Tour lengths, permanent changes of station, and alternatives for savings and improved stability / Craig A. Bond [et al.]

Format:

Book

Government document

Author/Creator:

Bond, Craig A. (Craig Andrew), author.

Contributor:

National Defense Research Institute (U.S.), issuing body.

Rand Corporation, issuing body.

Series:

Research report (Rand Corporation)

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Deployment (Strategy)--Government policy--United States.

Deployment (Strategy).

Occupational mobility--United States.

Occupational mobility.

Employee retention--United States.

Employee retention.

United States--Armed Forces--Personnel management.

United States.

United States--Armed Forces--Officials and employees--Transfer.

United States--Armed Forces--Pay, allowances, etc.

United States. Department of Defense--Appropriations and expenditures.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (xxiv, 157 pages) : color charts.

Place of Publication:

Santa Monica, CA : RAND Corporation, 2016.

Summary:

"The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) moves about one-third of its military service members each year. This study was designed in part to support DoD in preparing a report for Congress on its permanent change of station (PCS) programs. It examined the workings of those programs with the goal of determining the potential for savings that could accrue from reducing the total number of PCS moves by increasing the average amount of time between them. The research covered current policies and programs, looking particularly at incentive programs designed to encourage service members to stay longer at their current stations. The authors collaborated with the Defense Manpower Data Center to develop survey questions designed to collect responses on individual propensities to extend tours and the factors that influence such decisions, with emphasis on overseas tours, which are the most expensive. The analysis suggests that a substantial fraction of those serving overseas would be willing to extend their tour of service if a sufficiently attractive incentive package were offered. The authors recommend implementation of an auction mechanism that would allow service members to bid for extensions to their current overseas tours. The estimated average annual savings could range from $19 million to $84 million"--Publisher's description.

Contents:

Introduction

Current Permanent Change of Station Policy and Programs to Increase Tour Lengths

Estimating the Supply of Voluntary Overseas Tour Extensions Without Incentives

Estimating the Supply of Voluntary Overseas Tour Extensions with Incentives

Implementing a Program to Extend Overseas Tours of Service

The Relationships Among Tour Lengths, Moves, and Costs

Conclusions and Recommendations.