Optimizing Navy Recruitment: Lessons from Navy Talent Acquisition Groups

Abstract

The Navy has faced significant recruitment challenges resulting in not meeting fiscal year 2022 and fiscal year 2023 goals. This capstone seeks to optimize Navy recruitment practices by analyzing the successes and shortcomings of Navy Talent Acquisition Groups (NTAGs) through investigating the factors enabling successful recruitment and the impacts of leadership and training on recruitment outcomes. From comprehensive interviews with NTAG leadership, recruiters, and Navy Recruiting Command’s Chief of Staff, this research revealed that Admiral Waters’ battle stations initiative effectively eliminated a backlog of 7,000 medical waivers, significantly improving the efficiency of candidate qualification and contributing to the Navy’s fiscal year 2024 recruiting success. However, this project also identified key inefficiencies, including the administrative burden caused by Salesforce, irrelevant monthly training, and outdated eligibility standards. This capstone recommends upgrading the Navy’s version of Salesforce, revising outdated eligibility standards, and tailoring training to station-specific needs. Future research could explore the long-term effects of these reforms by evaluating the health and performance of the force over time.