United States Transportation Command Compliance with DoD Policy on the Use of Commercial Sealift

OBJECTIVE: We initiated this audit in response to allegations made to the Defense Hotline. The overall objective of the audit was to determine whether USTRANSCOM was complying with DoD policies in the use of commercial transport during wartime and whether those policies provide optimal and cost-effective logistics to the warfighter. Specifically, we reviewed allegations regarding USTRANSCOM use of commercial sealift services to transport equipment for the 25th Infantry Division (ID) in support of a training exercise at the National Training Center (NTC), Fort Irwin, California. BACKGROUND. USTRANSCOM provides transportation, sustainment, and distribution to our nation's warfighters. The command has the authority to establish a contracting activity to procure commercial transportation services. Our review focused on two USTRANSCOM component commands: the Navy Military Sealift Command (MSC), Washington, D.C.; and the Army Surface Deployment and Distribution Command (SDDC), Alexandria, Virginia. MSC and SDDC use commercial and Government-owned ships to provide global transportation for troops and equipment.