Executive Summary
This research examines the alignment of workload and maintenance manning in the U.S. Navy F/A-18C community, finding that squadrons are overworked ashore due to the Navy Standard at-sea workweek not accounting for leave. It suggests that workload is not constant across deployment cycles and proposes realigning sea and shore manning to balance workload and support Navy personnel initiatives.
Why It Matters
This document is crucial for defense analysts as it addresses critical issues in military readiness and personnel management, specifically how manpower allocation impacts the operational effectiveness and retention within a key naval aviation community. Understanding these dynamics can inform future force structure and policy decisions.
Key Takeaways
- Current Navy Standard at-sea Workweek leads to overworked squadrons ashore, as it doesn't account for earned leave, creating significant labor deficits.
- Workload for F/A-18C squadrons is not constant across deployment cycles, necessitating a more dynamic manning approach.
- Realigning sea and shore manpower requirements could balance workload, improve readiness, and support Navy personnel initiatives like retention and Sea Swap.
- The F/A-18C community benefits from retaining corporate knowledge, leading to reduced malfunctions and increased readiness.
Strategic Relevance
Optimizing maintenance manning directly impacts the readiness and operational tempo of critical naval aviation assets. Misaligned workload and manning can lead to personnel burnout, reduced retention, and decreased aircraft availability, directly affecting strategic projection and tactical capabilities. This research provides insights into improving these factors.