An analysis of the impact of fully funded graduate education on the retention of Naval Officers

Abstract

This thesis investigates the impact of "funded graduate education" on retention of Naval Officers. Logit regression and multivariate models were used to determine the effects that a graduate degree from the Naval Postgraduate School (fully funded) or civilian graduate schools through partially funded graduate programs had on officer retention. The data sets were created using data from the Officer Master Record Files (OMRF) obtained from the Defense Manpower Data Center, Monterey, California (DMDC). The data sets included all Naval Officers that were eligible for voluntary separation each year from 1992 to 1997. Maximum likelihood logit regression was used to estimate the probabilities that officers with graduate degrees earned from NPS or civilian institutions decide to leave the service at the end of any mandatory educational obligation. The findings revealed indicate that although funded graduate education may have an effect on promotion possibilities, its impact on retention past the ten-year point in an officer's career is not detectable.