Military Training: DOD's Annual Sustainable Ranges Report Addressed Statutory Reporting Requirements

Abstract : DOD relies on its training ranges within the United States and overseas to help prepare its forces for combat or complex missions around the globe. Section 366 of the Bob Stump National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2003 (as amended) ( the Act ) required DOD to submit a comprehensive plan on its efforts to address training constraints caused by limitations on the use of military lands, airspace, and marine areas available in the United States and overseas for training, and requires DOD to provide annual reports on its efforts to implement the plan and address training constraints. The Act also includes a provision for GAO to submit evaluations of DOD s reports to Congress within 90 days of receiving them from DOD. This is GAO s12th report evaluating DOD s annual report. GAO assessed the extent to which DOD s 2015 Sustainable Ranges Report met the statutory reporting requirements in that it described its progress in implementing its sustainable ranges plan and described any actions taken or to be taken in addressing training constraints caused by limitations on the use of military lands, marine areas, or airspace. To conduct this work, GAO compared DOD s 2015 report to statutory reporting requirements and interviewed cognizant DOD officials. GAO is not making recommendations in this report. DOD agreed with GAO s report.