Military Force Planning
Military Force Planning
Ensuring that a modern military has the appropriate personnel and capabilities is the key goal of military force planning. RAND research on such topics as military wages, support for military families, troop diversity, and reenlistment rates ensures that U.S. and allied militaries are well aware of issues related to career field management and personnel retention and recruitment.
Explore RAND’s Work on this Topic
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Research
Jul 1, 2025
Improving the Civilian Hiring Process in the Department of the Air Force 96th Test Wing
In this report, researchers map the civilian hiring process in the 96th Test Wing and describe barriers to and best practices for timely and effective hiring. They also provide recommendations for improving the test wing’s process.
Research
Jun 12, 2025
The US Navy's Uncrewed Future
The emergence of increasingly capable uncrewed technologies may help make the navies of the mid-21st century more effective and risk-tolerant, enabling them to secure the peace for decades to come.
Tool
Jun 12, 2025
A Brief Guide to Workforce Statistics: For Airmen and Guardians
This user guide presents foundational concepts behind typical Department of the Air Force workforce statistics to help U.S. Air Force airmen and U.S. Space Force guardians interpret workforce statistics effectively.
Research
Jun 3, 2025
Should U.S. Air Force Warrant Officers Attend Professional Military Education? An Assessment of Programmatic Objectives and Options
The U.S. Air Force is reintroducing warrant officers as a critical investment in the technical workforce needed for future conflict. This report addresses a RAND evaluation of whether warrant officers should attend professional military education.
Research
May 28, 2025
An Integrated Model of Recruiting Resources: Optimal Resource Allocation for Regular Army and Army Reserve Recruiting
This report documents the Integrated Recruiting Resource Model, which predicts contract and accession production for both the Regular Army and U.S. Army Reserve and provides optimal resource allocation recommendations for both components.
Research
May 21, 2025
Russia, Ukraine, and Collective Defence
Despite notable solidarity and unity in the immediate aftermath of the Russian invasion and significant progress in rebuilding the Alliance's defence and deterrence architecture, the list of challenges facing the NATO Alliance is significant.
Podcast
May 15, 2025
32:56
Military Recruitment Is on the Rise. Now What?
RAND's Beth Asch, a renowned expert on military personnel economics and defense manpower, breaks down the recruiting crisis the U.S. military has faced in recent years, why enlistment numbers rebounded last year, and what the service branches should focus on to ensure a capable force for the future.
Commentary
Apr 22, 2025
Reinvigorating Naval Shipbuilding: Meeting the President's Challenge
To respond to the Trump administration's call for the reinvigoration of the U.S. shipbuilding industry, policymakers should examine past failures, seek an improved shipbuilding workforce, and consider enlisting the help of close allies like Japan and South Korea.
Research
Apr 18, 2025
Developing Combat Support Mission Ready Airmen for Agile Combat Employment
RAND researchers evaluated the process of organizing, training, and utilizing combat support mission ready airmen for agile combat employment by interviewing U.S. Air Force policy experts, conducting a workshop, and running simulation models.
Research
Apr 16, 2025
Differences in Cost of Living and Military Pay Growth for Army Personnel
The authors explore the extent to which military compensation growth has kept up with cost-of-living changes over time, across geographic areas, and across subgroups of soldiers, using data from 2018 to 2022.
Commentary
Apr 8, 2025
Navigating a Changing Military Recruitment Environment
While there is no question the American military faces persistent challenges in attracting qualified recruits, the much-discussed recruiting crisis that has dogged most service branches in recent years appears to be easing.
Research
Apr 4, 2025
Warrant Officers Across the U.S. Military Services
To support the U.S. Department of the Air Force reinstatement of its warrant officer program, this report draws insights from warrant officer programs in sister services.
