Squadron  manpower  documents  (SQMDs)  estimate staffing standards that   reflect resource sponsor-approved  programmed  changes.  The  NTP  is  the principal  document  for  defining  manpower,  personnel, and training requirements for new aviation equipment; system, subsystem, or total ship developments; ships transferred to the Naval Reserve; Reserve programs; area training requirements or mission continuation; and the   resources   necessary   to   support   the   training requirements.  The  PSQMD  is  required  when  new aircraft is acquired and identifies the quantitative and qualitative  manpower  requirements  associated  with  the new  hardware. The Aviation Manpower Requirements program documents  manpower  requirements  for  the  Navy’s aviation squadrons and afloat AIMDs, including sea operational    detachments    (SEAOPDETS).    These requirements  are  published  in  SQMDs  for  aircraft squadrons, SMDs for afloat AIMDs, and SEAOPDET documents.   Aviation   manpower   requirements   are updated three times each year to support the program objectives   memorandum   (POM)   and   PPBS. Additionally, current year and budget year requirements reflect  post-POM  decisions  that  change  manpower requirements. POM is a document where each military department  and  defense  agency  recommends  and describes biannually its total resource and program objectives. EFFICIENCY  REVIEWS The ER process reviews and assesses workloads in terms of the activity’s mission and function. The ER objectively  reviews  and  determines  the  equipment, processes,  and  skills  necessary  for  the  activity  to efficiently discharge those missions and functions. The ER also determines the number and defines the mix of military,  civilian,  and  contractor  manpower  required. Furthermore,  the  ER  provides  the  claimant’s implementation plan to improve the activity’s ability to accomplish its mission. The   most   efficient   organization   (MEO)   is developed   during   an   ER   process.   It   defines   the minimum quantity and quality of manpower required to produce  the  output(s)  established  in  the  activity’s performance   work   statement   (PWS).   The   PWS identifies what work is to be done to the maximum extent possible without stating how to do it. It identifies standards of performance to be met in measurable terms of quality, quantity, and timeliness. Determination of the MEO is based on the use of recognized methods   of   engineering,   work simplification, staffing   standards,   and   work measurement  techniques.  The  MEO  should  reflect economy, efficiency of operations, effective employee use, the best mix of staffing, and proper application of military  essentiality  codes  (MECs)  to  all  military requirements (billets). The MEC denotes the reason for military  staffing;  for  example,  combat  readiness,  law, training, discipline, or military background. The ER process complements good management practices within the Navy and the wide spectrum of Navy  productivity  improvement  programs  designed  to achieve  efficiency  and  effectiveness.  The  MEO,  as  the product  of  an  activity  ER,  shows  the  results  of  all productivity   improvement   processes   used   by   the activity. NAVY MANPOWER DATA ACCOUNTING SYSTEM The  NMDAS  is  the  central,  authoritative  data  base for  maintaining  manpower  authorizations  both  in quantitative  and  qualitative  form.  This  system  interacts on a continuous basis with other automated systems to support the PPBS and congressional process. A quantitative subsystem of NMDAS, the Navy Manpower   End   Strength   Subsystem   (NMESS) maintains  combined  numerical  controls  on  various categories of military manpower as well as the location of   that   manpower.   Categories   include   Military Personnel,  Navy  (MPN),  Reserve  Personnel,  Navy (RPN), officer, enlisted, and midshipmen as well as other  modifiers  such  as  students  and  trainees.  Location of  the  manpower  is  achieved  by  assigning  all  NMESS numbers to unit identification codes (UICs). Assignment of other data elements to the UICs permits NMESS numbers to be combined in various arrays such as program elements, defense planning and programming categories, and budget decision units. Program element is a basic component of the PPBS that represents   an   integrated   combination   of   Navy personnel, equipment, and facilities that together are an identifiable  military  capability  or  support  activity. NMESS   data   is   transferred   to   the   Navy Headquarters   Programming   System   (NHPS) maintained by CNO (OP-80). This action supports the POM  process. 5-4