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Operational Readiness

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Organizing, training, and equipping armed forces for combat is essential to ensure their success in the field. RAND research provides military decisionmakers with information and analyses to implement effective support, training, and acquisition policies that ensure the highest level of operational readiness, even in the face of increasingly fluid combat environments.

Report

Lessons from COVID-19 Infections on U.S. Navy Ships

Sep 21, 2021

The U.S. Navy's handling of the early COVID-19 outbreak on the USS Theodore Roosevelt revealed some cracks in the service's readiness to respond to major medical events. The relative lack of severe consequences in this instance should not prevent the Navy from reviewing those shortfalls and their implications for readiness.
Report

Aligning Roles and Missions for Future Multidomain Warfare

Aug 19, 2021

The formal decisions, documents, and events that established the roles, missions, and functions (RMF) of the U.S. Department of Defense and the military services in the early postwar years are over 70 years old. Is the existing RMF framework fundamentally sound, requiring only modest adjustments?

Explore Operational Readiness

Report

How to Effectively Assess the Impact of Non-Lethal Weapons as Intermediate Force Capabilities

This report describes how to evaluate the impact of non-lethal weapons (NLWs). Characterizing the contribution of NLWs to strategic goals provides insights into their effective integration throughout U.S. Department of Defense operations.

Jan 18, 2022
Report

Assessing the Readiness of Contractor-Provided Space Operations Capabilities

There are a significant number of private contractors performing space operations functions and tasks for the Air Force. This report examines how the Air Force evaluates its ability to deliver space operations capabilities provided by contractors.

Jan 3, 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
Report

Wing-Level Mission Assurance for a Cyber-Contested Environment

The authors offer ways to help wings assure their missions despite cyber attacks, focusing on how wings can maintain situational awareness, defend their systems, and respond to and recover from attacks to survive and operate when under cyber attack.

Dec 9, 2021
Report

AI Tools for Military Readiness

Readiness is integral to national security, and key to its management is its measurement. The authors show how artificial intelligence can improve the detail and accuracy of the U.S. military's readiness reports.

Sep 20, 2021
Report

Supporting Joint Warfighter Readiness: Opportunities and Incentives for Interservice and Intraservice Coordination with Training-Simulator Acquisition and Use

As conflicts increasingly involve joint operations, joint simulation-based training becomes more important. The authors examine gaps between joint training needs and current and future resources to improve coordination within and among the services.

Aug 4, 2021
Commentary

A Taiwan Contingency and Japan's Counterstrike Debate

The United States and Japan could be drawn into a conflict in the event of Chinese aggression against Taiwan whether they like it or not. Allied defense planning could consider how Japan might further reinforce deterrence and if necessary improve its ability to contribute to the common defense.

Jul 23, 2021
Report

Understanding the Ministry of Defence's Wider Contribution to UK Prosperity: Measuring Defence Output

The UK Ministry of Defence (MOD)'s Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) commissioned RAND Europe to examine different approaches to assessing UK Defence's contribution to national prosperity.

Jul 14, 2021
Report

Running the Joint: Air Force Efforts to Build a Joint Task Force Headquarters

The authors examine U.S. Air Force efforts to develop a capability to carry out a Joint Task Force Headquarters (JTF HQ) mission. The findings will be relevant to anyone interested in Air Force efforts to stand up a JTF HQ.

Jul 13, 2021
Report

Persistent Challenges in UK Defence Equipment Acquisition

This paper identifies underlying and cross-cutting factors that contribute to seemingly intractable challenges in defence equipment acquisition programmes. It also discusses measures that could help address these inefficiencies going forward.

Jun 23, 2021
Report

A Review of the Air Force Fitness Assessment

This report presents an overview of research relevant to U.S. Air Force fitness assessment components to ensure readiness of personnel, support the National Defense Strategy, and promote a culture of health and well-being across the U.S. Air Force.

Apr 6, 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
Commentary

The National Guard Can Do It, but That Doesn't Mean It's a Good Idea

Should the National Guard provide an enduring quick reaction force for Washington, D.C., as apparently recommended in a recent report to Congress? Policymakers might ask themselves whether using the National Guard for this mission is actually the best solution.

Mar 19, 2021
Testimony

Factors Shaping China's Use of Force Calculations Against Taiwan

Taiwan remains the People's Liberation Army's main strategic direction despite a growing recognition that the PLA must also support China's international interests and presence. Does China see itself as capable of confronting the United States and its allies in a conflict over Taiwan? And what are some U.S. policy considerations?

Feb 18, 2021
Report

The Demand for Responsiveness in Past U.S. Military Operations

The Department of Defense argues that it must maintain a high level of readiness across the joint force to remain highly responsive. The author conducts a historical analysis to identify the demand for responsiveness in past U.S. military operations.

Jan 28, 2021
Report

Developing Operationally Relevant Metrics for Measuring and Tracking Readiness in the U.S. Air Force

The authors developed a new approach to leverage and aggregate authoritative data sources that feed the current readiness reporting system to better measure the ability of Air Combat Command forces to meet scenario demands.

Dec 21, 2020
Periodical

RAND Review: September-October 2020

Feature stories explore how Pardee RAND is helping to shape the future of public policy through its Faculty Leaders Program; the safety and sustainability of the U.S. blood supply; and how telemedicine is changing the delivery of health care.

Sep 8, 2020
Report

Air Force Nonrated Technical Training: Improving Efficiency

What are some ways to improve the efficiency and responsiveness of the Air Force's technical training enterprise for both officers and enlisted personnel? There may be some lessons the Air Force can take from higher education institutions.

Jun 29, 2020

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RAND Topic:
Operational Readiness

Topic Synonyms:
Combat Readiness

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