Optimization of the Basic School Military Occupational Skill Assignment Process

The Basic School (TBS) is the first school assignment for all Marine Officers. While assigned to TBS unrestricted ground officers compete for and are assigned a Military Occupational Skill (MOS) . The process of educating the Marine Officers about the different MOSs is primarily accomplished by word or mouth at MOS Mixers (social events) and one-on-one discussions. The assignment or the MOS to the Marine Officer is based on the officer's lineal standing within his/her company. Officers are ranked lineally based on a composite score of academic and leadership grades. To ensure a quality distribution of officers into MOSs, the company is divided into thirds (Top, Middle, Bottom) and the vacancies assigned to the company are divided into thirds (Top, Middle, Bottom) . Officers compete for an MOS within their assigned third. The current assignment system has remained virtually unchanged over the last thirty years. It is a mostly manually process that provides little visibility of the data, and does not utilize automated information tools for report generation of statistical information. This joint thesis team has developed a Two-Tier Client/ Server Information Management System for use by the lieutenants and staff officers of The Basic School and it is called MyMOS. This system was developed using current industry standards that are compliant with those of the Department of Defense. It is the first of its kind at TBS and is designed to be employed as an operational system. MyMOS was designed with an interrace that would maximize acceptance and reduce total ownership cost.Naval Postgraduate School Monterey CA is the author of 'Optimization of the Basic School Military Occupational Skill Assignment Process', published 2003 under ISBN 9781423501398 and ISBN 142350139X.