An Airman from the 73rd Special Operations Squadron marshals an AC-130J Ghostrider to its parking location after landing at Kadena Air Base on March 29, 2021. Regularly stationed at Hurlburt Field, Florida, this is the first time the updated J model of the AC-130 has landed or operated in Japan. (Capt. Renee Douglas/US Air Force)
WASHINGTON — The Pentagon has agreed with three Government Accountability Office (GAO) recommendations to help a civilian-led shop better oversee the acquisition of weapons for special operators, according to a new report.
In a GAO report released today, the office looked at collaboration between the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict (ASD(SO/LIC)) shop and the Special Operations Command (SOCOM) — the command for which the civilian shop oversees budgeting for acquisition programs.
“ASD(SO/LIC) cannot effectively conduct program oversight, in part, because DOD policy has not fully enabled it to perform its acquisition-related responsibilities,” GAO wrote.
For example, the government watchdog found “disagreement” between ASD(SO/LIC) and SOCOM officials on the level of access the civilian shop should have on some programs and meetings. As a result, sometimes ASD(SO/LIC) would not have the data necessary to carry out its responsibilities.
