Perform to Serve (PTS) - Research Proposal Example

?Action Research Proposal: The Proposal Introduction Perform to Serve (PTS) is a force management tool that uses performance as a criterion for individual and group rating. The proposed research is aimed at enhancing sustainability of experience throughout the navy. This will be achieved though an establishment of solutions to the proposed problems. The research is also aimed at making recommendation for improvement of performances in our navy forces. Although the proposed research project is aimed at the navy forces, result from the research studies can be adopted across the different forces in the military. The research project will mainly concentrate on the management problems affecting members of the navy forces particularly those that are related to sustainability of experience. Secondly, the project is aimed at establishing the relationship between induced management criteria and self-taught management criteria. Thirdly, the project will analyze the impacts Fleet RIDE-PTS (FR-PTS) on sailors. Thus, the project will be concerned with the long-term implication of the program on sailors. Finally, the project will analyze changes in the behaviors of our sailors and their family in relation to economical changes. Estimated Results The researcher expects a direct correlation between the country’s economy and behaviors of sailors and their families. It is expected that sailors and their family members are conscious about cost and economic impacts of the program. Sustainability of experiences among navy forces will depend on their attitude towards the fleet rating identification program. The Fleet RIDE-PTS program affects E3-E6 sailors. Aims and Objectives The main aim of the proposed project is to asses the impacts of PTS program on members of the navy forces. The study will be stretched to cover the long-term impacts of the program on the sailor’s family members. Secondly, the project will analyze the positive impacts of the program on sailors by looking on its long-term implication on their military training and service in the navy. Finally, the project will seek to make recommendations on the best management practices that need to be adopted in the navy. Hypothesis H0: more than 70% of navy officer recommend PTS as critical to their training. H1; Sailors in the ranks E3-E6 with less than 14 years of service are likely to enroll in the program. Literature Review The PTS program is a dream among most service men and women; however, the program is a source of ethical dilemma. According to Linton and Lawrence (2010), the program is a major source of ethical dilemmas to the US navy. The author focuses on the program as a boundary between military service and ordinary life. In the article, the authors access the issue using age and pay grade as the main criteria of determining the impacts of the pts program. Although the PTS program is essential for members of the U.S. naval forces, the program needs to be restructured to fit the required standards. Wide consultation from officials of all ranks would be essential through the consultation process. Beginning in March of 2003, the Navy decided to implement a new procedure called Perform to Serve (PTS) (NAVADMIN, 2003). PTS is a performance based program designed to keep the top achieving Sailors and allow Sailors in overmanned ratings the opportunity to convert into undermanned ratings for which they qualify (Lyden, 2011). The process would involve those sailors who had been enlisted for their first enlistment period or whose job was within the three different Career Reenlistment Objectives (CREO) to be forced to separate the military. Since 2003, the Navy has revised this policy eight times, making it difficult for sailors to continue their service (Administrative Message, 2003). The article gives precise description of the PTS program and its impacts on navy officials. In addition, the article concentrates on the first reaction and encounters of members of the navy forces with the PTS program. According to the Navy All Hands magazine (2011), the most important factor to staying in the military is to submit the Perform to serve application into the Fleet Rating Identification Engine (RIDE) to remain in the Navy. The purpose of this process is to receive as many reviews as possible from the fifteen month mark of the Sailor’s Planned Rotation Date (PRD), which is the process of transferring from one command to another, and receiving a review every month to determine if eligible to stay in the Active duty or not. In addition, for those who are in the pay grade of E-6 and below, the best recommendation is not only to put in their applications as early as possible, but also to start negotiating orders and handling reenlistment prerequisites to ensure the quota does not expire. With PTS enforcing their standards, making revisions more often, and making the process of staying in the military even more difficult, Sailors are trying to find the best solution to increase their chances of staying in the Service. One resolution that that is available is called the ‘conversion only’ option (All Hands, 2004). This option allows Sailors to bypass the “reenlist in rate” option. This indicates that shifting of careers should be a factor of consideration during the data collection process. The second option authorizes the service member to submit their latest Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) scores when applying for PTS, giving the option to apply for a rate that is undermanned, but also increases the chance of being approved under the terms of the needs of the Navy and being placed in another rate. The benefit of this is that PTS provides the opportunity for those Sailors previously locked into their ratings the added flexibility to convert to another rating (Navy Personnel Command, 2012). Although the choice of conversion only and conversion is available, it is important that the Sailor take into consideration the possible outcomes of the choice that they make. Requesting the ‘conversion only’ option, the Service Member waives all possibilities of being approved for in-rate reenlistment approval (Howard, 2010). In addition, by choosing the willing to ‘convert’ option on the application, the member deprives him or herself the opportunity to reenlist in-rate as well as reducing their overall chances to stay in the Navy (All Hands, 2004). Consequently, if the in-rate reservation is non existence the separation notice issued by the commanders should be considered. With the option of willing to ‘convert’, it is within the Sailors best interest to try to improve their ASVAB scores as high as possible, increasing their chances of their PTS application being approved for a preferable rate. Whereas, with a low ASVAB score, minimizes Sailors’ conversion options (Targeted News Services, 2011). The USS Makin Island (LHD-8) has begun an ASVAB improvement course called the “Makin Island ASVAB Academy.” The leadership came. According to Lyden (2011), PTS programs are beneficial to the military performance. The author looks at the long-term implication of PTS program on training of navy officials. In addition, the author argues that the program interferes with the free life of service men. Standards are significance to the success of military officials (Rugg & Petre, 2007). This indicates that the PTS program is composed of guidelines or standards that guide the performance of military officials throughout their duties. Methodology The proposed study will utilize qualitative research to collect the required data and information. The researcher will require information on the impact of PTS on sailors and their views towards the program. The survey will utilize random sampling method where a group of forty sailors will be randomly selected from the navy. Among the 40 sailors, 20 of them will be randomly selected from persons in their initial enlistment period. The remaining 20 sailors will come from those who are supposed to leave the military service. Data Collection The research will utilize interviews and questionnaire as the main tools of data collection. The main data will be collected through open-ended questionnaires that will require the views and objectives of the respondent. Secondary data will be conducted by observation, whereby observers will be located at strategic points to observe the behavior of different sailors enrolled in PTS program. Research information will be gathered using interviews and survey questionnaires. It will be helpful to use both methods since both methods are complementary to each other. In addition using both methods reduces the chances of experimental errors. Interviews are effective since they enable researchers to investigate a problem thoroughly. Additionally, they will enable researchers to study the feelings and thoughts of the respondents. Questionnaires will also be helpful data collection tools since they will provide a wide coverage of respondents. In addition, questionnaires enhance efficiency in the data collection process since information can be gathered simultaneously. Questionnaires will be distributed to the sailors and collected after two days. Each of the sailors will be required to respond to the research questions appropriately. The main reason for choosing questionnaire, as basic research tool is that they are cost effective compared to other data collection methods such as observation and interviews. This is because data collection through questionnaires can be done without incurring extensive travelling costs. Questionnaires are very cost effective compared to other information gathering methods like observation since it requires less travel to obtain the information. Moreover, data collection through questionnaires allows for multiple participants. Although observation and interviews will be helpful during the data collection process, questionnaires will be the most preferred data collection tool. This is because questionnaires particularly close-ended questionnaires facilitate data entry and analysis. In addition, questionnaires will provide easily quantifiable information that will facilitate data entry and data analysis. Results The project is expected to be completed within the set deadline. However, there will be a three days deadline extension to allow for collection of questionnaires and making of final touches on the project. The researcher expects to get realistic and reliable results. In addition, the researchers expect a direct correlation between surveys and questionnaire data. The data is expected to have less than 10% deviation from the research hypothesis. It is also expected that the PTS program will have minimal effects on navy officials and their families. The project will be aimed at establishing the impacts of the PTS program. Results from the project will be essential in future research projects. Future projects should explore the possibility of utilizing information technology and through online questionnaires in data collection. Ethical Considerations The research will avoid having personal encounter with the respondent. Research assistants and questionnaires will avoid questions that require sensitive response from a respondent. In addition, the surveys will require authorization from navy officials and other administrators. Conclusion The proposed project is significant and timely and, therefore donors and other supporters should be confident about the project. The research aims to establish the impacts of the PTS program by analyzing the problems that affect navy officers and possible solutions. Results from the proposed study will be used to make useful recommendation to the navy officers and their employers. Sample Questionnaire Research Instrument Questionnaire 1. age ---------- 2. rank/ pay grade --------- 3. Do you consider Perform to Serve (PTS) a fair process? [Yes]. [no] Why? 4. Do you think the US navy will achieve its objectives form PTS reviews? [yes], [no], 5. Other than the PTS, what are the other performance evaluation tools that can be applied on the military officials? 6. What do think about ‘Conversion Only’ as a solution to the lower chances of staying in service? 7. Since PTS is lowering your chances of staying in the military, what are you doing about it to increase your chances of staying in? 8. What benefits can you gain from the option of converting voluntarily? 9. Give your views concerning the most appropriate Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery References Administrative Message. (2003). NAVADMIN. In Perform to Serve Procedures. Retrieved July 9, 2012, from http://www.public.navy.mil/bupersnpc/reference/messages/Documents/NAVADMINS/NAV2003/nav030x. All Hands. (2011). Timely perform to serve applications critical to staying. All Hands. Retrieved July 9, 2012 from http://search.proquest.com/docview/860773592?accountid=7374. ASVAB. (2009). improvement can increase perform to serve conversion Options. Targeted News Service,pp. n/a. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/856153352 Group 2 sailors. (2004). "Perform to serve" program expands to include all first-term CREO , All Hands. Retrieved July 11, 2012 from http://search.proquest.com/docview/199441258 Howard, L. (2010). Sailors seeing success with perform-to-serve. All Hands, 9-9. Retrieved July 9, 2012 from http://search.proquest.com/docview/749236825?accountid=7374 Linton, I. & Lawrence, R. (2010). Ethical dilemma behind Perform-To-Serve (PTS) Program. USASMA Digital Library. Retrieved from; http://cgsc.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/p15040coll2/id/7673/rec/7 Lyden, M. (2011). Perform to Serve (PTS). In NAVSUP. Retrieved July 10, 2012, from https://www.navsup.navy.mil/navsup/news/sc_flashes/038-11. Navy Personnel Command. (2012). Career Counseling. In Fleet RIDE-PTS. Retrieved July 5, 2012, from http://www.public.navy.mil/bupersnpc/career/careercounseling/pages/fleetridepts.aspx.199502407? Rugg, G., & Petre, M. (2007). A gentle guide to research methods. Maidenhead: McGraw- Hill/Open Univ. Press. Read More