The Special Inspector General for Afghan Reconstruction recently released a 17 page report on the Pentagon's authorization of uniform purchases for the Afghan National Army, a purchase that would be logical...if the camouflage was not a woodland camouflage for use in a country where the majority of the country is primarily desert.
Worse, the purchase of the uniforms was made without conducting any formal testing or evaluation of the camouflage patterns for use in Afghanistan. A simple holistic risk assessment and test of the camouflage pattern in its intended environment could have saved the American government and taxpayers $28 million. As shown by this example, such tests may seem superfluous, but ultimately can assist stakeholders in minimizing waste while promoting efficient use of resources.