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United States Department of Defense

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Report

Setting the Level and Annual Adjustment of Military Pay

Dec 17, 2020

Every four years, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) commissions a review of the military compensation system. How has military pay compared with civilian pay since the 1990s?
Tool

Hedgemony: A Game of Strategic Choices

Sep 22, 2020

In this tabletop military strategy game, players represent the United States, its allies, and its key competitors. They must use “hedging” strategies and decide how to best manage their resources and forces.

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Commentary

Navigating Norms for the New Space Era

To make better progress on global norms for responsible behavior in space, the U.S. defense and intelligence communities might first consider reaching a consensus among themselves on what these norms should be. Until they reconcile their differences the United States will be less likely be in a position to play a leadership role.

Feb 8, 2021
Commentary

What the Capitol Siege Means for the Future of Security Clearances

Some people who stormed the U.S. Capitol on January 6 had or have a national security clearance and thus trusted access to classified information. And some might apply for a security clearance in the future. If they are not identified and prosecuted, then they won't have a criminal record that could be detected in a background check.

Feb 2, 2021
Commentary

How to Root Out Extremism in the U.S. Military

The military has a growing extremism problem because America does. Service members who embrace violent extremism are thankfully few; Americans citizens who do so are sadly far too many. As a nation we need to deal with both.

Feb 1, 2021
Journal Article

Future Threats and Some Considerations for the Next U.S. National Defense Strategy

In this article, the authors offer a U.S. perspective on the evolution of threats from the recent past, and posit several considerations for the next National Defense Strategy.

Jan 26, 2021
Research Brief

The Department of Defense's Posture for Artificial Intelligence: Assessment and Recommendations for Improvement

In this report, RAND Corporation researchers assess the state of artificial intelligence relevant to the U.S. Department of Defense and provide recommendations for the future of the department's artificial intelligence posture.

Jan 26, 2021
Tool

Measuring Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Effectiveness at the United States Central Command: Data Visualization Tool Documentation

The authors used Tableau to create a visualization tool that allows U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) to display the performance and effectiveness of its support to intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) roles, sub-roles, and activities.

Jan 20, 2021
Report

Measuring Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Effectiveness at the United States Central Command

The authors developed a repeatable process to measure the effectiveness of U.S. Central Command intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance operations; evaluate current performance; and plan for, influence, and resource future operations.

Jan 20, 2021
Report

Compensation and Benefits for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Workers: A Comparison of the Federal Government and the Private Sector

The authors compare salary, benefits, and employment for federal and private-sector workers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). They analyze data, present findings on STEM and non-STEM workers, and make recommendations.

Jan 19, 2021
Report

Distributed Kill Chains: Drawing Insights for Mosaic Warfare from the Immune System and from the Navy

In Mosaic warfare, individual warfighting platforms are assembled like ceramic tiles to make a larger "mosaic," or force package. The authors apply lessons from the human immune system and a U.S. Navy project to mosaic warfare.

Jan 5, 2021
Report

Findings on Mosaic Warfare from a Colonel Blotto Game

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency is investigating a concept of war known as Mosaic warfare, after the analogy of creating a complex image from many small pieces. The authors study Mosaic warfare through the use of a Colonel Blotto game.

Jan 5, 2021
Report

Modeling Rapidly Composable, Heterogeneous, and Fractionated Forces: Findings on Mosaic Warfare from an Agent-Based Model

Mosaic warfare is named for the idea of creating a complex image from small pieces. This report studies Mosaic warfare and explores complexity of platforms, complexity of targets, and relative density of platforms and targets.

Jan 5, 2021
Report

The Composition and Employment of Software Personnel in the U.S. Department of Defense: An Initial Analysis

The authors identify and characterize a subset of the U.S. Department of Defense's (DoD's) software workforce, the types of software developed within DoD, and the variety of methods DoD programs use when employing that workforce to develop software.

Dec 24, 2020
Report

Analysis of a Time-in-Grade Pay Table for Military Personnel and Policy Alternatives

In support of the Thirteenth Quadrennial Review of Military Compensation, the authors of this report assess the advantages and drawbacks of a using a table based on time in grade, rather than time in service, to set military pay.

Dec 17, 2020
Report

The Behavioral Health of Minority Service Members

Members of minority groups make up a larger percentage of the U.S. military than ever before. Identifying whether and where behavioral health disparities exist among them can help the Department of Defense better address troops' mental health needs and improve force readiness.

Dec 17, 2020
Commentary

Bad Idea: Overly Focusing on Development and Acquisition Speed

The Pentagon has in recent years turned its attention to the need for speed in weapons system development and acquisition. While shortening the timeline for program development and fielding is important for Defense Department acquisition leaders, overly prioritizing speed can lead to issues with program management, sustainment, and other areas.

Dec 16, 2020
Report

Characteristics and Duty Limitations of Service Members Transferring Between the Active and Reserve Components

The authors analyze characteristics and duty limitations of service members who transfer between active and reserve components and make recommendations to reduce the number of personnel who transfer with medical conditions that limit deployability.

Dec 15, 2020
Report

Monetary and Nonmonetary Compensation for High-Value U.S. Department of Defense Civilian Skill Sets

Motivated by concern that the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) will struggle to recruit and retain civilian talent for the U.S. Space Force, the authors compared DoD and private-sector monetary and nonmonetary compensation for high-value skill sets.

Nov 16, 2020
Multimedia

Hedgemony: A Game of Strategic Choices

Hedgemony is a tabletop game designed to challenge players to outline a strategy and then make tough choices as they try to develop, manage, posture, and employ their forces in alignment with their strategies.

Sep 22, 2020
News Release

New Game, the First Offered by RAND to Public, Challenges Players to Design Defense Strategies for Uncertain World

The RAND Corporation has released a boxed version of Hedgemony: A Game of Strategic Choices that researchers originally developed to help the Pentagon craft its capstone guidance document, the 2018 National Defense Strategy. It is the first wargame offered by RAND to the public and carries a $250 price tag.

Sep 22, 2020

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RAND Topic:
United States Department of Defense

Topic Synonyms:
Department of Defense