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National Security and Terrorism

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RAND conducts a broad array of national security research for the U.S. Department of Defense and allied ministries of defense. Our federally funded research and development centers (FFRDCs) explore threat assessment, military acquisition, technology, recruitment and personnel management, counterinsurgency, intelligence, and readiness. RAND is a world leader in terrorism research. Studies address such topics as terrorism financing and strategies to undermine violent extremism.

Report

The Emerging Risk of Virtual Societal Warfare

Oct 9, 2019

Living in an information society opens unprecedented opportunities for hostile rivals to cause disruption, delay, inefficiency, and active harm. Social manipulation techniques are evolving beyond disinformation and cyberattacks on infrastructure sites. How can democracies protect themselves?
Article

How High-Quality Mental Health Care Improves Veterans' Lives

Sep 25, 2019

A growing body of RAND research shows that veterans who receive high-quality care have the best chance of improving their mental health outcomes.

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Commentary

The Costs of Confrontation with Iran Are Mounting

Even if the United States and Iran avoid a direct military clash, recent escalation and the U.S. maximum pressure campaign are exacting long-term costs for U.S. interests and regional stability in ways that may be difficult if not impossible to reverse.

Jun 17, 2019
Report

Lessons Learned from the Battle for Baghdad

A review of the U.S. Army's efforts in the Iraq War, especially in Baghdad, offers insights and recommendations that could help leaders avoid the same mistakes in future conflicts. One important lesson is that DoD war plans need to include actions to ensure long-term stability.

Jun 12, 2019
Journal Article

Journal Article

The Use of Complementary and Integrative Health Approaches for Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain in Younger US Veterans: An Economic Evaluation

Chronic pain is prevalent among Veterans in general, but especially among younger Veterans, including participants in Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn. Musculoskeletal pain is the most common type of chronic pain. This pain also often co-occurs with conditions such as anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and substance abuse.

Jun 11, 2019
Journal Article

Journal Article

Use of Complementary and Integrated Health: A Retrospective Analysis of U.S. Veterans with Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain Nationally

This article addresses the use of a variety of nonherbal CIH therapies among any large patient population having chronic pain by exploring the frequency and predictors of CIH therapy use among a national population of VHA users with chronic musculoskeletal pain.

Jun 11, 2019
Journal Article

Journal Article

Yoga Versus Education for Veterans with Chronic Low Back Pain: Study Protocol For a Randomized Controlled Trial

This study will help determine if yoga can become an effective treatment for Veterans with chronic low back pain and psychological comorbidities.

Jun 11, 2019
Commentary

Downplaying North Korea's Missile Tests Carries Risks

North Korea test-fired short-range ballistic missiles for the first time in 18 months. President Trump is downplaying the tests, refusing to call them a violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions. But if North Korea starts testing longer-range missiles, it could become harder for Washington to return to talks, risking the end of diplomacy with Pyongyang altogether.

Jun 5, 2019
Report

Report

Core Competencies for Amputation Rehabilitation

The authors identify core competencies and behaviors in nine provider disciplines that participate in amputation rehabilitation and offer recommendations on how to implement them in the military health setting.

Jun 3, 2019
Report

Main Command Post-Operational Detachments (MCP-ODs) and Division Headquarters Readiness

Researchers identify the effects of Focus Area Review Group II headquarters design and its new unit type -- the Main Command Post--Operational Detachment -- on division headquarters readiness.

Jun 3, 2019
Report

Social Media Helps the Army Connect with Potential Recruits

Social media can be used to raise awareness of the Army among the public, but it's especially important for potential recruits and the adults who might influence them. An analysis of how people are engaging with GoArmy.com and the Army's Facebook and Twitter accounts suggests ways the Army could improve its outreach strategy.

Jun 3, 2019
Report

Valuing Air Force Electric Power Resilience: A Framework for Mission-Level Investment Prioritization

This report addresses the U.S. Air Force's need for a systematic way to value the risk to missions associated with electric power--related disruptions and accordingly set priorities among investments in power resilience.

Jun 3, 2019
Report

Report

An Initial Look at the U.S. Air Force Aviation Professional Pay Proposal

The U.S. Air Force has proposed Aviation Professional Pay as a replacement for Aviation Bonus and Aviator Incentive Pay. This Perspective offers analysts' assessment of the proposed plan and an alternative's effects on force size and cost.

Jun 3, 2019
Commentary

Japan Prepares for Olympic-Level Cybersecurity

The world's attention will be fixed on Japan as it hosts the Rugby World Cup in September and the Tokyo Olympics in 2020. Japan's cyber defenses will need to be strong enough to keep attackers out and resilient enough to restore systems should things go wrong.

Jun 3, 2019
Research Brief

Research Brief

The Growing Need to Focus on Modern Political Warfare

RAND researchers analyzed how political warfare is practiced today and identified ways that the U.S. government, its allies, and its partners can respond to or engage in this type of conflict to achieve U.S. ends and protect U.S. interests.

May 31, 2019
Journal Article

Options for Dealing with ISIS Foreign Fighters Detained in Syria

The U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces are holding thousands of fighters who had joined ISIS's ranks from abroad as well as members of their families. What the world does (or does not do) about them could affect the future stability of the region and the countries from which they came.

May 31, 2019
Commentary

This Is Not a Great-Power Competition

The emerging conventional wisdom among foreign policy analysts in Washington is that a new era of great-power competition is upon us. But does that phrase really capture today's reality?

May 29, 2019
Report

Report

An Assessment of Gaps in Business Acumen and Knowledge of Industry Within the Defense Acquisition Workforce: A Report Prepared for the U.S. Department of Defense in Compliance with Section 843(c) of the Fiscal Year 2018 National Defense Authorization Act

RAND researchers assessed gaps in business acumen and knowledge of industry present within the defense acquisition workforce. They identified apparent knowledge gaps, possible reasons for their existence, and potential approaches to closing them.

May 28, 2019
Commentary

Iran's Network of Fighters in the Middle East Aren't Always Loyal to Iran

Iran's nonstate partners are emerging as central players in the escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran, and may be a driver of further escalation. But how involved is Iran with these proxy groups?

May 21, 2019
Testimony

Fostering Skills and Creating New Pipelines for Military Service

The latest National Defense Authorization Act provides seven new authorities enabling the services to access, retain, and promote competitive officers. What are some considerations for using them to address compensation, performance data collection, and the civil-military divide?

May 16, 2019
Commentary

We're Just Beginning to Grasp the Toll of the Islamic State's Archaeological Looting in Syria

During the Islamic State's rise, looted artifacts were said to be a significant source of income for the group. But no one had identified the value, using empirical data and systematic calculations, of the artifacts that were known to exist in Syria's archaeological sites. Until now.

May 15, 2019
Commentary

Vietnam Is the Chinese Military's Preferred Warm-Up Fight

China's last major war experience gave it virtually zero lessons to apply to future armed conflict. At some point the People's Liberation Army (PLA) will need to test its new capabilities and the training it has honed over time. There are at least three reasons why Vietnam is likely in the PLA's crosshairs.

May 15, 2019

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