The Forces and Logistics Program analyzes how advances in technology, management practices, and organizational theory can be applied to Army organizations to improve operational effectiveness in current and future conflicts against adaptive adversaries, enhance logistical support to Army units, continually improve efficiency, and ensure technical and logistical readiness.
Investigators working on Forces and Logistics projects are drawn from across RAND, and bring a diverse range of professional and educational experiences and cultural background to its work.
Senior Army Leaders sponsor each study, designed to help answer top Army policy questions. Frequent sponsors include the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, the Army Deputy Chiefs of Staff, G-2, G-3, G-4, G-6, and G-8; the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology; and major Army commands such as the U.S. Army Materiel Command and the U.S. Army Forces Command.
More recently, the program has been supporting such operational commands as the U.S. Army Pacific (USARPAC), U.S. Army Cyber Command, I Corps, XVIII Airborne Corps, and the 82nd Airborne Division with research and analysis.
The program sustains research streams in eight policy domains (below). Within these streams, the program provides expertise and analysis developed over many years of focused and sustained research, as well as short-term, quick-response support on critical issues.
Recent Analyses
Featured Publication
The Army often uses vehicles informally classified as ultra-light tactical mobility (UTM). This report assesses the demands, requirements, current ad hoc capabilities, and key considerations for developing and sustaining established Army UTM fleets.
Featured Publication
A review of commonalities, similarities, and differences between the still-nascent U.S. cyber force and early U.S. special operations forces, conducted in 2010, offers salient lessons for the future direction of U.S. cyber forces.
Featured Publication
For the last decade, the U.S. Army has quickly acquired systems for war. By examining the nontraditional methods used, this study examines how the Army can improve rapid acquisition, focusing in particular on command and control systems.
Recent Analysis
Featured Publication
Explains why is it important to the Army that any new infantry fighting vehicle be capable of carrying no fewer than nine soldiers who can be available for dismounted operations.
Recent Analysis
Featured Publication
This research report demonstrates how the Army can use readily available demand and end item maintenance history to identify potential issues with repair part or process quality and estimate their associated incremental costs.
Featured Publication
Army Central Issue Facilities (CIFs) do not have a formal mechanism signaling when to review inventory levels and when and whether to requisition items. RAND developed an algorithm that can be used to determine when and what quantity to replenish.
Featured Publication
RAND investigated opportunities for efficiencies in the global military medical logistics enterprise, notably through minimizing intermediate materiel handling, seeking greater value from commercial freight, and streamlining warehouse operations.
Featured Publication
Describes a new equipping strategy for the Army's Combat Support Hospitals.
For more about a particular research stream, contact:
M. Wade Markel, Director
(703) 413-1100, x5108, Matthew_Markel@rand.org
