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Enlisted Personnel

Members of the military with a rank below that of commissioned officer constitute a vital portion of the overall strength and mobility of an armed force. RAND research on enlisted military personnel provides objective analysis and recommendations to military leaders and civilian policymakers regarding such issues as health care, diversity and quality of recruits, reenlistment behavior, personnel management, family issues, and the effects of multiple deployments.

Report

Who Joins the Army, and Why?

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.

May 14, 2018
Report

How Does Deployment Experience Compare Across the Services?

Deployments are a key aspect of U.S. military service. Since 9/11, 2.77 million service members have served on 5.4 million deployments. Accrued time deployed is a relevant metric for measuring military experience, but also for measuring service member and family well-being.

Mar 6, 2018
Report

How to Increase Gender Integration in Air Force Basic Training

Now that all positions in the Air Force are open to women, USAF leadership is looking for ways to better integrate them during basic training. There are five options that could increase gender-integrated training, but the best solution will depend on USAF priorities.

Mar 5, 2018
Report

How to Bolster Recruitment of Women into the U.S. Military

As ground combat jobs transition to include women, efforts to improve the recruitment process are expanding. Having more female recruiters could help, as could creating outreach materials that counter stereotypes and highlight the roles of women in the military.

Jun 28, 2017
Research Brief

Research Brief

Assessing the Army's Ability to Regenerate Its Active Component End Strength

This analysis modeled the Army's ability to increase ("regenerate") its active component end strength over five years -- starting from end strengths of 450,000 and 420,000 -- to provide the number of deployable troops available in 2010.

May 3, 2017
Report

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Evaluating the Army's Ability to Regenerate: History and Future Options

This analysis modeled the Army's ability to increase ("regenerate") its active component end strength over five years -- starting from end strengths of 450,000 and 420,000 -- to provide the number of deployable troops available in 2010.

May 3, 2017
Report

Report

Assessing the Use of Employment Screening for Sexual Assault Prevention

This report reviews employment screening policies and procedures to assess how helpful these may be for Air Force sexual assault prevention efforts and also reviews self-reporting of behaviors, background checks, and personality tests.

Mar 9, 2017
Report

Report

A Preliminary Assessment of the Regionally Aligned Forces (RAF) Concept's Implications for Army Personnel Management

RAND Arroyo Center explored how the U.S. Army might need to adapt its personnel management policies and practices to support the Regionally Aligned Forces concept.

Nov 11, 2015
Report

Report

Understanding Low Survey Response Rates Among Young U.S. Military Personnel

A review of major online U.S. military surveys found very low response rates among young enlisted members. The authors explore possible explanations, why such rates might not reflect bias, and what to do before investing to increase participation.

Jul 9, 2015
Report

An Integrated Survey System for Addressing Abuse and Misconduct Toward Air Force Trainees During Basic Military Training

RAND developed an integrated survey system to help the U.S. Air Force's Air Education and Training Command monitor and address abuse and misconduct by military training instructors toward trainees during Basic Military Training.

Jun 18, 2015
Dissertation

Dissertation

The Relationship Between Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Symptoms and Career Outcomes of Army Enlisted Servicemembers

Explores the relationship between post-traumatic stress disorder and negative military career outcomes.

Feb 25, 2015
Report

Report

Promoting Airmen with the Potential to Lead: A Study of the Air Force Master Sergeant Promotion System

Despite an evolving operational environment, the system for promoting airmen into the rank of master sergeant has not changed since it was developed more than 40 years ago. RAND researchers assessed the system and explored areas for improvement.

Nov 14, 2014
Blog

The Bergdahl-Taliban Prisoner Exchange Isn't New, but Presents Unique Questions

While it's been many years since the United States secured the release of a POW via prisoner exchange, RAND's Jonah Blank, a former Senate Foreign Relations Committee staff member, says that such deals are nothing new.

Jun 4, 2014
News Release

News Release

Increasing Numbers of U.S. Army Recruits Enlist Some Years After High School

More than half of all U.S. Army recruits are choosing to join later in life instead of immediately after high school graduation, but these older recruits tend to reenlist and be promoted at greater rates than their younger peers.

Apr 23, 2014
Report

Increasing Numbers of U.S. Army Recruits Enlist Some Years After High School

More than half of all U.S. Army recruits are choosing to join later in life instead of immediately after high school graduation. Older recruits tend to reenlist and receive promotions at greater rates than their younger peers.

Apr 23, 2014
Dissertation

Dissertation

Three Essays on Education Policy: Empirical Analyses of the Challenges and Opportunities with For-Profit Colleges, Military Enlistment and Immigration

Examines the educational outcomes of for-profit college students, military enlistees and immigrant youth.

Feb 27, 2014
Report

Report

Elements of Success: How Type of Secondary Education Credential Helps Predict Enlistee Attrition

This report examines how attrition rates for enlistees with distance learning or homeschool credentials compare with those of high school diploma holders in light of Armed Forces Qualification Test scores.

Feb 20, 2014
Report

Report

The Future of the U.S. Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Force

Assesses alternatives for a next-generation intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) across a broad set of potential characteristics and situations and weighs them against the costs of those alternatives.

Feb 4, 2014
Report

Report

General Military Training: Standardization and Reduction Options

Every uniformed service member must complete general military training requirements. This report examines training requirements and ways to standardize those requirements and reduce the training burden.

Dec 20, 2012
Research Brief

Research Brief

Slowing the Increase in Military Pay

Examines the possibility for the Department of Defense to save money on military pay while sustaining a high-quality force.

Jul 30, 2012

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Enlisted Personnel

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