Summary

GAO provided information on the U.S. military presence in North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Europe, as of September 30, 1987, focusing on the: (1) locations and missions of military and civilian personnel; and (2) annual budget authority provided and funds obligated.

GAO found that: (1) the U.S. military presence, assigned to 14 NATO countries, Greenland, and West Berlin, totalled about 723,000 personnel; (2) the Army was the largest Department of Defense (DOD) component in NATO Europe, accounting for 61 percent of U.S. military and civilian personnel; (3) the Air Force accounted for 28 percent of personnel, the Navy and Marine Corps accounted for 5 percent, and dependents schools, the Army and Air Force Exchange Service, and six defense agencies accounted for the remaining 5 percent; (4) military and civilian personnel dependents represented almost 40 percent of the total military presence; (5) since 1980, Air Force and Navy military resources have increased, while Army forces have remained relatively constant; and (6) during fiscal year 1987, DOD allocated about $8.2 billion in budget authority for programs to support U.S. personnel in NATO Europe.