RAND Army Research Division

Latest Research

The Russian Challenge: Deterring Aggression in the Baltics

Jun 4, 2018

The risk of Russian aggression in the Baltics can no longer be ignored. To successfully deter Moscow, the United States and its European allies should invest in NATO's ability to defend its eastern boundary.
Who Joins the Army, and Why?

May 14, 2018

The U.S. Army wants to improve its understanding of soldiers' motivations to enlist, and how the reality of Army life matches up with expectations. Interviews with soldiers ranked E-1 to E-4 offer a rich portrayal of life as a private.
Countering Modern Political Warfare

Apr 5, 2018

Both state and nonstate actors—including Russia, Iran, and ISIS—practice political warfare in unique ways. How can the United States, along with its allies and partners, respond to or engage in this type of conflict to protect U.S. interests?

Arroyo Researchers Visit Puerto Rico After Hurricane Maria

Dec 19, 2017

A small team of researchers from RAND Arroyo Center went to Puerto Rico two weeks after the island was struck by Hurricane Maria. They are compiling their observations into a series of studies for the Army, with recommendations to smooth its response to future disasters.
Reimagining and Modernizing U.S. Airborne Forces for the 21st Century

Apr 20, 2016

Many of the challenges the U.S. will face in the coming years across the range of military operations could be deep inland and require rapid response. Airborne forcible entry — with reimagined and modernized airborne forces — would offer decisionmakers options in crises that they do not possess today.
A New Kind of Battlefield Awaits the U.S. Military — Megacities

Apr 6, 2016

Megacities are urban areas that seep into one another and have more than 10 million inhabitants. To counter violent non-state actors operating in megacities in the future, the U.S. military will have to be able to piece together a comprehensive and actionable intelligence picture, and under enormously challenging circumstances.