A planning model for the optimum utilization of manpower resources

Abstract

This thesis demonstrates the feasibility of constructing a network flow model to represent the U.S. Navy officer system. This model consist of nodes connected by directed arcs which represent, respectively, career states and paths between these states. Flows moving over these arcs represent the movements of officers from state to state through time. A measure is developed which relates planning effectiveness to the dollar costs incurred by the Navy in recruiting, training, and maintaining officers. The network flow model is then equated to a linear program which can be solved for the dynamic flows of officers necessary to meet expected future requirements with maximum planning effectiveness. An example problem is hypothesized and solved to illustrate the technique. The author recommends that a small scale operational model be constructed to represent a segment of the Navy Officer Corps in order to better estimate the value of this approach to officer personnel planning in the Navy