Minimizing drug related attrition costs for incoming Naval recruits
By: John J. Jacklich
Publisher: Naval Postgraduate School; Available from National Technical Information Service
Published: 1998
Place of publication: Monterey, Calif; Springfield, Va
Language: eng
Number of pages: 83
Description: This thesis investigates alternative strategies for enforcing the Navy's zero-tolerance drug use policy among Navy recruits. Current policy relies mainly on the gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) urinalysis for recruits when they arrive at boot camp. GC/MS, a laboratory test, takes at least three days for confirmation. The cost of separating recruits who fail urinalysis or admit to drug use at boot camp is $2.7 million per year. Key ideas investigated in the thesis are the administration of drug tests at Military Entrance Processing Stations (MEPS) on the day of shipping to boot camp, and the use of a new "non-instrumented" drug test (NIDT). The NIDT, though not as accurate as GC/MS, requires no laboratory equipment or expertise to administer and furnishes results immediately. This thesis designs and recommends a new policy, which includes NIDT testing for marijuana at the MEPS in addition to GC/ MS at RTC. Through the use of detailed statistical, cost and sensitivity analyses, the thesis concludes that the Navy can save well over a $1 million per year by instituting this policy. These results have been reported to RADM Kevin Green, commander of NTC, Great Lakes, who has announced his intention to adopt the new policy.
Notes: Thesis advisor(s): Samuel E. Buttrey.

"March 1998."

Thesis (M.S. in Operations Research) Naval Postgraduate School, March 1998.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 81)

Approved for public release; distribution unlimited.

Also available online.

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US Navy (USN) author.

dk/dk cc:9116 7/24/98.