Analysis of the Relationship between Operations and Maintenance Support toManpower and Military Manpower Levels

摘要

The Operations and Maintenance (OM) Appropriations of the military servicesprovide resources for a wide variety of programs, including manpower support programs. It is assumed that some relationship exists between changes in manpower levels and OM funding, often referred to as the OM support tail. This research examined the OM, Navy and OM, Marine Corps appropriations to identify programs which provide funding that supports the general active duty population of the Navy and Marine Corps. A framework to be used in calculating the OM support tail that accompanies manpower adjustments was developed. It was determined that the OM support tail was small and specific to certain manpower support programs. Many OM manpower support costs will not change until force structure and infrastructure changes take place. It is concluded that OM adjustments based on changes to manpower should be targeted only at specific programs whose costs vary with the manpower level. Otherwise, OM reductions are essentially horizontal adjustments which have the potential to either under or overfund other OM programs. Operations and maintenance appropriation, Operations and maintenance support tail , Manpower support funding.