Assessment of the Navy Security Forces through Evaluation of Recent Data Trends

Abstract

This thesis examines civilian police officers and enlisted Master at Arms (MA) in the Navy Security Forces (NSF). Data is compiled through Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC) records from 2017–2024 for police officers and 2001–2024 for MA personnel. The research identifies several patterns in the NSF police force, including high turnover rates with new hires comprising up to 22% of the force annually. Research also shows that comparing 2024 to 2017, the NSF police force is 15% less experienced, 7% younger, and its share of police officers with prior military service is 26% less. Most notably, the study exposes a substantial pay disparity between NSF police officers and other police officers. Law enforcement officers nationally earn approximately 33% more than NSF officers. This gap is even more profound in states where NSF personnel are predominantly stationed. Officers in California, Florida, and Hawaii earn 76%, 58%, and 55% more respectively than NSF officers. This disparity is particularly problematic considering NSF officers are commonly stationed in expensive coastal areas in these states. The thesis also tracks changes within the MA force, growing by 418% between 2001 and 2005 before reaching a nearly constant size. Significant findings in the MA community include a force that is pursuing college more often, the proportion of females increasing from less than 15% to almost 25%, and the average age dropping about five years when comparing pre- and post-9/11 data.