Military Professions

For decades, RAND has conducted extensive research to help U.S. and allied decisionmakers design training and career development programs that will attract and retain military professionals capable of meeting a nation's national security and defense goals.

Report
Significant Gender- and Race/Ethnicity-Based Differences Exist in Rates of Promotion and Retention Among Officers
Although the retention and promotion of women and minorities has increased among officers in the U.S. military over time, the proportion of those groups in the senior officer corps remains relatively low.
May 24, 2012
Report
What Are the Restrictions on the Service of Active-Component Military Women?
Most of the U.S. military positions that remain closed to women service members are those in Army and Marine Corps units and occupations that have a primary mission of engaging in direct ground combat.
May 21, 2012
Report
The Use of Standardized Scores in Officer Career Management and Selection
This report reviews how standardized tests are used as part of a broader selection system for each of the services at different points in an officer's career and discusses key issues that should be considered when using such tests.
Mar 8, 2012
Report
Incentive Pay for Remotely Piloted Aircraft Career Fields
An econometric assessment of the effectiveness of incentive pays for retaining remotely piloted aircraft pilots and sensor operators.
Mar 6, 2012
Report
Reshaping the Army's Active and Reserve Components
Assesses how Army active and reserve forces are used, to analyze policy options that would improve utilization of reserve forces.
Dec 15, 2011
Research Brief
Developing U.S. Army Officers' Capabilities for Joint, Interagency, Intergovernmental, and Multinational Environments
Identifies and describes the knowledge, skills, and abilities that enable Army officers to succeed in joint, interagency, intergovernmental, and multinational contexts.
Dec 6, 2011
Report
Information Systems Technician Rating Stakeholders: Implications for Effective Performance
Discusses the relationships among stakeholders involved in manpower, personnel, and training processes for managing the U.S. Navy information systems technician rating.
Nov 18, 2011
Report
An Organizational Design Assessment of U.S. Marine Corps Intelligence
Over the past decade, U.S. Marine Corps intelligence has had to tailor its organization to meet the evolving demands of the operational environment. A broad review of its design examined how to align it efficiently and effectively with current and future missions and functions.
Jul 13, 2011
Report
Balancing Rated Personnel Requirements and Inventories
A five-step process for achieving and maintaining the balance between requirements for rated personnel and inventories.
May 25, 2011
Report
Air Force Contingency Contracting: Reachback and Other Opportunities for Improvement
Examines
Mar 31, 2011
Report
Developing U.S. Army Officers' Capabilities for Joint, Interagency, Intergovernmental, and Multinational Environments
Identifies and describes the knowledge, skills, and abilities that enable Army officers to succeed in joint, interagency, intergovernmental, and multinational contexts.
Feb 10, 2011
Dissertation
Retention of Military Physicians: The Differential Effects of Practice Opportunities Across the Three Services
Examines the link between practice opportunities and physician retention in the Army, Air Force, and Navy.
Oct 11, 2010
Report
Targeting the Occupational Skill Pairings Needed in New Air Force Colonels
The Air Force needs to develop a second occupational competency, or a paired skill, in many of its future colonels and generals so they can fill leadership jobs that require competency beyond their primary occupational backgrounds.
Oct 7, 2010
Report
Evaluating Navy's Funded Graduate Education Program: A Return-on-Investment Framework
The financial costs of graduate education are difficult to recoup, but the Navy benefits from broadly educating its officers. The skills and general knowledge thus gained add value throughout a career, particularly one headed for flag rank.
Aug 3, 2010
Report
The Air Force Officer Qualifying Test: Validity, Fairness, and Bias
Reports the results of an examination of the worth and validity of the Air Force Officer Qualifying Test.
May 10, 2010
Report
Security Cooperation Organizations in the Country Team: Options for Success
Examines options for improving current Defense Department security cooperation organization and practices at the country team level, particularly in countries that are threatened by insecurity or instability.
Mar 5, 2010
Report
Human Capital Management for the USAF Cyber Force
Identifies and analyzes the human capital management issues associated with the creation of a formal organization dedicated to cyberspace capabilities within the U.S. Air Force.
Feb 22, 2010
Report
Measuring Underemployment Among Military Spouses
Comparisons of military wives with a group of similar civilian wives show that the former have a much greater tendency to be underemployed. However, there does not seem to be a strong link between military wives' labor force position and satisfaction with their life situation.
Feb 16, 2010
Report
The Acquisition Cost-Estimating Workforce: Census and Characteristics
Reports the results of a census of the Air Force's acquisition cost-estimating workforce, describes its background and competencies, and assesses its operational needs.
Nov 24, 2009
Report
Air Force Officer Specialty Structure: Reviewing the Fundamentals
Focusing primarily on the officer structure, provides a brief primer on the specialty-classification system, summarizes major changes in progress or planned, and suggests additional changes based on interviews and comparative analyses.
Oct 30, 2009

Research conducted by

Researcher Spotlight

Henry A. Leonard

Senior International/Defense Researcher

Henry "Chip" Leonard is a senior international/defense researcher at the RAND Corporation who served for more than 27 years as an Army officer; half of that time was with tactical units, including seven years of direct command experience. In addition, he served in key operational staff positions…

Chaitra M. Hardison

Senior Behavioral Scientist

Chaitra M. Hardison (she/her) is a senior behavioral scientist at the RAND Corporation and a member of the Pardee RAND Graduate School faculty. Her research focuses on the knowledge, skills, and abilities required in the workplace and identifying how best to select, train, and educate personnel…

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Military Professions

Significant Gender- and Race/Ethnicity-Based Differences Exist in Rates of Promotion and Retention Among Officers

What Are the Restrictions on the Service of Active-Component Military Women?

The Use of Standardized Scores in Officer Career Management and Selection

Incentive Pay for Remotely Piloted Aircraft Career Fields

Reshaping the Army's Active and Reserve Components

Developing U.S. Army Officers' Capabilities for Joint, Interagency, Intergovernmental, and Multinational Environments

Information Systems Technician Rating Stakeholders: Implications for Effective Performance

An Organizational Design Assessment of U.S. Marine Corps Intelligence

Balancing Rated Personnel Requirements and Inventories

Air Force Contingency Contracting: Reachback and Other Opportunities for Improvement

Developing U.S. Army Officers' Capabilities for Joint, Interagency, Intergovernmental, and Multinational Environments

Retention of Military Physicians: The Differential Effects of Practice Opportunities Across the Three Services

Targeting the Occupational Skill Pairings Needed in New Air Force Colonels

Evaluating Navy's Funded Graduate Education Program: A Return-on-Investment Framework

The Air Force Officer Qualifying Test: Validity, Fairness, and Bias

Security Cooperation Organizations in the Country Team: Options for Success

Human Capital Management for the USAF Cyber Force

Measuring Underemployment Among Military Spouses

The Acquisition Cost-Estimating Workforce: Census and Characteristics

Air Force Officer Specialty Structure: Reviewing the Fundamentals

Research conducted by

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