Analyzing soldier in-processing at the United States Army Field Artillery Training Center through simulation

Abstract

Each year the United States Army in-processes thousands of new recruits at training centers. Variations in the number of recruits who arrive for in-processing, particularly surges during summer time, cause problems that ripple throughout the entire Army training base. This thesis gathers and analyzes historical recruit and in-processing data for one Army training base: Fort Sill, Oklahoma. The recruit reception process is modeled as a network flow problem and analyzed through the use of computer simulation. Analysis of the problem using the model compares the status quo to various options for improving recruit "throughput." Policy options are explored on a cost and benefit basis. Recommendations improve reception battalion "throughput" by making better use of existing resources, and establish guidelines for allocating additional resources, thus contributing to solving a significant scheduling problem for the Army Training Centers.