In a win for unsuspected numeracy, the U.S. Marine Corps became the first branch of the military to pass a financial audit.
Drew F. Lawrence and Rachel Nostrant report for Military.com:
The Marine Corps this week became the first military branch ever to pass a complete financial audit, a Defense Department official confirmed Friday, having successfully accounted for more than $46.3 billion in assets and marking the end of a two-year effort.
Independent accountants contracted by the Defense Department issued an “unmodified opinion” on the Marine Corps’ fiscal 2023 financial statement, meaning the information given was as correct as can be proved, the service said.
In 2017, the Marine Corps became the first military service within the Defense Department to undergo a full financial audit, which at the time meant sifting through more than 4,300 sample items and 30,000 documents. Verifying similar items in a 2012 limited audit included a trip to Afghanistan. Ultimately, the service failed to pass either previous attempt.
There are a good many jokes to be made here (e.g., the audit requirement was to return all 64 crayon flavors to their box in order, or the devil dogs offered the auditors a lifetime supply of MRE jalapeño cheese spread to say things were square), but really, credit is due to the Corps for doing what the other services haven’t been able to accomplish. Between passing audits and maintaining standards and recruitment inputs, the Marines are leading in accountability and dependability. While the Corps may be in the midst of a fiery internal debate about what its force will look like in the next decade, it can nonetheless go to Congress and the American people with its funding requests having a feather in its garrison cap, because it alone can show where its gear is and how it’s used.