Military Education: Implementation of Recommendations at the Industrial Collegeof the Armed Forces

摘要

In response to a request, the General Accounting Office has examined variousissues relating to the professional military education activities at the joint schools of the National Defense University located at Fort McNair in Washington, D.C. This report addresses the Industrial College of the Armed Forces' implementation of 41 recommendations contained in the April 1989 report of the Panel on Military Education. These recommendations were developed to assist the Department of Defense (DOD) in improving its professional military education programs for officers. This report is the last in a series addressing the nature and extent of actions DOD has taken to improve its officer education at the service and joint schools. (See Related GAO Products at the end of this report.) A primary objective of the Goldwater-Nichols Reorganization Act of 1986 was to strengthen combined and joint operations of the various military services. To fulfill this objective, the House Armed Services Committee established the Panel on Military Education in November 1987 to report its findings and recommendations regarding DOD's ability to develop joint specialty officers through its professional military education systems. The Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, established policies, programs, guidelines, and procedures concerning joint professional military education. In May 1990, he issued guidance in the Chairman's Memorandum 344-90, Military Education Policy Document. While Panel recommendations are advisory, military education institutions are required to incorporate the Chairman's guidance into their own education systems. The professional military education system of DOD is composed of eight service schools and three joint schools.