Military Recruitment

Russia
blog
U.S.-Russia Diplomacy, Citizen Science, America's Blood Supply: RAND Weekly Recap
Jan 21, 2022
This weekly recap focuses on U.S.-Russia diplomacy in the context of the Ukraine crisis, the value of citizen science, strengthening the America's blood supply, and more.
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Refugees
commentary
Afghan Refugees Are Being Recruited to Join an Iranian Paramilitary
Erik E. Mueller @erikemueller, Andrew Radin @andrewmradin
Nov 23, 2021
The Hill
As Western policymakers consider how to deal with Afghan evacuees, including former members of the Afghan security forces, they might consider how to prevent adversaries such as Iran from recruiting Afghan refugees for dangerous and destabilizing operations. Greater attention to these risks may become increasingly important as refugee flows from Afghanistan continue.
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Military Recruitment
essay
Army Enlistment Waivers in the Age of Legal Marijuana
Oct 27, 2021
Army recruits with a history of marijuana use can ask for a waiver like those who have diabetes or insomnia. They are just as likely as others to complete their first term and make sergeant, and are less likely to leave the Army for health or performance reasons.
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United States Coast Guard
commentary
Why Women Belong in Coast Guard Crews
Robert C. Parker
Apr 18, 2019
Boston Herald
The Coast Guard benefits from the heightened respect that colleagues show each other in mixed-gender units, allowing personnel to focus and excel at their tasks at hand. When the Coast Guard zeroes in on evidence-based and appropriate accommodations for women and their physical capacities, as well as with parenting and family life, it will benefit everyone in uniform.
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Japan
commentary
Is Japan's New Defense Plan Ambitious Enough?
Michael J. Green, Jeffrey W. Hornung
Dec 6, 2018
War on the Rocks
Under Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Japan has significantly increased capabilities to meet increasing regional security challenges. But Tokyo may need to do more to manage the complex security environment surrounding Japan.
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Wargaming
commentary
Just Let Them Compete: Raising the Next Generation of Wargamers
Sebastian Joon Bae
Oct 9, 2018
War on the Rocks
Wargames are games that simulate aspects of warfare at varying levels, aimed at analyzing human decisionmaking. To develop the next generation of avid wargamers, the first step is both radical and simple: Let them compete.
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Military Personnel Retention
commentary
Military Power Is All About People: A Return to Personnel Policy
Radha Iyengar Plumb, Brad R. Carson, Amy Schafer, John D. Winkler
Jul 27, 2017
War on the Rocks
Ensuring the strength of U.S. armed forces is critical to U.S. national security and the key source of strength is its people. True investment in personnel is a long-term legacy and an investment worthy of attention and policy debate to ensure the United States continues to recruit and retain the most effective fighting force in the world.
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Special Operations Forces
commentary
Women in Special Security Forces: What the U.S. Can Learn from the Afghans
Whitney Dudley, Robert Stewart
Mar 28, 2016
Military Times
The contributions of the women in Afghanistan's special security forces demonstrate the unique value that women can bring to special operations forces in socially conservative societies. They are successful in tactical roles and in operations requiring interaction with the community.
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Cybercrime
commentary
The Military Should Increase Efforts to Find and Enlist Young Hackers
Isaac R. Porche III, Chad C. Serena
Mar 10, 2016
U.S. News & World Report
Some notorious cyberattacks have been carried out by computer-savvy teens. They don't all have criminal intentions, they just have a particular aptitude for writing code and operating in cyberspace. The U.S. military should consider embracing and cultivating this pool of talent.
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announcement
RAND Studies Help Inform Pentagon Decision to Open Combat Roles to Women
Feb 5, 2016
RAND researchers addressed topics such as whether members of U.S. special forces are ready to integrate women into their ranks and what lessons may be learned from other militaries that already have integrated women into combat positions.
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Military Personnel Retention
commentary
Investing in Military Human Capital
Daniel B. Ginsberg, Raymond E. Conley
Nov 5, 2015
Military Times
A new effort to review the military's personnel system will focus initially on policies to assign, evaluate, and promote service members. To truly address systematic challenges, however, the scope will need to widen to include how the various military services might size, structure, and support key missions.
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Military Recruitment
commentary
Go Slow on Arming Recruiters
Ben Connable
Jul 31, 2015
The Hill
Several important voices have argued for arming military recruiters in the wake of the recent shootings in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Giving them a chance to fight back against an active shooter may be a sound proposition, but practicalities of military recruiting suggest a patient and thoughtful policy review.
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Military Veterans
commentary
We Need a Public-Private Approach to Supporting Veterans
Terri Tanielian
Nov 12, 2012
Newsday
Honoring the sacrifices of veterans should be front and center on our policy agenda and not limited to one day a year, says Terri Tanielian.
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Military Recruitment
commentary
A Year After Repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell
Bernard D. Rostker
Sep 20, 2012
The RAND Blog
Despite the fears of some, but in line with the experience of every other institution, both in the US and abroad, that has experienced such a transition, there have been no significant problems, writes Bernard Rostker.
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Military Compensation
blog
RAND Research Contributes to the 11th Quadrennial Review of Military Compensation
Jun 29, 2012
Adequate compensation is critical to recruiting and retaining an all-volunteer force—in peacetime and wartime alike. To assess the effectiveness of U.S. military pay and benefits, the president directs a review of military compensation every four years. Four RAND studies contributed to this review.
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commentary
U.S. Doesn't Need the Draft
Bernard D. Rostker
Dec 11, 2006
United Press International
Published commentary by RAND staff: U.S. Doesn't Need the Draft, in United Press International.
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Military Recruitment
commentary
Should Uncle Sam Want You?
Beth J. Asch
Feb 9, 2003
Boston Globe
Despite some calls to reinstitute the draft, Beth Asch writes in an commentary that the all-volunteer military is working just fine.
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Quoted

The strength of NATO is that it is at its essence an ongoing consultation based on trust, and where needed a central meeting point for smaller groups of allies to collaborate on an issue-by-issue basis. Finland and Sweden could benefit by working from the outset to advance the dialogue, express their interests, and help to shape what can be a stronger, smarter NATO.

Gene Germanovich

International Defense Researcher

Source: United Press International

The world is two-and-a-half years into COVID-19, facing another international and national emerging infectious disease outbreak with monkey pox, and experts have warned that such diseases are only becoming more likely. A serious reckoning beginning with a 9/11-like commission for COVID-19 could be undertaken to develop a system for preparing for and responding to emerging infectious diseases. Relying on “ad hoc-ery” may not be the best option.

Daniel M. Gerstein

Senior Policy Researcher

Source: The Hill

North Korean Sanctions Evasion

Hypothetical Scenarios of U.S.-China Conflict

Learning, Relearning, and Not Learning the Lessons of COVID-19

Finnish and Swedish NATO Membership: Toward a Larger, Stronger, Smarter Alliance

Three Steps to Protect Communities from Climate Change

The Policy Currents Podcast

Improving Psychological Wellbeing and Work Outcomes in the UK

Managing Escalation in Crisis and War

Getting to Know Military Caregivers and Their Needs

Planning for the Rising Costs of Dementia

Military Recruitment

U.S.-Russia Diplomacy, Citizen Science, America's Blood Supply: RAND Weekly Recap

Afghan Refugees Are Being Recruited to Join an Iranian Paramilitary

Army Enlistment Waivers in the Age of Legal Marijuana

Why Women Belong in Coast Guard Crews

Is Japan's New Defense Plan Ambitious Enough?

Just Let Them Compete: Raising the Next Generation of Wargamers

Military Power Is All About People: A Return to Personnel Policy

Women in Special Security Forces: What the U.S. Can Learn from the Afghans

The Military Should Increase Efforts to Find and Enlist Young Hackers

RAND Studies Help Inform Pentagon Decision to Open Combat Roles to Women

Investing in Military Human Capital

Go Slow on Arming Recruiters

We Need a Public-Private Approach to Supporting Veterans

A Year After Repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell

RAND Research Contributes to the 11th Quadrennial Review of Military Compensation

U.S. Doesn't Need the Draft

Should Uncle Sam Want You?

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