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How to Think about Innovation

/analyses/2021/07/how-to-think-about-innovation

Navy senior leadership's recent effort to address innovation in the fleet continues a long tradition of naval innovation, and especially among dedicated innovation organizations. What type of innovation does the Navy want? We provide a rough framework to categorize innovation and provide other considerations that can affect how an organization should organize for innovation.

Russian Forces in the Western Military District

/analyses/2021/06/russian-forces-in-the-western-military-district

From 2013 to 2019, Russia extensively reformed its powerful Western Military District forces. Konrad Muzyka provides an updated order of battle assessment.

Role of Russian Military in Information Confrontation

/analyses/2021/06/role-of-russian-military-in-information-confrontation

Joe Cheravitch traces the evolution of Russian military thought on “information confrontation,” e.g., cyberattacks and computer espionage.

AI and Autonomy in Russia

/analyses/2021/05/ai-and-autonomy-in-russia

Comprehensive overview shows Russia sees AI as vital to military and societal success, but talent shortages and neglect of private initiatives stymie progress.

Tracking Outcomes of Voluntary Education Programs Characterizing

/analyses/2021/04/tracking-outcomes-of-voluntary-education-programs-characterizing

In this report, we use individual-level data provided by each of the Services, Force Education and Training, and the Defense Manpower Data Center to estimate whether individual Servicemembers use Tuition Assistance (TA) and whether they are among the Services’ more active TA users. In addition, we analyze which military and demographic characteristics are important in determining whether a Servicemember experiences a positive TA outcome (defined as attaining any degree, attaining a bachelor’s degree or higher, and/or having a high course completion rate). Ultimately, by identifying those subpopulations of Servicemembers who are among the Services’ more active TA users but also are among the least likely to experience positive TA outcomes, we identify those groups that might benefit from targeted counseling efforts. Such discussions could prepare Servicemembers for the challenges that lie ahead, making their ultimate success more likely.

Tracking Outcomes of Voluntary Military Education Programs Review

/analyses/2021/04/tracking-outcomes-of-voluntary-military-education-programs-review

The Department of Defense (DoD) provides education benefits to Servicemembers and their spouses. Two such benefits are the Tuition Assistance (TA) program, designed to decrease the financial burden of higher education for military members, and the My Career Advancement Account (MyCAA) scholarship program, a workforce development program designed to assist eligible military spouses in pursuing training, licenses, credentials, certifications, and associate degrees in support of developing portable employment and careers. A dearth of information on the educational and financial outcomes of TA and MyCAA users prompted Congress to mandate, in the 2014 DoD Appropriations Bill, a study to document the aggregate graduation rates, financial indebtedness, and loan default rates of these military families. Here, we summarize information from the TA and MyCAA literature. However, because little information is currently available, we also explore the civilian higher education literature on tuition reimbursement, graduation rates, student debt, and loan default rates. This provides the relevant background information needed for the quantitative portion of this study, in which we will collect and analyze available data on educational outcomes for TA and MyCAA users.

Tracking Outcomes of Voluntary Military Education Programs Data

/analyses/2021/04/tracking-outcomes-of-voluntary-military-education-programs-data

In this report, we used individual-level data provided by each of the Services and Force Education and Training to calculate the Tuition Assistance (TA) and My Career Advancement Account (MyCAA) educational outcome statistics of Servicemembers and their spouses, as requested in the 2014 DOD Appropriations Bill. These tabulations compare not only outcomes by Service but also by institutional sector (private for-profit, private not-for-profit, and public). By making these Service- and sector-level comparisons, we highlight differences in TA and MyCAA enrollment, cost, number of courses taken, credits received, courses completed, and degrees received. These summarized outcome measures will provide policy-makers with a better understanding of the differences that exist across Services and education sectors, allowing them to evaluate how the Services are using these Voluntary Education benefits.

Service Level Differences in Tuition Assistance

/analyses/2021/04/service-level-differences-in-tuition-assistance

Tuition Assistance (TA) is the primary education benefit that the Department of Defense (DOD) provides to Service members to ease the financial burdens of continuing education while serving in the military. A 2017 CNA study revealed several Service-level differences in Service members’ TA use and TA outcomes. In this study, we use qualitative methods to identify possible reasons for these differences. Synthesizing our analysis of existing policy, discussions with subject matter experts (SMEs), and focus groups in all four Services, we find that variation across the Services in TA policy, TA understanding, occupational responsibilities and operational tempo (OPTEMPO), as well as support from senior leaders and immediate supervisors is likely the primary driver of these Service-level differences. We suggest that DOD standardize TA policy, the financial TA benefit, and the content and delivery of TA messaging. We also encourage the Services to ensure TA buy-in from senior leadership and counsel Service members on effective TA use.

Understanding Gender and Violent

/analyses/2021/04/understanding-gender-and-violent

The Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations/Low Intensity Conflict – Stability and Humanitarian Affairs (OASD (SO/LIC-SHA)) asked CNA to study the role of women and gender in both violent extremist organizations (VEOs) and US counterterrorism (CT) and counter violent extremism (CVE) operations (hereafter CT/CVE). Our research demonstrates that the dominant stereotypes about women’s roles in VEOs miss the vast majority of female activity in these groups and fundamentally fail to capture women’s lived experiences. Despite the passage of Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) legislation in the US, we found that internal DOD activities that are truly gender considered are severely limited, lack nuance, and are not institutionalized. External US CT/CVE efforts do not consider the roles men or women play from a nuanced perspective, and they are disproportionately influenced by a set of gender stereotypes that shape expectations of men and women’s roles. Much of the current DOD approach can be traced to misunderstanding gender as a concept. This report provides an analysis of the gaps, risks, and opportunities for the Department of Defense (DOD) on understanding women and gender in extremism, and integrating a gender considered approach to CT/CVE.

Racial Injustice and Police Community Relations

/analyses/2021/03/racial-injustice-and-police-community-relations

In the City of Antioch, hundreds of concerned community members voiced their opinions on race relations and policing reform during three City Council meetings in June 2020. The issues they raised were wide ranging, including systemic racism, body-worn cameras, and police recruitment, training, and accountability. In response, the Antioch City Council decided to hold a series of roundtable discussions called Bridging the Gap to hear the perspectives of additional community members and learn more about the kinds of changes in policing the community desired. The City wanted to better understand the community’s perspectives on racial injustice and police-community relations and to identify ways to address them. CNA, an independent national research and analysis firm, was hired to organize and facilitate these roundtable discussions.