Massive volumes of 'lessons learned' not put to use.

• Author: Erwin, Sandra I.
• Position: Washington PULSE - Brief article

The Defense Department compiles huge databases of "lessons learned" from every military engagement. Enormous amounts of resources are spent collecting and archiving the data. For various reasons, however, Pentagon planners fail to apply past lessons in future contingencies--particularly in the area of "stability operations" and "interagency coordination," concluded the Government Accountability Office after a two-year investigation.

"Defense planners are not using lessons-learned information on a consistent basis as plans are developed or revised," a GAO study said. Among the reasons is that Joint Staff guidance does not specifically require that...