An exploratory cost analysis of Navy Recruiting stations

Abstract

In determining the most cost effective recruiting station locations, the military services must be able to identify station costs that vary by location as well as location-specific differences in production. This thesis is an exploratory analysis of station-level costs for Navy Recruiting stations. The thesis attempts to identify: (a) the relevant costs of Navy recruiting station location and realignments; (b)the effect of location and realignment decisions on these costs; and (c) who collects the relevant cost items. The thesis explores the feasibility of collecting the data necessary for a cost analysis of alternative station locations. Finally, the thesis aims to evaluate the feasibility of automating cost collection at the recruiting station level. To accomplish these goals the thesis reviews the Navy's responsibilities, policies, procedures and rationale in determining recruiting resource allocation decisions. The methodology relies on a review of the literature and personal interviews with individuals from Commander, Navy Recruiting Command, Navy Recruiting Areas, selected Navy Recruiting Districts and the Office of the Secretary of Defense's Joint Recruiting Facilities Committee. Two Navy Recruiting Districts are surveyed to collect cost data for a random group of their recruiting stations. These station costs are then matched with the facilities lease and contract cost data from the Army Corps of Engineers' Recruiting Facilities Management Information System and the vehicle cost data from the General Services Administration. An illustrative spreadsheet is constructed containing cost information for stations in NRD San Francisco. The spreadsheet provides cost-per-contract for these stations. Although the thesis was unable to conduct a full cost-effectiveness analysis, it proposes two i9-is)