Crafting a New Career Development Path by Adding Increased Emphasis on Operational Tours for Navy Supply Corps Officers at Naval Postgraduate School

Abstract

The Navy Supply Corps Office of Personnel (OP) issued a new policy emphasizing that O-4s complete an operational assignment or overseas tour during their time serving as an O-4. This change poses a challenge to career planning by Supply Officers, the nature of which has yet to be investigated. To this end, this research aims to analyze and critically evaluate perspectives of Supply Corps officers enrolled as students at NPS on career development–related issues. An independently developed, web-based, anonymous survey was disseminated to Supply Corps officers at NPS and analyzed through the lens of expectancy theory. The survey consisted of 23 closed-ended questions gauging career development perspectives related to the detailing process, promotion opportunities, incentives, retention, professional certifications, communication, and work-life balance. Forty-one NPS students returned the completed survey to the researchers, which represented a 60.29% response rate. Survey results suggest that operational emphasis could impact retention, family planning, lack of personnel to fill critical acquisition billets, and erosion of trust in leadership. Additionally, survey results identify retention bonuses, acquisition billet guarantee, geographic preference, and expansion of the Training with Industry program as possible incentives for O-4s to complete operational tours.