OPTIMIZATION OF THE FORCE GENERATION PROCESS OF MARINE CORPS INFANTRY BATTALIONS

Abstract

The Marine Corps' Force Generation Process (FGP) requires multiple inputs to generate the combat forces necessary to accomplish the goals set in the National Defense Strategy (NDS). Current manpower assignment methods do not optimize the manning of Marine Corps infantry battalions to ensure maximum training readiness, manning, and deployability under the FGP. This thesis researches manpower trends, personnel timelines, deployment manpower levels, and unit deployment timelines of historical infantry battalion data from the Marine Corps Total Force Data Warehouse (TFDW). The Optimized Assignment Model (OAM), a mixed-integer linear program, optimizes manpower assignments in order to minimize the loss of available training days and improve unit manpower readiness timelines. Over a four-year time horizon, OAM improves the number of available training days for 28 of 31 rank and military occupational specialty (MOS) combinations, a median value of 44 additional days prior to deployment. Over the same horizon, OAM reduces the time required for infantry battalions to reach their deployable unit strength by nearly 85 days.