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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

It's Time to Drop 'Competition' in the National Defense Strategy

What should the U.S. Defense Department do during peacetime if the United States is not competing with China and Russia? Simply put, it should prepare to win the next war, while defeating any military aggression below the threshold of conflict.

May 18, 2021
Report

Healthy Relationship Approaches to Sexual Assault Prevention: Programs and Strategies for Use Within the U.S. Military

This guide provides prevention teams and leaders with an overview of a healthy relationship approach to sexual assault prevention, why it could be an effective tool, and strategies for implementing a program as part of their prevention portfolio.

May 13, 2021
Research Brief

Post 9/11 Trends in Medical Separation and Separation for Service Members with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury

Trends in military medical discharges and disability ratings can help the U.S. Department of Defense set goals for diagnosing, treating, and evaluating service members with posttraumatic stress disorder or traumatic brain injury.

May 10, 2021
Report

Evolution of Department of Defense Disability Evaluation and Management of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury: Overview of Policy Changes, 2001–2018

The authors review major policy changes to the military's disability evaluation system between 2001 and 2018 with a particular focus on changes to policies related to posttraumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury.

May 10, 2021
Report

Trends in Department of Defense Disability Evaluation System Ratings and Awards for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury, 2002–2017

The authors conduct an empirical analysis of trends in diagnosis, treatment, and disability evaluation for posttraumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury among military service members between 2002 and 2017.

May 10, 2021
Report

The Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP): Policy Alignment Between the Department of Defense and the Services

Each military service branch runs its own Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP). The authors compare service branch EFMP policy with the overarching Department of Defense (DoD) policy, pointing to areas where each policy may be edited for more consistency.

May 3, 2021
Report

Talent Management for U.S. Department of Defense Knowledge Workers: What Does RAND Corporation Research Tell Us?

A synthesis of results from RAND Corporation research on the U.S. Department of Defense's talent management of knowledge workers features areas for improvement and ways for the department to proactively approach talent management.

Apr 26, 2021
Commentary

How the Military Might Expand Its Cyber Skills

The U.S. military will need to improve its software fluency if it wants to be dominant on the battlefields of the future. Ensuring that future leaders in the military develop cyber skills and the ability to interface with technical experts may be increasingly important.

Apr 22, 2021
Multimedia

The Need for Space Norms

RAND senior political scientist Stephen Flanagan discusses the increasing level of space activity and the need for space norms to provide guidance for how nations should conduct space operations.

Apr 20, 2021
Report

Reducing Rework in Officer Appointment Processes

Appointment scrolls are required for officers to enter the services and to take on service in a different grade, military service, or component. This report contains recommendations for increasing the efficiency of the scroll creation process.

Apr 19, 2021
Report

Countering the Risks of North Korean Nuclear Weapons

There is a growing gap between North Korea's nuclear weapon threat and South Korean and U.S. capabilities to defeat it. Because these capabilities will take years to develop, attention should be focused on where the threat could be in the mid to late 2020s and strategy options that could be employed to counter it.

Apr 12, 2021
Report

Streamlining Cost Estimation for Large Department of Defense Organizations

Researchers created a prototype tool using data from the Full Cost of Manpower model to help manpower decisionmakers produce consistent and repeatable cost estimations to understand the budget implications of alternative total force mixes.

Mar 31, 2021
Report

Third Offset Fostered Real Intellectual Change Within DoD

In 2014, U.S. defense leaders began promoting the Third Offset, a strategy centered on the potential of technology to offset Chinese and Russian advances. Its core principles were adopted by the 2018 National Defense Strategy. DoD started to look at security problems in a new light and develop closer ties with Silicon Valley.

Mar 31, 2021
Commentary

The Pentagon Could Help Improve Resilience of the U.S. Electric Grid

The resilience and robustness of the U.S. electric grid needs to be improved, especially given the likely increased occurrence and magnitude of natural disasters due to climate change. This is where government entities that operate large facilities in the United States, such as the Department of Defense, can potentially play a role.

Mar 25, 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
Commentary

Human Intelligence: The Key to Ferreting Out Extremism in the Ranks

The U.S. military is fighting extremism—including white supremacists and violent anti-government radicals—in its own ranks. De-radicalized former extremists can provide crucial first-hand intelligence on extremist groups' recruiting tactics.

Mar 18, 2021
Report

Updating Personnel Vetting and Security Clearance Guidelines for Future Generations

The United States could face challenges with recruiting and retaining younger generations into positions that require a security clearance. What trends and social changes might the federal government consider when updating personnel vetting guidelines?

Mar 11, 2021
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

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RAND Topic:
United States Department of Defense

Topic Synonyms:
Department of Defense

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