Until recently, the Army relied on contractors to maintain the 20-ton, eight-wheeled machines. Now it’s opening positions for enlisted Stryker mechanics so men and women in uniform can take more responsibility for the upkeep of the vehicles.
Such an original concept.
The Stryker was designed to have a company lock on maintenance and not just deliver a vehicle to the Army.
The Defense Department Inspector General published three audits of Stryker contracts since 2012 that suggested the Army did not create incentives to control costs for work on the infantry vehicles. The company’s last $1.6 billion maintenance contract reimbursed General Dynamics for its purchases of parts and provided a fixed fee in each year of the agreement.
In return, General Dynamics was expected to keep 90 percent of the Army’s almost 2,600 Strykers ready for deployments. The company exceeded that goal, typically hitting 96 percent.
Yet that focus encouraged General Dynamics to stock up on unnecessary inventory at taxpayers’ expense, according to the first audit of the company’s maintenance contract. The audit suggested the Army overspent by $335.9 million on the first five years of the deal.
Part of that sounds good. However keeping a polished turd at some made up 96 percent metric is of little use. The vehicle is dangerous in war.
But this is the model industry and those in uniform retiring via the revolving door want. It is a very special club to get into.
The U.S. Army doesn't really own the Stryker. It leases them.
Follow the money.
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IG- Stryker logistics mismanaged to the tune of $900M
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