Military Personnel

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Armed forces include active-duty and reserve personnel, officers, and enlisted corps. RAND research and analysis helps policymakers understand how to recruit, train, and educate the military workforce and provide cost-effective health care for military personnel and their families.

  • Marines with Combat Marksmanship Coaches Reserve conduct the new Annual Rifle Qualification at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, September 21, 2021, photo by Lance Cpl. Samwel Tabancay/U.S. Marine Corps

    Report

    How Could the U.S. Military Counter Extremism in Its Ranks?

    Oct 25, 2021

    The U.S. Capitol riot on January 6, 2021 drew attention to the involvement of current and former service members in extremist groups. There are some terrorism prevention programs in the civilian sector that might help the Department of Defense address the issue.

  • The Patrick Air Force Base Honor Guard waits for the open ranks inspection portion of the 2004 Air Force Space Command honor guard competition here March 23, photo by Tech. Sgt. Ken Bergmann/U.S. Air Force

    Report

    Can Artificial Intelligence Help Improve Air Force Talent Management?

    Jan 19, 2021

    An AI-enabled performance-scoring system could enable the U.S. Air Force to leverage existing data for improved human resource management policies and practices. How could this help senior leaders take full advantage of performance records when making talent management decisions?

Explore Military Personnel

  • Woman talking to a man in a wheelchair

    Commentary

    Caring for Our Nation's Hidden Heroes?

    Thanks to a growing list of more than 100 organizations that have pledged their commitment as members of the Elizabeth Dole Foundation's National Coalition for Military Caregivers, our nation is taking long overdue action to support both our wounded warriors and those who care for them.

    May 7, 2015

  • Composite image of soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Coast Guard personnel

    Project

    RAND Military Workplace Study

    The RAND Military Workplace Study (RMWS) is an independent study of sexual assault and military equal employment opportunity (MEO) violations in the active duty and reserve components of the U.S. military, sponsored by the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office (SAPRO) within the Office of the Secretary of Defense.

    May 1, 2015

  • News Release

    News Release

    Complete Results from Major Survey of U.S. Military Sexual Assault, Harassment Released

    In addition to validating the initial findings from the RAND Military Workplace Study published in December 2014, the final results reveal unprecedented detail about the frequency of criminal sexual assault against service members, the nature and context of those assaults, and how they differ for men and women in each branch of service.

    May 1, 2015

  • Platoon leaders and platoon sergeants marching during the Headhunter leadership challenge at Fort Hood, Texas, Aug. 15, 2014

    Commentary

    The Most Enduring Lesson: People

    Given the complex, technology-heavy, and conceptually-nuanced environment of today's military, the quality of military personnel is the dominant form of competitive advantage. All the services today place maintaining a high-quality force at the top of their list of priorities.

    Apr 10, 2015

  • News Release

    News Release

    Sleep Problems Prevalent for Military Members Post-Deployment

    Improving the quality and quantity of U.S. military members' sleep following deployment could help reduce other health problems, including depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. However, a lack of consistent and transparent sleep-related policies may impede efforts to promote sleep health among service members.

    Apr 6, 2015

  • Capt. Chuck Marks, commanding officer of Naval Weapons Station Yorktown, listens to Martin Gallivan, associate professor of anthropology at the College of William and Mary, talk about the artifacts his team of students uncovered during the excavation of a Powhatan Indian village, a field study being conducted under a cooperative agreement between the Navy and the college

    Commentary

    A Funny Thing Happened When These Military Officers and Academics Got Together

    If senior officers and academics find themselves divided, is there a way to build respect and trust earlier in their careers, when less is at stake? A tabletop exercise suggested that the best way to bridge the civilian-military divide is not via large conferences or formal papers. Instead, it can be done by building trust, one person at a time, over time.

    Apr 6, 2015

  • Kayla Williams, outside the Women in Military Service for America Memorial in Arlington, Virginia

    Q&A

    From Combat to Caregiving: Q&A with Kayla Williams

    Kayla Williams talks about being a female soldier and the spouse of a wounded warrior, why veterans aren't broken and caregivers aren't saints, and more.

    Mar 6, 2015

  • U.S. President Barack Obama delivers his State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, January 20, 2015

    Blog

    State of the Union 2015: Clarion Calls on Terrorism, Cyber, Education, and More

    The agenda President Barack Obama outlined in his State of the Union address can perhaps best be characterized as broad, mirroring the range of diverse and emerging issues facing the U.S. in 2015.

    Jan 21, 2015

  • A servicemember and his wife hold hands

    Solution

    Getting to Know Military Caregivers and Their Needs

    There are millions of military caregivers—wives, husbands, siblings, parents, and friends—caring for U.S. service members and veterans who are wounded, ill, or injured. These caregivers help their loved ones live better-quality lives, but their own needs may go unmet.

    Jan 5, 2015

  • Multimedia

    Call with the Experts: A Review of Top-Line Findings from the 2014 RAND Military Workplace Study

    In this RAND Call with the Experts, Senior Behavioral Scientist Andrew Morral presents initial top-line estimates from the 2014 RAND Military Workplace Study, an independent assessment of sexual assault, sexual harassment, and gender discrimination in the military. Morral and Kristie Gore also answer questions from the media. Media relations director Jeff Hiday moderated the call.

    Dec 5, 2014

  • News Release

    News Release

    Initial Results from Major Survey of U.S. Military Sexual Assault, Harassment

    The DoD selected RAND to conduct a congressionally-mandated study that estimates the number of U.S. service members who experienced sexual assault, sexual harassment, or gender discrimination in the past year. Approximately 170,000 service members, or 30 percent of the 560,000 invited, answered questions for the study, one of the largest of its kind.

    Dec 4, 2014

  • Afghan National Army soldiers walk at the Forward Base in Nari district near the army outpost in Kunar province, February 24, 2014

    Commentary

    What's the Plan? The Afghan National Security Forces

    The Afghan National Security Forces remain very much a work in progress. In the coming months, the resiliency and cohesiveness of the ANSF will be put to the test as the NATO coalition transitions to a non-combat mission. Growing pains can be expected.

    Dec 2, 2014

  • News Release

    News Release

    Community-Based Mental Health Providers Need More Preparation to Better Care for Veterans

    Most community-based mental health providers are not well prepared to take care of the special needs of military veterans and their families. A national survey of mental health providers found that few providers met criteria for military cultural competency or used evidence-based approaches to treat problems commonly seen among veterans.

    Nov 12, 2014

  • News Release

    News Release

    Military Retirement Compensation System Can Be Improved to Cut Costs and Improve Equity

    The U.S. Department of Defense can change its retirement system in ways that will save between $1.8 and $4.4 billion a year, while extending benefits to more veterans and maintaining its attraction as a recruiting tool.

    Nov 12, 2014

  • Military family walking on a path through the woods

    Commentary

    Honoring America's Veterans Requires Helping Their Families, Too

    This Veterans Day, the United States especially honors the millions of veterans living with service-related illnesses and injuries. But it's also important to recognize the sacrifices of those helping them to recover and thrive: America's 5.5 million military caregivers.

    Nov 11, 2014

  • Returning soldier with family

    Project

    RAND on Veterans' Issues

    RAND research explores key issues concerning military veterans, including health and well-being, education, employment and family issues.

    Nov 10, 2014

  • News Release

    News Release

    Military Veteran Employment Valued, but Challenges Still Need to Be Addressed

    Businesses report that U.S. military veterans make excellent employees, but companies still experience challenges locating and hiring them, including continuing difficulty understanding the match between military skills and civilian job requirements.

    Nov 10, 2014

  • U.S. Army soldiers cheer as U.S. President Barack Obama signs H.R. 3230, the Veteran's Access to Care through Choice, Accountability and Transparency Act of 2014

    Blog

    Research Drives Ongoing Support for Veterans

    On November 11, we honor the service and sacrifices of America's veterans. But as they return home and adjust to civilian life, veterans and their families face new challenges and communities struggle to meet their unique needs. Rigorous research is essential to addressing these challenges and finding long-term solutions. RAND explores key issues concerning veterans such as employment, health and well-being, family support, and education.

    Nov 10, 2014

  • Two U.S. soldiers with sunglasses

    Commentary

    Compromised Confidentiality in the Military Is Harmful

    Mental health stigma exists across American society, but the problem in the military is fundamentally different. It boils down to the jarring and institutionalized military failure to place adequate boundaries between the workplace and the therapist's office.

    Oct 27, 2014

  • U.S. Army soldiers, earmarked for the fight against Ebola, put on protective suits during training before their deployment to West Africa, October 9, 2014

    Commentary

    Declaring War on Ebola

    Operation United Assistance, which includes the deployment of 3,000 U.S. military personnel to West Africa to respond to the Ebola crisis, is a welcome recognition of the range of missions the military is increasingly able to tackle, particularly in disaster-management assistance.

    Oct 10, 2014

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