Estimation of parametric length of service distributions of advancees of the Navy enlisted force

Abstract

A previous study, using regression analysis, established the relationship between the LOS distribution of advancements and the volume of advancements for three ratings of the Navy Enlisted Force. This relationship was the basis of a model to predict the number of advancements by LOS in future years. The present study used that (regression) model as a starting point to accomplish the same goal with a gamma distribution model appropriately parametrized to make it dependent on volume of advancements. The latter model appears nearly as accurate in its predictions as the regression model, while reducing the number of parameters from ninety-three to fifteen for each pay grade of each rating. The relationship between mean LOS and volume of advancements remains approximately the same as in the case of the regression model. (Author)