Trends in the enlisted force structure of the U.S. Navy, 1975- 1994

Abstract

This thesis examines the trends in the enlisted force structure utilizing the Years of Active Federal Service (YAFS) Report for fiscal years 1975 through 1994. The YAFS report, an annual matrix representing all nine enlisted paygrades by years of service, was used to determine characteristics of the hollow force of the 1970's, including continuation rates, aging of the force, and changes in the mix of career and noncareer personnel. Entry cohorts were created for each fiscal year. These cohort were tracked over time to portray trends in continuation, force mix and force aging. The results indicate that the YAFS report is an excellent tool to observe total force characteristics such as continuation behavior, aging of the force, and career mix issues however, more precise data are necessary to determine the specific characteristics of a hollow force.