Military Affairs

Military affairs comprise a range of topics from military personnel and veterans to equipment and facilities—as well as the methods, doctrines, organizational concepts, and technologies that support the military's strategic or tactical goals. RAND provides objective policy recommendations in all of these areas and more.

Research conducted by: RAND Arroyo Center; RAND Project AIR FORCE; RAND National Security Research Division; RAND Europe

All Items (3420)

Report

An Assessment of the Army's Tactical Human Optimization, Rapid Rehabilitation and Reconditioning Program — Jun 19, 2013

U.S. Army Special Operations Command asked RAND Arroyo Center to assess its Tactical Human Optimization, Rapid Rehabilitation and Reconditioning (THOR3) program and identify opportunities for improvement in a range of priority areas.

Report

Crisis Stability and Long-Range Strike: A Comparative Analysis of Fighters, Bombers, and Missiles — Jun 19, 2013

In an international crisis, the United States must balance its threats with restraint while limiting its vulnerability. A RAND study sought to identify which long-range strike assets offer capabilities most conducive to stabilizing such crises.

Blog

Pentagon Announces Plans to Integrate Women in Combat — Jun 18, 2013

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Senior Pentagon officials announced today that by 2016, women will be allowed to join front-line combat roles, including infantry, armor, and special operations. RAND has conducted research on the evolving roles of women in the military and has several experts available to discuss the DoD's policies.

Report

The Army's Role in Overcoming Anti-Access and Area Denial Challenges — Jun 17, 2013

The U.S. armed forces must be prepared to confront a wide range of anti-access and area denial challenges in future operations. This report makes the case for and proposes a joint response to the most serious of these threats posed by adversaries.

Commentary

4 Factors to Consider in US Options for North Korea — Jun 12, 2013

War memorial in Pyongyang, North Korea

The US, working closely with its allies, should approach each potential conflict with North Korea in its own context, sculpting policy that draws on experience as well as observations made through research, writes Lowell Schwartz.

Blog

Previewing the Iranian Election — Jun 11, 2013

identity checks in the 2009 Iranian election

The Iranian regime seeks to produce a 2013 election that at least appears to be popular and legitimate; but more importantly, Khamenei desires a president who will act as his prime minister, rather than as an independent power.

Report

Using Behavioral Indicators to Help Detect Potential Violent Acts: A Review of the Science Base — Jun 11, 2013

Reviews the scientific literature relating to observable behavioral indicators that might, along with other information, help detect potential violent attacks, such as those by suicide terrorists or the laying of improvised explosive devices.

Commentary

Reframing the Policy Discussion on Intervention — Jun 11, 2013

Sons of Iraq help secure Fuhail Village

“Intervention” is not a useful organizing concept for a foreign policy. Foreign policy must encompass a vast range of ideas and issues — from great-power rivalry to international trade, transnational terrorism, environmental treaties, and more — that are not related in any way to intervention.

Report

Leadership Stability in Army Reserve Component Units — Jun 6, 2013

This report explains degrees and causes of personnel turbulence among Army Reserve Component unit leaders, the effects it can have on training and preparation for future missions, and policy and practice options to mitigate those effects.

Report

Key Trends That Will Shape Army Installations of Tomorrow — Jun 6, 2013

Assesses how future trends external to Army installations may affect the Army's ability to provide quality installation services and infrastructure.

Report

Iran's 2013 Presidential Election — Its Meaning and Implications — Jun 5, 2013

ap_photo_2009_iran_election_protests_PE109

Iran's June 14, 2013, election occurs in the shadow of the 2009 election, after which Iran witnessed the largest protests since the 1979 revolution. RAND examines the implications for the United States, especially concerning Iran's nuclear program.

Commentary

How to Negotiate Like a Pashtun — Jun 3, 2013

Ambassador Munter Attends Pashtun Tribal Jirga in Quetta in 2011

Fortunately, the rules by which Afghans (and particularly Pashtuns) forge durable pacts may be difficult to master, but they are quite comprehensible, writes Jonah Blank.

Report

Measuring the Value of Renewal: Age, Operational Tempo, Deployment, and Reset Effects on the Readiness and Maintenance Costs of Army Vehicles — Jun 3, 2013

Assesses the effects of vehicle age, operational tempo (OPTEMPO), deployment location, and reset on the mission-critical failures and maintenance costs of selected Army vehicle fleets.

Report

Stocktaking study of military cyber defence capabilities in the European Union (milCyberCAP): Unclassified Summary — Jun 3, 2013

The objective of this study was to establish a high level understanding of cyber defence capabilities across EDA's participating Member States (pMS) to support progress toward a more consistent level of cyber defence capability across the EU.

Commentary

The War on Terror Must End — but Not Yet — May 31, 2013

U.S. Army soldier pulls security as coalition forces search Ala Say Valley, Afghanistan

While unending war is clearly bad for a republic and dangerous to U.S. security, the trickier task is defining the conditions that, when met, tell us that the war against al Qaeda is over, writes Paul Miller.

Report

Strategically Aligned Family Research: Supporting Soldier and Family Quality of Life Research for Policy Decisonmaking — May 31, 2013

The Army wants to develop a research agenda that defines the quality-of-life needs of soldiers and families, helps gauge the success of programs, improves coordination of research efforts, and determines how best to allocate resources.

Commentary

Europe Keeps Its Options Open in Syria — May 30, 2013

Europeans with 'No Arms for Assad' signs

France and Britain say they are not planning any arms shipments at this time. The decision thus seems unlikely to have a significant impact on the ground in the near term, writes Christopher Chivvis.

Report

Improving the Deployment of Army Health Care Professionals: An Evaluation of PROFIS — May 29, 2013

Describes the functionality of the Army Medical Department's Professional Filler System (PROFIS) in the current operating environment of ongoing deployments and assesses potential modifications and improvements to the system.

Commentary

Preventing a Nuclear 'Great Game' — May 29, 2013

Nawaz Sharif billboard on Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Headquarters

America's imminent withdrawal from Afghanistan raises the possibility of renewed tension between Pakistan and India. With this month's election of Nawaz Sharif as Pakistan's next prime minister, Islamabad and New Delhi have a fleeting window of opportunity to improve relations.

Commentary

Think Again: A Nuclear Iran — May 28, 2013

the Shrine of the Tomb of Imam Reza

When contemplating the prospect of a nuclear-armed Iran, we should all be grateful that notions of martyrdom and apocalyptic beliefs don't have a significant pull on Iranian decision-making, writes Alireza Nader.

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