Exploring the Causal Relationship between Factors Affecting US Army Recruitment

Every year, United States Army Recruiting Command (USAREC) dedicates considerable resources to recruiting and accessing soldiers. As the largest branch of the United States Armed Forces, the Army must meet a high recruiting quota while competing in the free-labor market for quality recruits. Over the past two decades, the Army’s success in recruiting ebbed and flowed within the broader context of society and global events. While numerous studies have examined the statistical relationship between factors associated with recruitment, these studies are observational and definitively ascribing causality in retrospect is difficult. With this in mind, we apply fuzzy cognitive mapping (FCM), a graphical method of representing uncertainty in a dynamic system, to model and explore the complex causal relationships between factors. We conclude our paper with implications for USAREC’s efforts, as well as our model’s limitations and opportunities for future work.

The Construction of U.S. Armed Forces` Image Through Translation Activities in Hollywood Blockbusters

This paper studied 22 influencing Hollywood war films, and extracted translation behaviors among them. Some of the most influencing Hollywood blockbusters themed on wars would be examined to see the role they played in depicting the image of the United States Armed Forces hope to build through the plot(s) of translation activities performed in theatre. From such changes can see the change of people`s attention, as well as the effect Hollywood blockbusters contributed on the building of the U.S. Armed Forces` images. Video productions (especially films) are some of the most welcomed ones. The United States has one of the most powerful film-making industries in the world, which successful products of its are popular around the world, definitely have the American way of thinking and judgment spread and accepted by the film-lovers around the world. Research conducted on such films would reveal how the U.S. Armed Forces` image has changed on cinema screens, and provide a collection of data for translation researchers who has an interest in the field combining translation (behaviors) with the mass media.

Representation of Armed Forces Through Cinematic and Animated Pieces: Case Studies

In this article, the author will examine the representation of armed forces in cinematic productions and anime, with case studies of the United States and Japan. e sample will consist of a movie that has a clear involvement of the United States armed forces and of an anime series that was cofinanced by the Japanese Self-Defense Forces. The analytical method used will be textual analysis, in combination with videography, a method that supports interaction analysis of moving images. In comparing those two different approaches of the armed forces of Japan and the U.S. military, the author hopes to shed light on not simply the representation of the groups but also desired self-identification of the respective armed forces.

Acute Lymphatic Filariasis Infection in United States Armed Forces Personnel Deployed to the Pacific Area of Operations during World War II Provides Important Lessons for Today

The deployment of United States (US) Armed Forces personnel into the central Pacific islands of Samoa and Tonga, which is highly-endemic for lymphatic filariasis (LF), resulted in thousands of cases of the acute form of this disease and greatly reduced their ability to carry out their mission. The major driving factor for the intensity of transmission was the aggressiveness and efficiency of the Aedes species mosquito vectors, especially the day-biting Ae. Polynesiensis. The paper reminds us of the danger that tropical diseases can pose for troops sent into endemic areas and constant and careful surveillance that is required to prevent rapid resurgence of Aedes-transmitted LF in populations, where the LF elimination program has been successful.

AUTOMATION OF THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESSFOR FIGHTING IN THE GROUND FORCES OF THE ARMED FORCES OF UKRAINE

The situation in Ukraine as a result of Russia's armed aggression has led the President of Ukraine to approve the National Security and Defense Council's decision on a road map for defense reform, defining ways of its implementation on the basis and principles guided by NATO member states. The algorithm of the work of the governing bodies of the NATO Armed Forces according to their standards during the decision to conduct combat operations is presented. Proposed to automate the work of governing bodies in the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine by NATO standards in deciding to conduct hostilities. Suggestions have been made on the algorithmization of the functional activities of governing bodies in the Army of the Armed Forces of Ukraine from the battalion and above the standards of the United States Armed Forces, which are identical to NATO standards, using specialized software and for its implementation in the training process of officers and cadets Hetman Petro Sahaidachnyi National Army Academy. In accordance with the algorithmization of the functional actions of the officials of the management bodies, software has been developed that has the following functional capabilities: providing information about the algorithm (procedure) of the officials of the management bodies; making calculations that are required when planning combat operations; ensuring the development of formalized documents; providing useful information in a convenient form; creation of an electronic map of operational (combat) situation on the ground of warfare. The proposed automation of the decision-making process for combat operations and the algorithmization of the work of officials of the ground forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine from the battalion and above can later be used in training centers and troops, as well as a prototype of the subsystem of the future automated ground control system of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Therefore, the main purpose of automation of the Armed Forces of Ukraine control system should be considered to ensure the guaranteed fulfillment of tasks by the troops to counter modern threats and challenges to the national security of the state, to improve and develop new algorithms and methods of work of commanders and staffs in deciding to conduct combat operations, their planning and management based on widely deployed information and telecommunications technologies in accordance with NATO standards.

MULTI-DOMAIN BATTLE. NEW DOCTRINE OF THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES

This article describes the newest doctrine of the U.S. Armed Forces, i.e. the Multi- Domain Battle (MDB) concept. It constitutes a description of several operational principles related to a potential conflict with the People’s Republic of China or the Russian Federation, such as the time and space for conducting military operations, the operating environment, the forces (base of operations), the target, the concentration of forces and the operational leeway. The article looks at the origins of the doctrine, the circumstances under which it was formed and people who contributed to its development. The authors also refer to historical U.S. doctrines, such as the AirLand Battle or AirSea Battle concepts. Along with the authors’ enthusiastic approach to MDB, the article also features some critical opinions which imply that the U.S. Army is not ready for MDB operations. The research methods that were used by the authors included analysis, synthesis, comparison and generalisation. Much space is devoted to analysing the U.S. Army’s official documents, including Multi-Domain Battle: Evolution of Combined Arms for the 21st Century 2025-2040, FM 3-0 Operations and TRADOC Multi-Domain Battle: Combined Arms for the 21st Century. The authors believe that Multi-Domain Battle is about to become the official military doctrine of the U.S. Armed Forces. In spite of the criticism, transformations of individual combat teams in the MDB spirit should be expected in the upcoming years. This doctrine also provides a military response to the geo-political changes occurring in the world, manifested as the United State’s limited role in certain regions, China’s growing power and Russia’s aggressive foreign policy. The conclusions formulated in the article may serve as the starting point for further studies dealing, inter alia, with the Polish Army’s readiness for conducting military operations, based on the MDB doctrine, jointly with the U.S. Army, the Polish Anti-Access/Area Denial (A2AD) capabilities and the role of military technologies in the MDB doctrine. The article makes use of the exact translation of the term, i.e. “Multi-Domain Battle.” However, the reader should bear in mind that it describes capabilities not only at the tactical level but also in operational terms, enabling the accomplishment of the strategic objective.

Suicide in the Military: Understanding Rates and Risk Factors Across the United States’ Armed Forces

This paper presents data from the United States Department of Defense Suicide Event Report System for years 2012–2015 to detail descriptive, longitudinal rate data and risk factor profiles associated with military suicide. The annual findings were aggregated from all U.S. military suicide deaths and suicide attempts. Data elements included the most common method of suicide (firearms), most common behavioral health diagnoses (substance abuse/dependence), common life stressors (failed intimate–partner relationships), and an individual’s history of operational deployment. Age- and sex-adjusted rates for the Services were compared with rates for the U.S. adult population. Results showed that the current reporting period (2015) is similar to patterns that have been observed over the preceding years and to patterns reported in the overall U.S. adult population. Suicide rates remain elevated but stable for both the Active and Reserve Components of the Military Services compared to historical levels observed prior to 2003. Finally, we discuss common errors and misinterpretations that can occur when analyzing surveillance data.