Outsourcing in the U.S. Army

by Karen L. Nigara

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Synopsis

For my thesis I studied government A-76 studies and outsourcing in general. Specifically my goal was to determine the efficiency resulting from these often timely and intensive studies. To do this I first looked at several functional areas to include Army Depot level maintenance, Training and Professional Development, family housing or the Residential Communities Initiative, and the Logistics Civil Augmentation program. I then looked at specific installation A-76 studies for three installations, FT Belvoir, Virginia, Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Maryland, and Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania. My intent was to study a variety of different cases with different circumstances to include those in which the government operation presided and those in which a contract was awarded.

The data gathered is actual data from public documents and numerous interviews with staff officials involved in the A-76 process.

In addition I researched the congruent A-76 programs of the other Department of Defense services, the Navy, Air Force and Marines. This study is intended to serve as a comparative analysis to the U.S. Army program and provide a basis for comparison and evaluation of progress.

I concluded that the in most cases, actual process of A-76 itself fostered efficiency either in the actual downsizing of government employees or in the increased efficiency of existing work forces due primarily to the detailed study of the work force and its work load. Staffs that did a good job in the A-76 study worked towards a leaner and more efficient staff focused on mission essential tasks. The end result, doing the essential elements of work required with the appropriate staff did save the government dollars with the added benefit of increased efficiency.