Factors affecting chronically short military occupational skill (MOS) specialties in USMC Reserve Units

• Main Author: Cacciatore, Anthony J.
• Other Authors: Buttrey, Samuel E.
• Language: en_US
• Published: Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School 2013
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10945/26539

Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) manning levels within Selective Marine Corps Reserve (SMCR) units are of interest to the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) because of the impact shortages have on unit operational capabilities. The goals of this study are to: (1) identify chronically short MOSs in SMCR units; (2) explore demographic influences on SMCR manning levels; and (3) determine the influence of the Montgomery 61 Bill (MGIB) Stipend on SMCR enlistment. The study determines chronically short MOSs using data from the Defense Manpower Data Center and finds MOS shortages are not confined to any particular MOS or geographic region. Using Census Bureau demographic data, the study develops a regression tree to predict demographic influences on regional SMCR unit MOS fill rates. The study identifies several demographic factors correlating to MOS fill rates at the region and state level. Finally, the study compares SMCR unit personnel populations and determines that differences exist in several areas. The USMC should target monetary educational incentives at the RUC level while developing alternative recruitment incentives since educational incentives alone may not produce the desired recruitment in chronically short MOSs in every SMCR unit