Rebalancing Retention: Organizational Solutions for the Marine Corps Career Planning Program

Abstract

This thesis investigates the structural and organizational challenges facing Marine Corps Career Counselors and the Career Planning Program amid increasing enlisted retention demands following the publication of Talent Management 2030. Using a grounded analysis approach, the research analyzes data from 25 in-depth interviews conducted with active-duty Career Counselors across multiple billet types to identify key drivers of performance and systemic barriers within the Career Planning Program. This research informs the development of the Human Performance Drivers framework with two core dimensions: Workload Management and Resource Allocation, and a Systematic Approach to Retention. The analysis findings reveal a disconnect between growing performance expectations and available institutional support, including staffing, training, and administrative resources. To identify actionable recommendations, the thesis conducts a comparative case analysis of the Marine Corps’ recruiting and retention structures, highlighting transferable practices from Marine Corps Recruiting Command that may enhance the Career Planning Program.