Military Personnel: Army Needs to Focus on Cost-Effective Use of Financial Incentives and Quality Standards in Managing Force Growth

To ease the pace of overseas deployments, the President announced a plan in 2007 to grow the Armys end strength by about 7 percent by 2013. GAO was asked to evaluate the Armys management of this growth. Specifically, GAO determined the extent to which the Army has 1 made progress in growing the force, 2 awarded cost-effective bonuses to attract and retain enlistees, 3 maintained the quality of its enlisted force, and 4 directed growth in its officer force to areas of need and determined whether trade-offs it has made to alleviate shortages will have long-term effects. GAO reviewed the Armys growth plans, bonuses, waivers, and officer promotions, and interviewed Defense and Army officials.