Changes in Sea Intensity Under Alternative Sea Manning Concepts

Alternative sea manning concepts (ASMCs), such as flexible deployment concepts, optimal manning, and rotational crewing, will modify not only the ratio of operational to nonoperational billets but also the amount and nature of actual sea time associated with being in an operational billet. In this document, we first define some of the relevant ASMCs and discuss what is known about how they will affect Sailors. In particular, we focus on the effect of ASMCs on how sea-intensive Sailors’ careers will be. We then look at past, current, and forecast sea/shore ratios to provide a baseline and see how this baseline compares with what we might expect under the ASMCs. Finally, we examine the extent to which the changes in Sailors’ careers might affect retention and the implications for compensation.