Alternative Surface Warfare Officer Career Paths and Their Potential for Reducing Permanent Change of Station Costs

摘要

This thesis presents and analyzes several alternative surface warfare officer (SWO) career paths. The paths are designed to reduce permanent change of station (PCS) costs by reducing the number of PCS moves in an officer's career while meeting sea billet requirements, minimizing turbulence within the SWO community and maintaining a viable career path for the officer. The reduction in the number of moves is primarily accomplished through the extension of tour lengths or greater use of homesteading. The analysis is accomplished on a personal computer with software constructed in an earlier Naval Postgraduate School thesis. The analysis is directed at determining feasibility of the career paths presented and where applicable identifies the number of PCS moves eliminated.