Summary: To rapidly deploy its forces in wartime, the Army depends on the rail system to transport its equipment from installations to ports of embarkation. The rail facilities and loading operations at Army mobilization stations are therefore focal points for deployment, and they are expected to become increasingly critical as Army units in Germany, Korea, and other locations return to the United States. At the six mobilization stations GAO visited, the Army transported unit equipment to ports as scheduled during the 6-month period covered by Operation Desert Shield, but deteriorated rail facilities at some mobilization stations constrained loading operations. Future conflicts could easily require the deployment of even great numbers of U.S. forces during shorter periods of time. The Army began a program in fiscal year 1986 to repair rail facilities, but the effort's effectiveness has been severely hampered by program management problems. Also, the Pentagon and the Army have not corrected many deployment problems that GAO identified in 1987.
