How much continuity and production is lost due to service members PCSing every 3 years?

We minimize it for the "Host" program that addresses living and working.

To me it did not make sense of moving to a different area every 3 - 4 years. Yes, I do admit that at times I was glad that I was moving to a different command. I know that I would not want to be on sea duty for my entire career. That is what would happen if we did not move around as much as we do now. If there could be a way to keep a service member in the same area that would be a way to change duty stations only. That is the nature of the beast, yes it is costly but no one wants to be just in one duty station for to long. For instance, a service member makes rank or is unable to make rank will want to move onto a different duty station. For they want to prove themselves to new people and a new ranking structure. It would be hard for a service member to go from lets say an E3 to a E5 or even higher and be an effective leader. Everyone will see that service member as only the E3 and not the higher rank that they earned while serving on that command. For others who can not make rank due to the current command structure might want a change in command or area to hopefully prove themselves to others who will only look at what they see after that service member arrives. Yes they will read evaluations, but they know that evaluations are only as good as the people that write them. I know that if I was going to be stuck onboard a submarine for my entire tour while in the Navy, I would not have stayed in the service as long as I did. Yes, I did not like having to move from Bangor Washington to Groton Connecticut for my last duty station of only 2 years, but that was the only billet/job available at the time. They needed someone more in Groton than Bangor at the time so I had to move to Connecticut. Like the saying goes the "Needs of the many, outweigh the needs of the few".

I was stationed at Grand Forks AFB, ND for 7 years. Continuity was great until the flight chief PCSd, then it sort of spiraled a bit COL Mikel J. Burroughs

Will have to defer on this one not much experience on it.

Sir, It doesn't seem like that to me. I do see Officers continually PCS but I have seen Enlisted member grow from PVT to SFC in the same SQDN. However I believe that a more versatile force is whats needed members who have been in multiple types of units at multiple echelons to include Joint assignments. As that leader grows they will understand the bigger picture much clearer and be able to accomplish the commanders intent more efficiently.

As opposed to a Soldier who has only been on Fort Hood or Fort Bragg for their entire career. They may understand the CAV or the Bragg way but they will need to learn their way.

A continual turnover rate every 3-5 years allows other leaders to progress and experience different assignments which only grows that individuals leadership ability and allows another leader to replace them.
Especially at the harder to fill or not as wanted assignments like the Fort Polks for example.

Same issue where I work, lose a man or two and everyone else has to pickup the slack. And sending someone to school on farm equipment is not cheap.

Well COL Mikel J. Burroughs the last job I had before I retired as a civilian for the Air Force was in the personal property office where we coordinated the move of service members and their families who were PCS'ing. I can tell you that the government wastes a lot of money on moving things like pianos and other valuable antiques and things like that. Hey, you want to have a Steinway Grand Piano, thats your business, doesn't me we should pay to move it every two or three years. You want a third floor apartment and your couch doesn't fit up the stairs, why should the government pay to have a crane lift it up! You want to have a boat, why should we move it! This happens quite often and those are just some quick examples. Given some time, I could come up with many more that should just not happen.

I also think longer assignments at some bases should be expected and this would reduce much of the expenses of moving all too often.

I lost a lot of productivity as I learned new jobs without a continuity book.

COL Mikel J. Burroughs
Others may have worded this more eloquently than I can/am about to try, but promotions would be affected as well.

Think about it. That PO1 isn't going to move up in rank as long as that CPO is there filling the Chief's billet. Sailor's (service members) careers would stagnate.

this is why Air Guard C ratings are so high, we stay put.