Force Structure: Assessments of Navy Reserve Manpower Requirements Need to Consider the Most Cost-effective Mix of Active and Reserve Manpower to Meet Mission Needs

The Navy articulated new procedures in Department of the Navy Instruction 1000.16K, which was approved in August 2007. This instruction includes guidance that the Navy consider cost-effectiveness in its total force manpower requirements determination. Specifically, the instruction states that a position is military when military provide a more cost effective source of support and that manpower requirements can be designated as contractor requirements unless military or civilian manpower can be demonstrated to be more cost effective. Further, the instruction states that total forces requirements shall reflect the appropriate mix of manpower consistent with applicable laws, policies, and regulations as articulated in DOD Instruction 1100.22 and Section 129a of US Code Title 10, which require the Secretary of Defense to use the least costly form of personnel, require workforce mix decisions to be fiscally informed, and require a manpower requirements report to provide complete justification for converting from one form of personnel to another.

Navy mission documents are derived from Navy Required Operational Capabilities/Projected Operating Environment documents, which are reviewed on a rotating two-year cycle. Navy shore manpower documents are derived from mission/task/function instructions, which are revalidated on a rotating three-year cycle. The Navy believes that this dynamic process provides the requisite level of periodicity for maintaining current, valid baseline information.