This report explores ways for the U.S. Air Force to increase gender-integrated training (GIT) in Basic Military Training. The report includes five options to increase GIT, along with a comparative analysis of these options and an implementation monitoring framework.

An Assessment of Options for Increasing Gender Integration in Air Force Basic Military Training

Agnes Gereben Schaefer, Darrell D. Jones, Andrew M. Naber, Thomas Goughnour, Nelson Lim

ResearchPublished Mar 5, 2018

The USAF asked the RAND Corporation to assess ways to increase gender-integrated training (GIT) in Basic Military Training (BMT). RAND reviewed historical literature and the experiences of other services and devised five options for increased GIT. Options include integrating training activities, integrating flights to different male-female proportions both before and after fall out from sleeping bays, and modifying sleeping bays for full integration. This report provides a comparative analysis of these options, including costs for each one, as well as a monitoring framework to monitor the progress of any GIT option that the USAF might choose.

Key Takeaways

RAND found five options to increase GIT

  • Option One increases GIT by integrating select training activities.
  • Option Two integrates selected flights 50-percent male/50-percent female after the trainees leave their gender-segregated sleeping bays and are on the drill pad.
  • Option Three integrates selected flights 50-percent male/50-percent female, with trainees integrating after morning hygiene by switching to an opposite-gender sleeping bay.
  • Option Four integrates selected flights 75-percent male/25-percent female on the drill pad.
  • Option Five integrates the sleeping bays themselves.

Recommendations

  • Whatever option the USAF takes to increase GIT, it should communicate the purpose for the change.
  • A detailed implementation plan is necessary, along with specific accountability.
  • The USAF should ensure top leadership commitment to change.
  • Internal and external oversight of any change is important, along with a monitoring system.

Topics

Document Details

Citation

Chicago Manual of Style

Schaefer, Agnes Gereben, Darrell D. Jones, Andrew M. Naber, Thomas Goughnour, and Nelson Lim, An Assessment of Options for Increasing Gender Integration in Air Force Basic Military Training. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 2018. https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR1795.html.
BibTeX RIS

Research conducted by

The research reported here was commissioned by the commander of Second Air Force and was conducted within the Manpower, Personnel, and Training Program of RAND Project AIR FORCE.

This publication is part of the RAND research report series. Research reports present research findings and objective analysis that address the challenges facing the public and private sectors. All RAND research reports undergo rigorous peer review to ensure high standards for research quality and objectivity.

This document and trademark(s) contained herein are protected by law. This representation of RAND intellectual property is provided for noncommercial use only. Unauthorized posting of this publication online is prohibited; linking directly to this product page is encouraged. Permission is required from RAND to reproduce, or reuse in another form, any of its research documents for commercial purposes. For information on reprint and reuse permissions, please visit www.rand.org/pubs/permissions.

RAND is a nonprofit institution that helps improve policy and decisionmaking through research and analysis. RAND's publications do not necessarily reflect the opinions of its research clients and sponsors.