Surface Warfare junior officer separation: does ship type make a difference?

Abstract

This thesis examines the relationship between ship type and separation by Surface Warfare junior officers. The data used in this thesis were taken from the Navy's Officer Master Tapes (OMT), provided by the Center for Naval Analyses, and Officer Promotion History Data Files, collected by the Department of the Navy for all officers. A total of 8,260 officers who entered the Navy from 1976 to 1990 were analyzed by ship mission category; and an additional 2,125 officers who were screened for Lieutenant Commander from 1986- 1994 were analyzed by ship mission, ship class, and individual ship. The results revealed relatively higher separation rates among officers who were initially assigned to an aircraft carrier and disparities between the proportion of officers who attained career milestones (e.g., SWO qualification, Department Head Screen, and promotions). These factors, combined with personal characteristics (such as marital status and undergraduate performance) played a larger role in the separation decision than any one single factor. Specific recommendations for further research are provided.