DOD IG: Navy failed to fix Arleigh Burke-class maintenance deficiencies

While the Navy acknowledged training issues for Arleigh Burke-class destroyers during the vessels' maintenance cycles, the service failed to fix those problems, according to a recent Defense Department inspector general's report.

"Navy fleet commanders, type commanders, and unit commanding officers identified training deficiencies during the Arleigh Burke-class destroyers' [Optimized Fleet Response Plan] cycles, but did not address the identified deficiencies," the Jan. 31 declassified and redacted report reads.

The IG report said it assessed both vessel readiness waivers and readiness evaluations from August 2013 through August 2018 "for the most recently completed OFRP cycles of 12 of 64 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers."

The results, according to the report, found that training problems for the destroyers continued "because the Navy did not always complete training requirements in accordance with" the Surface Force Readiness Manual.

The IG suggested commanders of U.S. Fleet Forces and U.S. Pacific Fleet find out if any of the destroyers that are "deployed or in the sustainment phase of the OFRP have outstanding training deficiencies" and have the ships finish "any outstanding training requirements immediately or as soon as the mission allows."

The fleets in a combined response neither agreed nor disagreed with the IG's suggestions and said both deployed vessels and ships in the OFRP sustainment period are "fully certified."

"Although the Deputy Commander neither agreed nor disagreed with the recommendations, [their] comments addressed all specifics of the recommendations; therefore, the recommendations are resolved but will remain open," the IG wrote.

"We will close these recommendations after the Deputy Commander provides the methodology and supporting documentation used, including ships assessed and applicable certifications, to conclude that all Arleigh Burke-class destroyers currently deployed or in the sustainment phase are fully certified," the report continued.