A Method for Collectively Measuring the Operating Tempo of Individuals in Marine Corps Units -- Why and How
Abstract
During a conference of career planners at Headquarters Marine Corps in September of 1989, high operating tempo (OPTEMPO) was identified as one of the major problems effecting their ability to retain high quality first term enlisted Marines. In a related phenomenon, Marine Corps wide separation surveys have seen claims of too much Family Separation climb over the past two years to the number one cause for not reenlisting. A particularly disturbing trend is that this increased attrition because of high OPTEMPO applies to career Marines as much as first termers. As a truly expeditionary force, this is an elusive problem for the Marine Corps. Forward deployment is its stock and trade. To be prepared, units must be on the move. The Corps may, however, be approaching an OPTEMPO break-even point, beyond which the negatives outweigh the positives. There are many aspects to the high OPTEMPO dilemma. To quote the Commanding General of the Second Marine Division in a December 89 message to the Commanding General of Fleet Marine Forces Atlantic. The General's message clearly points out many harmful effects of a training tempo that is set too high. While there are a variety of statistics used to measure aspects, such as low equipment readiness or low training readiness, the impact on people is more difficult to analyze. Development of data about individual Marines begins when the unit commander provides input through the Unit Diary into the Marine Corps' Manpower Management System (MMS).
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 1990
- Accession Number
- ADA241099
Entities
People
- James L. Whitlow
Organizations
- Air War College