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Military Logistics

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Logistics—the transfer of personnel and materiel from one location to another, as well as the maintenance of that materiel—is essential for a military to be able to support an ongoing deployment or respond effectively to emergent threats. RAND has long provided guidance and effective solutions to military supply and logistics decisionmakers, resulting in significant savings, improved readiness and combat support, and unit flexibility.

Report

Technology Innovation and the Future of Air Force Intelligence Analysis: Findings and Recommendations

Jan 27, 2021

Getting the right intelligence to the right people at the right time is increasingly difficult as the amount of data grows and timelines shrink. How can tools and technologies help the Air Force Distributed Common Ground System evolve to meet the challenges of synthesizing data effectively and efficiently?
Report

Analysis of Global Management of Air Force War Reserve Materiel to Support Operations in Contested and Degraded Environments

Jan 14, 2021

The Air Force's current system of war reserve materiel management is positioned more for efficiency than effectiveness. What do case studies reveal about the trade-offs and best practices for a centralized versus decentralized management approach?

Explore Military Logistics

Report

Assessing the Effectiveness of Future Concepts in the U.S. Air Force: Application to Future Logistics Concepts

RAND researchers present a Future Logistics Concept Assessment Framework, which is a disciplined, systematic way to assess proposed future logistics concepts to meet the requirements of the National Defense Strategy.

Mar 7, 2022
Report

Supporting Combat Power Projection Away from Fixed Infrastructure

The authors examine the logistics and sustainment aspects of an emerging operational concept for employing a family of unmanned aerial vehicles that can be launched, recovered, and sustained with minimal reliance on runways.

Jan 26, 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

Implementing Variable Cost Pricing in the Transportation Working Capital Fund

In this companion report, researchers identify next steps toward implementing variable cost pricing for selected business lines funded by the Transportation Working Capital Fund.

Dec 16, 2021
Q&A

A Tradition of Service: Q&A with Two Veterans

Before they became RAND researchers, Jonathan Wong and Joslyn Fleming served as U.S. Marines. In this interview, they discuss what made them want to join the service, what led them to research, and how their military experience guides the work they do at RAND.

Nov 7, 2021
Research Brief

Achieving Global Mobility: Future Force Design 2040

This research brief highlights the likely changes that will arise in global mobility requirements for UK Armed Forces between now and 2040. It also outlines a range of options to deliver global mobility in dynamic threat and policy environments.

Oct 14, 2021
Report

Global Mobility: Future Force Design 2040

This study identifies the likely changes that will arise in global mobility requirements for UK Armed Forces between now and 2040. It also outlines a range of options to deliver global mobility in dynamic threat and policy environments.

Oct 14, 2021
Report

An Analysis of Alternative Approaches to Measuring Multinational Interoperability: Early Development of the Army Interoperability Measurement System (AIMS)

Researchers conducted an analysis of alternatives of interoperability measurement systems to support the U.S. Army in achieving interoperability with partners. Researchers identified a new approach, the Army Interoperability Measurement System.

Sep 22, 2021
Report

Is the Defense Acquisition System Postured to Solve National Defense Strategy Operational Problems?

The authors propose assessing the defense acquisition system's ability to overcome the operational problems outlined in the 2018 National Defense Strategy, discuss why the approach is valuable, and suggest next steps.

Sep 20, 2021
Report

Data Rights Relevant to Weapon Systems in Air Force Special Operations Command

The Air Force needs better access to contractors' technical data to sustain core military aircraft assets and subsystems. For this to happen, the U.S. government needs the appropriate license rights and actual possession of the data.

Sep 2, 2021
Report

Strategic Airlift in Africa: Understanding Challenges and Opportunities for the Movement Coordination Centre Europe (MCCE) and Member Nations

The Movement Coordination Centre Europe commissioned RAND Europe to conduct a scoping study to understand constraints of operating in Africa, as well as barriers to the efficient coordination of airlift and other logistic support in the continent. This narrated presentation describes the project, including key findings.

Aug 20, 2021
Research Brief

The Future of Combat Casualty Care: Is the Military Health System Ready?

The Military Health System will need to implement a portfolio of mitigation strategies to ensure an agile, resilient, and global network of capabilities and a robust industrial supply base to effectively treat combat casualties in future conflicts.

Jul 26, 2021
Report

Preparing for the Future of Combat Casualty Care: Opportunities to Refine the Military Health System's Alignment with the National Defense Strategy

The Military Health System needs an agile, resilient, and global network of treatment and storage facilities and transportation assets, as well as knowledge of gaps and risks that could hinder effective medical support for future combat operations.

Jul 26, 2021
Report

Strategic Airlift in Africa: Understanding Challenges and Opportunities for the Movement Coordination Centre Europe

The Movement Coordination Centre Europe commissioned RAND Europe to conduct a scoping study to understand constraints of operating in Africa, as well as barriers to the efficient coordination of airlift and other logistic support in the continent.

Jul 22, 2021
Commentary

Military and Defense-Related Supply Chains

After the Cold War, U.S. logistics planners moved away from a focus on effectiveness to a focus on efficiency in the sense that little is left idle for significant periods and that commodities are delivered at minimum cost. The ability of the system to support the joint force in the event of major conflict is at best untested and could be problematic.

Jun 22, 2021
Report

Crisis Response in a Changing Climate: Implications of Climate Change for UK Defence Logistics in Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) and Military Aid to the Civil Authorities (MACA) Operations

This study identifies the implications of climate change for defence logistics in crisis response operations. It identifies challenges to, and policy options for better delivery of, crisis response.

May 4, 2021
Report

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

The authors assess the financial viability and current structure of the Transportation Working Capital Fund, which funds U.S. Transportation Command operations, and recommend ways to restructure the fund to improve its effectiveness and efficiency.

Mar 25, 2021
Report

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

The Air Force Aircrew Flight Equipment (AFE) specialty plays a crucial role in ensuring the safety of airmen. The authors investigate causes for the decline in AFE proficiency and develop courses of action to mitigate the issue.

Mar 17, 2021
Report

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

This report describes new concepts for U.S. Air Force combat support command and control while under persistent multi-domain attack during a high-end fight, specifically to support maneuver and functioning in a communications degraded environment.

Mar 16, 2021
Report

Equipping the 21st Century Marine Corps: Alternative Equipping Strategies for Task-Organized Units

Provisional unit equipping differs from the traditional way the Marine Corps equips forces, which places a burden on the logistics enterprise. The totality of the problem demands a multipronged approach as the best course of action.

Feb 18, 2021

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RAND Topic:
Military Logistics

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