Essay Sample on Weapon Systems Acquisitions

Introduction

Weapon acquisition program is probably one of the most extensive acquisition programs from the Department of Defense (D.o.D). Over the years it has received a lot of publicity due to the money both the government and non-governmental organization invest. This department to a great extent determines the success of the American army in any battle both local and international. It is also the department that gives hope into the future in cases where the unknown is to be expected. In the last decade, this department has undergone various reforms to improve how it is led and how the money that is invested in it. The reforms in this department are the focal point of the research.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Save 25%

In 2009, the Department of Defense came up with a reform report that featured eight areas to be reformed, the product Support Business Model, Industrial Integration strategy, Supply Chain Operational Strategies, Governance, Metrics, Operating and Support costs, Analytical tool and Human Capacity. An improvement of this eight areas meant easier and cheaper delivery of weapons that are required by the Department of Defense (Schwartz, 2010). This reforms would also influence the process of acquiring weapons which is usually in three forms planning and programming, budgeting, and execution.

On January 10th 2010, Department of Defense published an issue showing the updated version of the instructions Charter of the joint Requirement oversight Council together with Joint Capabilities integration and development system. On 19th January 2012, another issue on the manual for the Operation of the joint capabilities integration and development was issued out. The issue gave detailed information on how different department worked together to develop a stable system of operation. On November 26th of 2013, another updated report on the Operation of the Defense Acquisition System (5000.02) was issued out (Schwartz, 2010).This report showed the steps that defender department will be using to acquire weapons and how this weapon would be used in case of war.

The research also looks at the power the Department of Defense leaders have and to what extent can this power extend. The roles that each leader plays in acquiring the weapon and implementing the reforms have also been analyzed. The purpose of the legislation in propelling the changes in Weapon Accusation program is also viewed. In the year 2009, the house of Congress passed the Weapon System Acquisitions Reforms Act (S.454/P.L. 111-23) into law having been signed by the president (Schwartz, 2010). This act included the roles of the Secretary of Defense in providing guidance on cost and cost estimation.

Conclusion

Finally, the report looks at the role of Government Accountability Office in the Weapon Systems Acquisition reforms and reports. On July 27th, 2016 Government Accountability Office released a statement on the study they had carried out in the Department of Defense. The report included the reasons for the report to be carried out and the finding of the study. According to Government Accountability Office, the Secretary of Defense in October 2015 made changes that aimed to unify Space Leadership. According to Government Accountability Office, the Department of Defense has partially met the criteria by updating some policies that will enable better and more accessible outcome, and they have also assessed the acquired workforce. However, Government Accountability Office express has dough's whether the Department of Defense will fully implement this reforms since they have failed in the past to achieve some improvements that they had promised to the people and especially the military people of America.

Reference

Schwartz, M. (2010, April). Defense acquisitions: How DoD acquires weapon systems and recent efforts to reform the process. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS WASHINGTON DC CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE.