A Comparison of the Force Deployment Estimator (FDE) and Naval Postgraduate School/Rand Mobility Optimizer (NRMO) as Tools for Mobility Analysis

Over the past decade, changes in the global power structure have driven the United States into a major reassessment of its force structure and global force projection requirements. There is a resulting need for force deployment models that offer quick, accurate analysis of force projection and force structure options One model, the Force Deployment Estimator FDE, a combination discrete event simulation and goal program, is currently used by the J8WAD. A second model with similar capabilities, the Naval Postgraduate SchoolRAND Mobility Optimizer NRMO, is a linear program that was written for Air Force. In order to compare the two models and give J8WAD the option of a second model for use in analysis, NRMOAS NRMO AirSea was created by adding a sealift component to NRMO. NRMOA creates both an air and sea network. and can be run with the user designating the units mode of travel similar to FDE, the model determining the same or a combination of both. This thesis compares the results of scenarios run through FDE and NRMOAS and recommends to J8WAD which model better suits their needs. In all cases, NRMOAS outperformed FDE. NRMOAS also offers a superior level of resolution for networks. Recommend that J8WAD use NRMOAS for detailed mobility analysis.