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Military Mobilization

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Military mobilization involves the assembling and organizing of national military resources—that is, active or reserve forces—to support a nation's defense or strategic objectives. RAND provides civilian and military decisionmakers with critical recommendations on all aspects of defense expenditures to maximize the effectiveness, support, and readiness of a nation's military force.

Research Brief
Why Understanding 'Will to Fight' Is Crucial
Arguably, will to fight is the most important factor in war. The best technology in the world is useless without the force of will to use it and to keep using it even as casualties mount and unexpected calamities arise. Ignoring will to fight can contribute to tactical or even strategic defeat.
Sep 13, 2019
Commentary
The Definition of Mobilisation
In Australia, the prevailing view of mobilisation is that it is an activity associated with going to war. But it should also include preparing for, and where possible, preventing a range of potential hazards, as well as supporting subsequent recovery efforts.
Oct 21, 2021

Explore Military Mobilization

Commentary
Consequences of the War in Ukraine: Escalation
If Russian forces remain unable to defeat Ukraine, and Putin remains unwilling to back down, what escalation options does Russia have left?
Feb 27, 2023
Commentary
Why Vladimir Putin Is Likely to Be Disappointed
None of the Kremlin's recent gambits—annexation, mobilization, or personnel shuffles—can overcome the larger problems facing Russia's military. And in the months ahead, its difficulties will only worsen.
Oct 18, 2022
Blog
RAND Experts React to Putin's Latest Threatening Rhetoric
Russian President Vladimir Putin appeared to double down on his country's war effort during a major speech, calling up hundreds of thousands of new troops, threatening Ukraine and the West, vowing to use “all the means at our disposal,” and pointing out that he is not bluffing. Here's what RAND experts had to say.
Sep 21, 2022
Commentary
The Will to Fight, Lessons from Ukraine
In Ukraine, ferocious defense has stalled the invaders. Even if Kyiv falls, continued resistance seems likely. Ukraine has reminded the world that national unity in the face of existential threats, self-reliance strengthened by collective defense, and courage coupled with compassion can help underdog populations resist the mightiest military forces.
Mar 29, 2022
Commentary
The Will to Fight in the Age of Social Media
Social media messaging has played a decisive role in strengthening Ukraine's will to fight—arguably the single most important factor in war—against Russia.
Mar 22, 2022
Report
Measuring Strategic Readiness
The U.S. Department of Defense asked RAND to provide a method and specific metrics to enable the defense community to more fully answer questions about the nation's readiness to execute the National Defense Strategy. A new report examines the what metrics are needed to assess the nation's ability to respond to conflicts.
Jun 14, 2021
Report
Defence Mobilisation Planning Comparative Study: An Examination of Overseas Planning
Against the 2020 Defence Strategic Update, the authors use evidence from several countries to highlight the merits of a 'total defence' approach to mobilisation planning for Australia with the goal of meeting contemporary threats.
May 3, 2021
Commentary
Vietnam Is the Chinese Military's Preferred Warm-Up Fight
China's last major war experience gave it virtually zero lessons to apply to future armed conflict. At some point the People's Liberation Army (PLA) will need to test its new capabilities and the training it has honed over time. There are at least three reasons why Vietnam is likely in the PLA's crosshairs.
May 15, 2019
Report
A Throughput-Based Analysis of Army Active Component/Reserve Component Mix for Major Contingency Surge Operations
This report examines how changing the way in which the Army executes mobilization and contingency planning can affect the ratio of reserve component to active component units deploying in the early weeks of a major crisis.
May 8, 2019
Commentary
Exploring the Allied Decisions on Military Mobility in Europe
Debates about defense expenditure and concerns over NATO unity overshadowed decisions on defense and deterrence in Europe made during the recent NATO summit and European Council meetings. Both events brought significant and tangible conclusions with potential impacts on defense, deterrence, and readiness in Europe.
Jul 27, 2018
Commentary
Military Mobility Returns to the Forefront in Europe
The importance of military mobility has returned only recently to the international high-level agenda, specifically NATO and the European Union. The EU is expected to tackle the issue of military mobility during a European Council meeting in late June, and NATO will convene a summit in July.
Jun 25, 2018
Commentary
Why Military Mobility Should Be at the Top of NATO's Agenda
Improving military mobility in Europe has recently gathered momentum. But due to the complexity of the issue, it remains to be seen what specific progress will be made by the NATO summit in July. The same goes for how new EU initiatives will complement NATO requirements.
Feb 26, 2018
Report
Estimating Air Force Deployment Requirements for Lean Force Packages: A Methodology and Decision Support Tool Prototype
This report describes a methodology and prototype tool -- the Lean Strategic Tool for the Analysis of Required Transportation (Lean-START) -- that can explore trade-offs among capability (or risk), speed, and cost to create force packages for deployment.
Nov 15, 2017
Commentary
The Lack of Clarity Over Medical Support for Light Footprint Operations and How It Could Be Solved
Early identification and planning for medical support for EU-led military operations are vital to saving lives, treating injuries and keeping personnel healthy. Common standards would ensure high-quality and consistent medical support regardless of which country is providing it.
Sep 19, 2017
Commentary
Military Power Is All About People: A Return to Personnel Policy
Ensuring the strength of U.S. armed forces is critical to U.S. national security and the key source of strength is its people. True investment in personnel is a long-term legacy and an investment worthy of attention and policy debate to ensure the United States continues to recruit and retain the most effective fighting force in the world.
Jul 27, 2017
Report
Medical Support to Light Footprint Operations: Why smaller operations require a different approach to medical support
Traditional military medical support is designed for larger formations and draws on a heavier supporting infrastructure. Recent EU operations have a smaller number of personnel, shorter duration and seek to have a lighter infrastructure footprint.
Jun 9, 2017
Report
Organising for Peace Operations: Lessons Learned from Bougainville, East Timor, and the Solomon Islands
This report examines the governmental organizational structures that were used in three Australian-led interventions that commenced in the late 1990s and early 2000s in the Southwest Pacific regions: Bougainville, East Timor, and the Solomon Islands.
Sep 20, 2016
Report
Active Component Responsibility in Reserve Component Pre- and Postmobilization Training
This report examines historical readiness problems for the Army reserve component and ways in which Congress and the Army have addressed these, including active component support to RC units, and recommends changes to support future RC training.
Apr 29, 2015

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RAND Topic:
Military Mobilization

Topic Synonyms:
MOB

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