An analysis of surface warfare officer measures of effectiveness as related to commissioning source, undergraduate education, and navy training.

This thesis develops multivariate models to estimate the determinants of three measures of effectiveness for surface varfare officers (SWO): retention, promotion, and early professional qualifications. Using data from the Navy Officer Master File. NaN Officer Loss File, and Navy Personnel Research and Development Center's Traintrack System File. logit regression equations are employed to estimate the probability of SWO retention between the Lieutenant and Lieutenant Commander selection boards 1981-90), the probability of promotion to Lieutenant Commander (1985-90), and the probability of receiving early professional qualifications by the time of the Lieutenant selection boards (1981-85). The probabilities are modeled as a function of background factors that represent personal demographics, undergraduate education, Navy experience, and Navy training. The findings re.eal that a large portion of the variation in SWO measures of effectiveness reflect differences in human capital acquired via precommissioning education or via Navy training. Performance differences by commissioning source and college selectivity of undergraduate education are specifically highlighted. Based upon the research results, it is recommended that a cost-benefit analysis be conducted to determine the optimal officer accession source mix.