Research for USN

As part of CNA's self-initiated project to examine potential issues associated with the upcoming defense review, the Director, Plans, Policy and Operations suggested we examine direct threats to the continental United States and what the contribution of naval forces would be in the defense. The report concentrates on three possible missions or threats: sea control, national missile defense, and non-traditional missions such as cross-border flows. The effects, likelihood, source, difficulty and Navy response are discussed for each mission.

This paper examines the effectiveness of Voluntary Education (VOLED) Program, which provides off-duty educational opportunities integrating a variety of continuing education programs to Sailors seeking to enhance their professional and personal growth. VOLED comprises three major instructional elements: Tuition Assistance, the Program for Afloat College Education (PACE) and the Academic Skills Learning Centers (ASLCs). The analyses finds that college education through VOLED improves promotion prospects, helps Sailors retake the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) to qualify for Navy ratings for which they were not eligible, has a significant positive impact on retention, and that all elements are cost-effective. The report recommends maintaining full support for VOLED and accelerating academic skills investments. It also recommends modifying the ASLC contract to promote greater participation and establishing an academic transcript system. Finally, it recommends encouraging a more supportive command climate and limiting the enrollment of E1s and E2s.

This study looks at the potential of outsourcing courses for active duty sailors to community colleges using their facilities and significant parts of their curricula. This project investigated the potential for outsourcing three courses, focusing the analysis on two community colleges and two other types of training institutions. The analysis addressed if it is possible or even necessary, to move Navy training equipment to a community college site and how transferable the subject matter is. The analysis also examines the cost-effectiveness of outsourcing the training. The analysis shows that community colleges have distinct advantages that enable them to provide training that is similar to the Navy but at a lower cost. The findings indicate significant overlap with current community college curricula and that the colleges were willing and eager to modify current programs to accommodate the Navy's training requirements.

As the Navy has downsized its forces, funding for a variety of activities has dropped. The Navy's flagship schools, The United States Naval Academy, The Naval War College, The Naval Postgraduate School, and for purposes of this study, The Armed Forces Staff College, have not been immune to these reductions. In response, N81 asked CNA to take a bottom-up look at each the Navy's flagship schools. The main goals of the assessment were, first to evaluate the current quality of condition of the schools, and second, to help determine the level of funding needed over the Future Year Defense Plan (FYDP) to maintain Navy schools as 'top-tier' institutions. The study summarizes the findings and recommendations regarding funding and opportunities for efficiency improvements. One important finding focuses on the effectiveness of the current structure of the graduate education system. Although the flagship schools offer excellent graduate and professional military education, the Navy does not use its graduates in a manner consistent with these programs of study.