Army : What constitutes waste fraud and abuse?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 26 Mar 2021 21:18:35 -0400

Please direct me to any specific Army regulation that can define the terms of gross waste. The only thing I can seem to find information directly from the DOD hotline.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 26 at 2021 9:39 PM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 26 Mar 2021 21:39:15 -0400

The definitions:
Fraud is defined as the wrongful or criminal deception intended to result in financial or personal gain. Fraud includes false representation of fact, making false statements, or by concealment of information.

Waste is defined as the thoughtless or careless expenditure, mismanagement, or abuse of resources to the detriment (or potential detriment) of the U.S. government. Waste also includes incurring unnecessary costs resulting from inefficient or ineffective practices, systems, or controls.

Abuse is defined as excessive or improper use of a thing, or to use something in a manner contrary to the natural or legal rules for its use. Abuse can occur in financial or non-financial settings.

If by "gross waste" you were hoping to find a dollar amount threshold definition, there isn't one. If it is big enough that you think it might need to be reported, then it is already big enough to be reported.

If you witness it, and for some reason cannot report it to your chain of command, call the DoD hotline, or if you want, your closest IG, which is where the DoD hotline will likely direct your case anyway.

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Mar 26 at 2021 9:50 PM

CSM Charles Hayden — Fri, 26 Mar 2021 21:50:10 -0400

Putting twisted helicopter skids into the back of a truck a transporting them to a salvage yard for sale is theft. In CA, salvage yards won’t even pay you cash for scrap materials like brass, copper or large aluminum pieces. They make you wait for several days to be slow down the theft of copper wires and pipes.

Response by SSG Brian G. made Mar 26 at 2021 10:52 PM

SSG Brian G. — Fri, 26 Mar 2021 22:52:51 -0400

There is no regulation which defines what you are asking for. Those are what is assumed to be common sense that a person will consult a dictionary to look up the meaning. The Military does not put everything into regulations as that would make them more onerous than they already are.

I can give examples of each in military terms.

Waste - You go to the range and supply has signed out 100,000 rounds. Your unit only uses 75,000 for qualifying and the range NCO decides to just have the troops auto fire the remaining 25,000 rather than counting them and repacking them for return to the unit. Waste of ammunition.

Fraud - A repair is needed on a billet. An outside contract is let out for a construction group to come in. The repair plan calls for rebar of a specific diameter to be used and reinforced with rebar wire prior to pouring. The company uses a lesser diameter of rod and 1/3 of the ties required but bills as if they had used the specified amount. Fraud of funds.

Abuse - You take a company vehicle and use if for personal reasons. IE You use it to drive back and forth from home to work. As an NCO you take longer breaks than are prescribed, longer lunches. You continually use your subordinates to do your duties. IE you pull a SPC from your squad to pull your CQ. Abuse of power.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 27 at 2021 1:10 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 27 Mar 2021 01:10:28 -0400

There isn’t one.

Response by 1SG Russell S. made Mar 27 at 2021 8:43 AM

1SG Russell S. — Sat, 27 Mar 2021 08:43:25 -0400

The US budget...oh wait, we don’t have one...just continuing resolutions.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Mar 27 at 2021 8:15 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Sat, 27 Mar 2021 20:15:06 -0400

You are lucky. I will give you the Federal Fiscal Law perspective. Remember PTA:

- Purpose: Is it a legitmate purchase? A general asked for a runway to be built at his base and was denied. He had a very long and wide sidewalk built in the middle of a field which he used as a runway. This was not a letigimate expenditure and he was booted out of the military.

- Amount: Is the amount appropriate? Ordering $900 hammers is illegal.

- Time: This is where Trump ran afoul with Fiscal Law. He had no authority to delay funds to Ukraine nor eliminate funds. Current funds should not be used for purchases for the next fiscal year. The government and the military should make timely payments to prevent taking advantage of contractors.

Irony is I have degrees in Accounting and Finance but joined the army because I did not want to become a bean counter. I started in aviation then went to tanks. Guess what? They made me a budget officer! lol

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 2 at 2021 3:53 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 02 Apr 2021 03:53:10 -0400

I appreciate all the responses but from a legal stand point there has to be something in writing that defines this. Is it left up to commanders discretion? How does the IG, DOD, or COC delineate from a gross waste, negligence, mismanagement or just a mistake? I have seen a lot of waste over the past few years in the Army, most of it is acknowledged and swept under the rug.