Analysis of Alternative Requisition Cycle Lengths

摘要

The objective of this study is to analyze the potential impacts of implementing alternative requisition cycle lengths in enlisted distribution. The analysis in this paper is based on solving 288 optimization problems using the Assignment Policy Management System (APMS) to test three different durations of the requisition cycle (i.e., 1-month, 2-month, & 3-month). The simulation uses Navy personnel and requisition data, which spans a 9-month period from April 2002 to December 2002 and records results for six Navy metrics, or measures of effectiveness (MOEs). The analysis showed that certain MOEs, such as Permanent Change of Station (PCS) costs, Navy Enlisted Classification (NEC) reutilization, and number of assignments made were substantially improved by extending the requisition cycle length. As expected, additional increases in requisition cycle length appear to decline as the requisition cycle length increases. Requisition cycle lengths longer than three months may generate only modest additional benefits. The conclusion from the research is that the Navy should consider extending the requisition cycle and changing from a sequential to a batch approach in making enlisted assignments.