What is the nature of Optimal Manning?
Optimal Manning aims to find the most effective ways of staffing Sailors aboard ships. Optimal manning experiments aboard USS Boxer (LHD 4), USS Milius (DDG 69), and USS Mobile Bay (CG 53) have introduced innovative shipboard watch-standing practices, which have significantly reduced manning requirements and allowed Sailors to focus on their designated duties and responsibilities. The fleet is implementing best practices learned from these experiments on respective ship classes.