Congressional Newsletter

National Security

U.S. Marines and sailors post security from the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD-2) off the coast of Southern Calif., December 4, 2020, photo by Lance Cpl. Cameron Rowe/U.S. Marine Corps

Lance Cpl. Cameron Rowe/U.S. Marine Corps

The Link Between Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault in the Military

Ambient sexual harassment—the sexual harassment of others in a service member’s work environment—is strongly associated with risk of sexual assault, even after controlling for many other sexual assault risk factors, according to a RAND report.

The authors conclude that sexual assault and harassment in the military should be thought of as a single problem or as a single underlying workplace disorder. To help prevent an escalation from harassment to assault, they recommend that efforts to prevent sexual assault should emphasize preventing or stopping sexual harassment.
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Testimonies

Army Sgt. 1st Class Cory Christiansen, a member of the Para-Commandos, U.S. Special Operations Command's parachute team, jumps out of an HC-130J Combat King II aircraft over Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., Nov. 15, 2019.

Air Force Airman 1st Class Dwane Young/U.S. Department of Defense

Special Operations Forces Culture and Climate: The Future of the Force

Linda Robinson

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National Security Research Division

A1C Kathryn R.C. Reaves/U.S. Air Force

Perceived Retaliation Against Military Sexual Assault Victims

Coreen Farris et al.

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People are silhouetted as they hold mobile devices in front of a screen projected with a binary code and a Russian flag, in Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina, October 29, 2014, photo by Dado Ruvic/Reuters

Dado Ruvic/Reuters

Countering Foreign Interference in U.S. Elections

Marek N. Posard et al.

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Pavlo Gonchar/SOPA Images/Sipa USA

Tweeting Out Surveys to Pro-Ukraine Influencers: Exploring the Potential for Enlisting Support in the Information Fight Against Russia

Todd C. Helmus et al.

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South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un shake hands at the truce village of Panmunjom inside the demilitarized zone separating the two Koreas, April 27, 2018, photo by Korea Summit Press Pool/Pool via Reuters

Korea Summit Press Pool/Pool via Reuters

The U.S.-Japan Alliance and Rapid Change on the Korean Peninsula: Proceedings from a Pair of Conferences

Scott W. Harold et al.

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Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, U.S. President Donald Trump, and UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed sign the Abraham Accords in Washington, September 15, 2020, photo by Tom Brenner/Reuters

Tom Brenner/Reuters

Peace Dividend: Widening the Economic Growth and Development Benefits of the Abraham Accords

Daniel Egel et al.

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fizkes/Getty Images

Updating Personnel Vetting and Security Clearance Guidelines for Future Generations

Marek N. Posard et al.

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A Special Tactics Airman surveys a target following close air support training during RED FLAG-Alaska 18-3 at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, August 16, 2018, photo by Tech. Sgt. Sandra Welch/U.S. Air Force

Tech. Sgt. Sandra Welch/U.S. Air Force

Behavioral Health Care in the Military Health System: Access and Quality for Remote Service Members

Kimberly A. Hepner et al.

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Spc. Jack Buckwalter, a mental health specialist, provides triage to a soldier during a behavioral health assessment.

Sgt. Christopher Calvert

Lessons Learned for Provisioning and Delivering U.S. Military Behavioral Health Care, 2003–2013

Kristie L. Gore et al.

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Military vehicle with financial graph over top

iStockphoto/Thinkstock

Independent Evaluation of the Transportation Working Capital Fund: Assessment and Recommendations to Improve Effectiveness and Efficiency

Michael Vasseur et al.

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Cadets from Class 18-2 at the Idaho Youth ChalleNGe Academy work on assignments during one of their classes in Pierce, Idaho on Sept. 10, 2018, photo by Master Sgt. Becky Vanshur/U.S. Air National Guard

Master Sgt. Becky Vanshur/U.S. Air National Guard

National Guard Youth ChalleNGe: Program Progress in 2019–2020

Jennie W. Wenger et al.

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GettyImages/CatLane and Fanatic Studio

Streamlining Cost Estimation for Large Department of Defense Organizations

Molly F. McIntosh et al.

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The Sodium Guidestar at the Air Force Research Laboratory's Starfire Optical Range resides on a 6,240 foot hilltop at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico, photo by U.S. Air Force

U.S. Air Force

A History of the Third Offset, 2014–2018

Gian Gentile et al.

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Project Air Force

Senior Airman Colby Cook, 419th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief, inspects an F-35A Lightning II before takeoff at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Nov. 16, 2017. The F-35A is the Air Force's latest low observable fifth-generation fighter incorporating stealth technology, photo by Naoto Anazawa/U.S. Air Force

Naoto Anazawa/U.S. Air Force

Command and Control of U.S. Air Force Combat Support in a High-End Fight

Don Snyder et al.

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Airman 1st Class Isaiah Miller/U.S. Air Force

Increasing Aircrew Flight Equipment Personnel Proficiency: Insights from Members of the Career Field

Chaitra M. Hardison et al.

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Army Research Division

Graduating high school seniors who have committed to enlist in the Armed Forces following high school graduation stand as the National Anthem plays during an Our Community Salutes event at Fort McCoy, Wisconsin on Armed Forces Day, May 20, 2017, photo by Ted Small/Alamy Stock Photo

Ted Small/Alamy Stock Photo

An Empirical Assessment of the U.S. Army’s Enlistment Waiver Policies: An Examination in Light of Emerging Societal Trends in Behavioral Health and the Legalization of Marijuana

Beth J. Asch et al.

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The groundbreaking ceremony at the Van Horne housing community

Sgt. Ida Irby/U.S. Army

The Army’s Local Economic Effects: 2nd Edition

Christopher M. Schnaubelt et al.

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Image of the Army Local Effects Dashboard

RAND Corporation

The Army’s Local Economic Effects: Appendix B, Volume 1: Alabama Through Minnesota; 2nd Edition

Christopher M. Schnaubelt et al.

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Yozayo/iStock/Getty Images and Bamlou/DigitalVision Vectors

The Army’s Local Economic Effects: Appendix B, Volume 2: Mississippi Through Wyoming; 2nd Edition

Christopher M. Schnaubelt et al.

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RAND Congressional Resources Staff

Jayme Fuglesten
Director, Office of Congressional Relations

Kurt Card
National Security Legislative Analyst

Nathaniel Lutovsky
Legislative Analyst

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The Congressional Relations’ National Security newsletter includes the latest research by RAND’s three national security Federally Funded Research and Development Centers.

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