Summary: GAO reviewed the Navy's Programmed School Input (PSI) program, a school guarantee option which sends enlistees to duty stations before they receive initial skill training in a specific occupation at a Navy school.
In recent years, approximately 3,000 enlisted personnel have been recruited annually under this option. The review of the program indicated that, despite some implementation problems, the program has afforded the Navy and its enlistees the following advantages: (1) the Navy is provided with a recruit's service before a large training investment is made; (2) the PSI recruit is provided an opportunity to adapt to the Navy before initial skill training begins, thus reducing the likelihood of attrition during the enlistment term; and (3) the Navy's training investment on large numbers of enlistees who will leave before completing their first term of enlistment is decreased. Although Navy officials agree that the program is successful and have taken steps to rectify certain implementation problems, they are not planning to increase its size. GAO does not believe that the program's full potential is being realized.
