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Military Career Field Management

Effective military leaders help nations meet their strategic goals, and the retention of these leaders is essential to preserving morale and unit readiness. RAND has conducted extensive research on training and career development programs that are designed to attract and retain personnel with the most promising mix of knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience.

Report

Optimizing the Role of Military Behavioral Health Technicians: A Survey of Behavioral Health Technicians and Mental Health Providers

RAND researchers surveyed military behavioral health technicians (BHTs) and licensed mental health providers about BHTs' contributions, training and supervision, and job satisfaction, as well as barriers to integrating them into clinical practice.

Mar 22, 2022
Research Brief

Behavioral Health Technicians: Extending the Reach of Military Behavioral Health Care

Behavioral health technicians are enlisted service members who work alongside licensed mental health providers. They serve as care extenders, helping the Military Health System improve the efficiency and effectiveness of its behavioral health care.

Mar 22, 2022
Report

U.S. Air Force Enlisted Classification and Reclassification: Potential Improvements Using Machine Learning and Optimization Models

The authors review options for improving processes for classifying and reclassifying enlisted active-duty, non–prior service airmen for initial skills training in the United States Air Force.

Mar 14, 2022
Report

Retention of Enlisted Maintenance, Logistics, and Munitions Personnel: Analysis and Results

In this report, the authors explore whether individual characteristics, economic and geographic factors, and the new Blended Retirement System can provide new insights into what predicts retention of maintenance, logistics, and munitions personnel.

Jan 5, 2022
Report

A Big Transition: Military Service Members' Earnings and Employment After Active Duty

After leaving the service, many veterans earn less money than they did while in active duty. This emphasizes the importance of helping service members build marketable skills and supporting their transitions into the civilian workforce.

Nov 10, 2021
Report

Developing an Air Force Retention Early Warning System

Which features and indicators inform retention outcomes within the U.S. Air Force? A forecasting model for retention can alert decisionmakers to emerging problems and allow for time to consider adjustments.

Oct 14, 2021
Report

Improving U.S. Air Force Training and Development in the Cyber Field

The U.S. Air Force has been looking for ways to revamp the training of its offensive and defensive cyberwarfare workforce to develop the best fighting force possible. Is the training and development process that exists now working well for the cyber workforce? Is there a need for improvement?

Sep 29, 2021
Report

Attracting and Retaining Enlisted and Civilian Personnel to Build the Best Cyber Workforce

In addition to revamping the training of its offensive and defensive cyber operators, the U.S. Air Force has also sought to better understand some of the drivers of attraction to and retention in the cyber field. What could the Air Force do to attract and retain the best personnel?

Sep 29, 2021
Report

Championing the Agile Air Force Officer Career

Some human resource management practices might hinder the military services' abilities to effectively manage their human capital. What is the potential utility of some new flexibilities for improving the management of Air Force human capital?

Jul 30, 2021
Report

Department of the Air Force Officer Talent Management Reforms

The Department of the Air Force is revamping the way it manages officer development and promotion. As part of this overhaul, the Line of the Air Force is being split into six separate developmental categories. How will interdependent policy changes affect outcomes of the personnel system?

Jul 27, 2021
Report

Making the Grade: Integration of Joint Professional Military Education and Talent Management in Developing Joint Officers

The authors examine how joint educational institutions and stakeholders and the military services can support a transition to joint professional military education using the outcomes expected of graduates rather than traditional learning processes.

May 26, 2021
Research Brief

Modernizing Officer Career Management: Analyzing Eleven Issues

The authors examine 11 issues related to modernizing officer career management; these involve statutory, policy, cultural, and fiscal constraints. They offer service perspectives on these constraints and present mitigation strategies.

Jan 19, 2021
Research Brief

"Muddling Through": The Revolutionary Potential of Evolutionary Officer Management Reform

The authors examine why the services embraced the fiscal year 2019 National Defense Authorization Act reforms after rejecting the Force of the Future reforms.

Jan 19, 2021
Report

Officer Career Management: Additional Steps Toward Modernization

The authors identify useful steps toward modernization of officer career management in the military, examine constraints on reforms, and propose mitigating strategies and ways forward.

Jan 19, 2021
Report

Cost-Benefit Analysis of Special and Incentive Pays for Career Enlisted Aviators

The authors develop a capability to calculate the efficient amount of special and incentive pays for Air Force career enlisted aviators (CEAs). They also estimate the trade-offs between retaining CEAs and increasing accessions for a given force size.

Jan 7, 2021
Dissertation

Attracting the Right Volunteers: U.S. Army Functional Areas and the Voluntary Transfer Incentive Program

Explores how the United States Army has adapted to the Voluntary Transfer Incentive Program, which allows mid-career Army officers to volunteer to switch specialties to a functional area.

Sep 23, 2020
Report

U.S. Military Approaches to Leadership Vary Among Services

Emerging global security challenges might require different military leadership approaches and perspectives. How do the services currently develop leaders? And how do each service's personnel practices and culture influence how general and flag officers lead, manage, and advise?

Aug 10, 2020
Report

Modeling Career Enlisted Aviator Retention in the U.S. Air Force

The career trajectories and retention profiles of certain U.S. Air Force career enlisted aviators (CEAs) vary across the different Air Force Specialty Codes. Is there a model that would estimate CEA retention?

Aug 5, 2020
Report

Strengthening Total Force Culture and Facilitating Cross-Component Integration in the U.S. Military

While all U.S. military services have strived to achieve greater total force integration and a stronger total force culture across their active and reserve components, significant impediments limit the achievement of these objectives. What policies can foster cross-component integration?

May 28, 2020
News Release

New Space Force Will Need Resources, Clear Definition of Warfighting Mission

To meet the goals of the U.S. Space Force most space activities in the Department of Defense should be moved into the new service. Moreover, it will be critical that the Space Force clearly define and clarify its space warfighting mission.

Mar 13, 2020

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