Information warfare officer retention using a capabilities-based assessment to solve retention issues

Abstract

This thesis uses the Joint Capabilities Integration and Development System (JCIDS) Capabilities Based Assessment (CBA) in an attempt to provide both monetary and nonmonetary solutions to the problem of low retention rates among Naval Information Warfare Officers (IWOs) in pay grades O-4 and O-5. An initial Functional Area Analysis (FAA) looks at Critical Skills Retention Bonuses (CSRBs), military retention factors, and IW community manning data. A Functional Needs Analysis (FNA) looks into historical IW retention issues, and compares the pay of an IW officer to that of a civilian in an equivalent job. Retention issues are found by analyzing IW community-specific data from Defense Management Data Center (DMDC) from 1997 through 2007. Analysis shows that, overall, historical retention is low at both O-4 and O-5, and that prior enlisted status, rank, and source of commission all play a role in this poor retention rate. A Functional Solutions Analysis (FSA) recommends a monetary CSRB and nonmonetary solutions. To evaluate the effectiveness of these solutions, an IW retention survey was administered to Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) IWOs. This survey shows that, in addition to the monetary and nonmonetary solutions found in the FSA, the IW community might be able to improve retention further by focusing on improving IW leadership and community direction.