Prepositioned stocks: inconsistencies in DODs annual report underscore the need for overarching strategic guidance and joint oversight report to Congressional committees.

''Why GAO Did This StudyDOD prepositions stocks such as combat vehicles and repair parts worth billions of dollars at strategic locations around the world. These assets are used to prepare forces quickly for conflicts when needed. Over the years, GAO has made recommendations for DOD to develop overarching strategic guidance and improve joint oversight of the military services’ prepositioning programs. Section 2229a of Title10 requires DOD to report annually on the status of its prepositioned stocks and for DOD’s report to include 12 specific elements—for example, the material condition of the equipment. The law also mandates that GAO review DOD’s report and provide any additional information to Congress that would be informative on issues relating to the status of prepositioned stocks. This is GAO’s sixth report, and it assessed the extent to which (1) DOD’s fiscal year 2012 prepositioning report addressed the 12 statutory reporting elements and (2) DOD has made progress in addressing GAO’s prior recommendations on department-wide strategic guidance and a coordinated joint-military service approach for managing prepositioning. To conduct this work, GAO analyzed DOD’s prepositioning report, reviewed DOD’s guidance, and interviewed officials.What GAO RecommendsGAO recommends that DOD develop guidance to ensure that it reports consistent information across the services and strengthens quality assurance procedures for its report''