Search Results

Your search for found 2112 results.

Navy Maternity Leave Policy and Reenlistment Rates

/analyses/2019/04/navy-maternity-leave-policy-and-reenlistment-rates

In 2015, the Navy tripled the length of maternity leave from 6 to 18 weeks. In 2016, it reduced the length of leave to 12 weeks to match the other armed services. For most sailors who give birth, longer maternity leave will reduce the number of weeks they work. Additional leave could, however, also lead to higher reenlistment rates, thereby potentially increasing the net number of weeks of work for the entire enlisted inventory. We analyze the change in female sailors’ reenlistment rates relative to those of male sailors before and after the change in maternity leave policy. Although we cannot prove a causal relationship, we estimate that the increase in maternity leave is associated with a 3.7 percentage point increase in female first-term reenlistment rates. We also estimate that higher reenlistment rates increase weeks of work by over three times the number of weeks lost because of the additional leave.

Gender Differences Among DON Personnel

/analyses/2019/04/gender-differences-among-don-personnel

This report documents an analysis of gender differences in misbehavior rates among enlisted personnel in the Department of the Navy (DON). Using indicators found in personnel data from the US Marine Corps (USMC) and the US Navy (USN), we show that, between fiscal year (FY) 1999 and FY 2015, male misbehavior rates were higher than female rates for every indicator, in every year for both services. Using data from FY 2015, we estimate that higher male misbehavior rates in the USMC (USN) resulted in about 1,400 (2,000) extra incidents of misbehavior and imposed about $57 ($197) million in extra costs. Based on these results, we conclude that excluding costs associated with higher rates of male misbehavior renders cost-benefit analyses of increasing gender integration incomplete. In addition, we recommend that the DON improve cost estimates of misbehavior to allocate resources toward prevention and response as effectively and efficiently as possible.

Personnel Cost Minimization

/analyses/2019/04/personnel-cost-minimization

On average, female enlisted sailors have lower continuation rates than male sailors, but the size of the difference varies by enlisted management community (EMC) and years of service. To fill requirements as the female share of accessions increases, the Navy can increase the overall number of accessions, increase retention bonuses, or both. The choices generate different costs for each EMC that depend on the required accession qualifications (e.g., recruiting effort and training intensity/time), the EMC billet structure, and the size of the gender differences in continuation rates. We present a prototype stochastic inventory projection model that helps make two main decisions for each of 5 EMCs independently: (1) number of accessions and (2) selective reenlistment bonus (SRB) levels. For different levels of the female share of accessions, the model minimizes cost while meeting manning requirements. We then employ a second cost minimization routine (i.e., a bi-level optimization) to find the costminimizing solution across the five EMCs. If expanded to all EMCs, the model could provide analytic support for finding cost-minimizing accession and SRB plans.

Use of Safety Equipment in Correctional Facilities

/analyses/2019/04/use-of-safety-equipment-in-correctional-facilities

This study of prison safety equipment in 7 facilities and assaults and injuries finds correctional officer safety depends on training, attitude, and equipment.

Military Family Guidebook SNAP

/analyses/2019/04/military-family-guidebook-snap

The 13th Quadrennial Review of Military Compensation’s (QRMC)’s Presidential charter directed the QRMC to “survey the usage of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, as well as any other supplemental sources of income or support you deem significant, by military members on active service and their families, and consider the results of the review in assessing the adequacy of overall military compensation.” This guidebook describes basic eligibility criteria for SNAP; the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC); and the National School Lunch Program (NSLP). It also contains information about how servicemember pay is treated for eligibility purposes.

Promoting Civilian Protection during Security Assistance

/analyses/2019/05/promoting-civilian-protection-during-security-assistance

For four years, the United States provided the Saudi-led coalition with military equipment and assistance used in its campaign in Yemen. During that time, the US has wrestled with and debated both the legality and wisdom of its support. After four years of conflict in Yemen, the US should be asking: what lessons can be learned from four years of support to the Saudi-led coalition? In light of the significant civilian protection concerns seen in Yemen, is there a way to get better outcomes from security assistance activities? This report aims to answer those questions. We analyze US support to the Saudi-led coalition and identify two gaps in policy and information, respectively. We also examine the timely issue of better protecting health care in the midst of armed conflict. In this report, we provide a policy framework for including civilian protection considerations as part of security assistance.

Strategies for Policing Initiative

/analyses/2019/05/strategies-for-policing-initiative

SPI supports law enforcement agencies in building evidence‑based, data‑driven law enforcement tactics and strategies that are effective, efficient, and economical. SPI represents a strategic approach that helps police agencies figure out what works in crime-prevention and crime‑reduction initiatives. SPI sites apply for grant awards through a competitive review process. Once a site receives an SPI award, the CNA team provides assistance to the SPI site as it designs and implements crime control and crime prevention strategies, and as it collects and analyzes data to devise evidence‑based solutions to target serious crime problems, such as street robberies, substance abuse, repeat violent offenders, retaliatory violence, or gun violence. CNA documents lessons learned and research-tested practices in the SPI sites to share proven policing innovations nationwide.

Working Toward Cooperative Disaster Response

/analyses/2019/05/working-toward-cooperative-disaster-response

The Emergency Response Information Exchange (ERIE) discussion was a Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) sponsored event at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, on February 12–14, 2019. It showed numerous ways in which forces of foreign militaries stationed in Djibouti can contribute to the government of Djibouti’s disaster response operations and improve coordination with one another. ERIE explored coordination among the international military forces in Djibouti and the government of Djibouti to support disaster relief operations led by the government of Djibouti. The scenario examined humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HA/DR) operations in the immediate aftermath of a large-magnitude earthquake that caused extensive damage in Djibouti City. Based on the discussion during ERIE, this research memorandum presents a series of insights and recommendations on the requirements and expectations for coordination and communication among members of the international community assisting in an HA/DR operation in Djibouti.

Future of Global Competition

/analyses/2019/05/future-of-global-competition

The 2018 National Defense Strategy (NDS) makes clear that competing effectively with state adversaries will be the primary focus of the Department of Defense (DOD) going forward. Irregular warfare (IW) is a key element of modern great power competition (GPC), and our adversaries are deftly exploiting unconventional methodologies— particularly the use of information and intermediaries (i.e., proxies and surrogates)—as mediums of national influence. In March 2019, CNA hosted a cohort of academic, government, and military experts for a discussion on how special operations forces (SOF) can best lead or support US Government (USG) efforts to compete successfully on a global scale using information operations and intermediary partnerships. The discussion is summarized and synthesized in this document.

Russia Venezuela Defense Cooperation

/analyses/2019/06/russia-venezuela-defense-cooperation

In this paper, Russian defense industry and arms trade expert Sergey Denisentsev looks at the history, current state, and outlook for defense cooperation between Russia and Venezuela. He notes that before the arrival of Hugo Chávez, Venezuela was not among the Russian defense customers. The attempted coup in 2002 and the ensuing restrictions on sales of US weaponry to the country opened up the Venezuelan defense market to Russian suppliers. This paper reviews the Russian arms transfers that enabled a major modernization of the Venezuelan arms forces under Chávez. Those transfers, however, came to an almost complete halt after Chavez died and an economic crisis broke out in Venezuela in 2013. The latest bout of political crisis that began in January 2019 has given a new lease of life to Russian-Venezuelan defense cooperation. That cooperation no longer involves large weapons contracts, but Russia is providing technical support and advice to the Venezuelan military and security services.