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Military Logistics

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

Report

New Metrics and Visualizations to Help the Army Reduce Customer Wait Time

To help Army managers manage customer wait time, the authors developed several metrics and visualizations, including the rifle chart and a count of old orders, that use data available in the Army's logistics enterprise system.

Jan 13, 2020
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Report

Optimizing Army Medical Materiel Strategy

This report describes how the U.S. Army can optimize its medical materiel strategies for efficient medical equipping readiness.

Oct 30, 2019
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Right-Sizing Marine Corps Intermediate Supply Units: A Staffing Model and Proposed Process Improvements

The authors present a methodology to determine optimal personnel capacity for Marine Corps intermediate-level supply accounts and other measures to help these accounts work more effectively and efficiently to meet supported units' needs.

Oct 14, 2019
Report

Report

Improving DoD's Weapon System Support Program: A Critical Readiness Driver Approach

The readiness and sustainability of weapon systems is a key factor in defense. The Weapon System Support Program prioritizes system parts, but performance is lacking. RAND examines program effectiveness and gives recommendations for the future.

Aug 29, 2019
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Report

Personnel Recovery in the AFRICOM Area of Responsibility: Cost-Effective Options for Improvement

This report identifies the most cost-effective options for improving medical rescue capabilities in U.S. Africa Command's area of responsibility.

Aug 27, 2019
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Approaches to Strategic Sealift Readiness

The authors examine the readiness of the strategic sealift fleet and its management. They determine that many factors can be improved to increase readiness and make recommendations toward that end.

Aug 8, 2019
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Report

Future collaboration opportunities for light and medium multirole helicopters in Europe

RAND Europe examined the scope for collaboration between European states in light and medium multirole helicopters throughout their life-cycle (incl. maintenance, procurement, upgrade and R&D), in support of the European Defence Agency (EDA).

Jul 19, 2019
Report

Development of Standardized and Best Practices for the USCG Boats Acquisition Program

This report contains a review of the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) boats acquisition program and the programs of similar organizations inside and outside the USCG, possible funding and structural strategies, and recommendations for USCG leadership.

Jun 24, 2019
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Report

A Throughput-Based Analysis of Army Active Component/Reserve Component Mix for Major Contingency Surge Operations

This report examines how changing the way in which the Army executes mobilization and contingency planning can affect the ratio of reserve component to active component units deploying in the early weeks of a major crisis.

May 8, 2019
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Report

Opportunities for European collaboration in armoured vehicles

RAND Europe examined the scope for collaboration between European states in armoured vehicles (tracked, wheeled and protected transport vehicles) throughout their life-cycle, in support of the European Defence Agency (EDA).

Jan 23, 2019
Report

Standoff Over Senkaku Islands Carries Growing Risk of Miscalculation

China has stepped up its vessel and air activities near the disputed Senkaku Islands. Japan has made posture changes and increased the quantity of aircraft and radar in the region, but it does not have the resources to match Chinese air activity. And since it's an issue of domestic air sovereignty, the U.S. is limited in what it can do to assist Japan.

Dec 3, 2018
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Comprehensive Analysis of Strategic Force Generation Challenges in the Australian Army

This report reviews the modernisation efforts and force generation practices of four armed forces with global presence to derive lessons and practices to inform the Australian Army's own reorganisation policy.

Dec 3, 2018
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Report

Quality of Life at Contingency Bases: Managing Sustainment Community Support Requirements

Quality of life for soldiers on contingency bases is key for morale and physical and emotional well-being but also a substantial logistics burden. This report evaluates factors that contribute to and detract from soldier quality of life.

Nov 29, 2018
Report

Frequent Moves Affect Military Family Stability

About one-third of military service members experience a permanent change of station every year. Sometimes the moves have a positive effect, such as moving to a more desirable location, but they can also disrupt family stability. The DoD offers programs, policies, and services to address the disruptions.

Oct 18, 2018
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Report

Naval Operational Supply System: Analysis of Alternatives

The Department of the Navy asked the RAND Corporation to assist with the Analysis of Alternatives for modernization of its future operational supply, food service, and retail operations capability, the Naval Operational Supply System.

Oct 11, 2018
Commentary

Does Japan Need an Aircraft Carrier?

Japan has not possessed an aircraft carrier in more than 70 years. But that may soon change as the Japanese government is debating retrofitting a class of destroyers to turn them into aircraft carriers. Considering both operational needs and resources limitations, does an aircraft carrier for Japan make sense?

Oct 5, 2018
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Report

An Approach to Life-Cycle Management of Shipboard Equipment

The authors analyze trends in the life-cycle management of common shipboard equipment on U.S. Navy surface ships and recommend steps to improve the readiness of this equipment, increase its efficiency, and reduce sustainment costs.

Oct 1, 2018
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Report

Expanding Operating and Support Cost Analysis for Major Programs During the DoD Acquisition Process: Legal Requirements, Current Practices, and Recommendations

The Office of Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation is required to perform a broad set of cost analysis duties related to major defense acquisition programs but does not always have the resources to fulfill its duties.

Sep 17, 2018
Commentary

Lives on the Line: The A2AD Challenge to Combat Casualty Care

Countries such as Russia and China continue to develop and expand the ability to integrate long-range strike, anti-ship, anti-air, space and cyber abilities. Provision of medical support could be a worthy priority for NATO planners when considering deterrence of and defense against near-peer or peer adversaries.

Jul 31, 2018
Commentary

Military Mobility Returns to the Forefront in Europe

The importance of military mobility has returned only recently to the international high-level agenda, specifically NATO and the European Union. The EU is expected to tackle the issue of military mobility during a European Council meeting in late June, and NATO will convene a summit in July.

Jun 25, 2018

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RAND Topic:
Military Logistics

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