DoD Manpower and Strength Quiz

Manpower Management Terminology and Concepts

• Manpower management encompasses all types of personnel, including military, civilian, reserve components, and contractors.
• Actual strength: The current number of personnel in an organization.
• Assigned strength: The total strength of a particular service, potentially different from combined unit strengths.
• Authorized strength: The maximum permitted strength, as authorized by Congress (for internal applications).
• Average strength: The mean strength over a period of time. One year's average strength is equivalent to work years.
• DoD civilian workforce: U.S. citizens or foreign nationals employed by the Department of Defense.
• End strength: The strength of an organization at the end of a fiscal year.
• Future Years Defense Program (FYDP): An official report summarizing resources and funding for the Department of Defense.
• Force structure: The total collection of units within a DoD component.
• Manpower programming: The process of compiling, documenting, and integrating future manpower needs to support overall planning, programming, and budgeting.
• Peacetime strength: The authorized strength for active forces, Selected Reserve, and appropriated funds civilian employees.

Global Force Management (GFM)

• GFM is led by the Joint Chiefs of Staff, managing manpower allocation within authorized strength levels.
• GFM factors in national defense strategy and resource constraints along with readiness and availability of the force.

OMB Circular A-11

• Provides guidelines for submitting military and civilian manpower estimates to the president's budget request, including details on compensation and benefits, and within-grade increases.
• Section 32 details budget requirements for personnel compensation.
• Section 85 outlines estimating employment levels.

Budget Formulation for Manpower

• The goal of manpower budget formulation is to optimize use of civilian, contractor, temporary, and other personnel to meet mission needs precisely.
• Precisely estimate end strength and FTEs, including anticipated pay raises and other policy changes.

Department of Defense Separation Incentives

• Section 9902(f) of Title 5 of the U.S. Code governs buyout payments.
• Payments are made from available funds and must be repaid if the individual rejoins the federal government within 5 years.
• This can be used to reduce the number of personnel employed by DoD or to restructure the workforce.

DoD Manpower Utilization Policy (Mobilization)

• During mobilization, priorities are placed on tasks critical to the war effort.
• Deployment decisions consider military personnel, relevant skills, and available alternatives.

Mobilization Assessment Process

• Mobilization assessments are crucial throughout the PPBE (Programming, Budgeting, and Execution) process.
• Validation of manpower requirements through operational channels is vital.
• DODD 1100.4 provides guidance for manpower management during mobilization assessment.
• Determines and validates manpower requirements during deployment.
• Incorporates manpower needs into the PPBE cycle and manages manpower during mobilization.

Presidential Authority to Activate Reserve Forces

• The president has the authority to order Selected Reserve and Ready Reserve units to active duty in certain situations. This doesn't require congressional approval in all cases.
• Authorization can last up to 365 days but may be extended.

Civilian Employees during Crisis Situations

• Crisis situations are defined as circumstances threatening harm or imminent danger to employees.
• Emergency Essential (E-E) and Non-combat Essential (NCE) positions are designated based on operation support.
• Capability-based volunteers are utilized to support deployment requirements.

DoD Total Force Policy

• Many military functions are assigned to reserve components under the DoD Total Force Policy.
• Reserve components could be mobilized for contingency operations or in specific scenarios.

Capability-Based Former Employee Volunteer Corps

• This is a group of former DoD civilian employees who are willing to return to federal service for expeditionary requirements.
• These employees are added to a database.

Federal Activities Inventory Reform (FAIR) Act of 1998

• An annual inventory is required of commercial activities and inherently governmental activities (excluding some military and Defense activities).
• Government agencies are to contract with the private sector if cost effective.
• Agencies must conduct appropriate competitive processes for activities considered appropriate for competitive bidding

OMB Circular A-76

• Establishes policy on conducting commercial activities, including categorizing activities as commercial or inherently governmental.
• Guides processes in determining appropriate methods for conducting activities.
• Commercial activities may be performed by federal employees in-house or by private sector contractors through competitive bidding.
• Inherently governmental activities are typically assigned to federal employees.

Cost Comparisons

• Cost comparisons are done to determine if activities are more efficient by employing government personnel or by engaging private sector contractors.
• Cost comparison criteria includes national defense, non-availability of a commercial source, or patient care.

Gifts from Outside Sources

• Restrictions exist on accepting gifts from outside sources, especially from parties with vested interests in the work or policies of the agency.
• Gifts with a low value or personal or family relationships are often exempt.