizing legislation. Charts and tables.

What does the future hold for the U.S> Amry's asrsenals and ammunition plants?