Decision Support for Optimal Use of Joint Training Funds in the Canadian Armed Forces

Joint exercises are vital to the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) meeting its readiness targets. However, CAF resources are often insufficient to participate in all candidate joint exercises. Many organizations face resource challenges. In the context of preparing the CAF for its mandated missions and operational tasks, this chapter addresses the following research question: How can the CAF get the most value out of its joint training resources? Using strategic analysis and operations research, the authors designed a value model to gauge a joint exercise's value and an optimization model to support decision makers when selecting a joint exercise portfolio. This chapter describes these models, presents an example of their application, and discusses future improvements.

A Critical Review of Barriers to United States Military Spouse Education and Employment

In the United States, there are over one million military spouses. Frequent geographical relocations, the psychological stress and anxiety associated with spousal deployments, and supporting their children as the only parent while their active duty spouse is away leave military spouses disproportionately accountable for all family obligations. Ultimately, these inequities create barriers for military spouses and their employment and educational pursuits. Despite similarities in lifestyle to active duty service members, military spouses are not categorized as an at-risk population and have not been studied in depth. This chapter utilized the source, survey, synthesize method to address the literature gap surrounding the barriers to military spouse education and employment. Findings from the existing literature were synthesized to present the key themes for studies that investigated the military culture, barriers to military spouses' pursuits of higher education, employment, and career advancement and earnings.

IR4.0 Ready and Aware Academics at the National Defence University of Malaysia

This chapter argues for the importance of equipping academics with the knowledge and impact of IR4.0 and beyond for future graduates. Particularly to prepare for military leaders for Malaysia at the National Defense University of Malaysia (NDUM), a new learning model may be apt and urgently needed. The objectives of the chapter are twofold: firstly, to gauge the readiness and awareness level of academics on implementing IR4.0 during their classroom teaching, and secondly, to investigate academics' views on their own teaching practices. The methodology for this chapter is quantitative in nature, where an online survey was used to collect data from the academics. It is found that, first, there are mixed reactions from academics on their readiness and awareness of IR4.0 and its impacts, and second, should the existing curriculum be revamped to serve students' needs on IR4.0, academics opined that the delivery methods must change too.

Smart Healthcare Monitoring System for War-End Soldiers Using CNN

Health monitoring plays a vital role to overcome the health issues of the patients. According to research, approximately 2000 people die due to carelessness of monitoring their health. Wearable monitoring systems record the activities of daily life. A 24-hour wearable monitoring system was developed and changes were identified. This project is designed for helping the soldiers to maintain their health conditions and to identify their health issues at war's end. Different health parameters are monitored using sensors, and the data are transmitted through GSM to the receiver, and the received data are analyzed using convolutional neural networks, which is performed in cloud IoT. If any abnormalities are found during the analyzing process, the message is sent to military personnel and the doctor at the camp so that they could take necessary actions to recover the ill soldier from the war field and provide emergency assistance on time. The location of the soldier is also shared using the input from GPS modem in the smart jacket.

Information Sharing Challenges in Government Cybersecurity Organizations

Cyber-attacks happen faster and more spontaneously than traditional warfare. This cyber landscape offers new challenges to organizations due to its unique nature. Building organizations to defend against cyber terrorism and innovating offensive solutions calls for strong information sharing amongst government and military organizations, as well as industry partners. Using an innovative electronic method to collect quantitative and qualitative data from experts, this study seeks to explore the effectiveness and establishment of information sharing practices and procedures in U.S. government cybersecurity organizations. This study also considers the impact of media leaks and terrorism on information sharing practices and procedures.

The Relationship Among Military Expenditure, High Technological Product Exports, and Economic Growth

In this chapter, the effects of military expenditure (MEXP) on high-tech exports (HTX) and GDP per capita (GDPPC) of G7 and new industrialized countries (NIC) are analyzed for period 1988-2015 by panel data analysis. The causality relationships between the series are examined by Dumitrescu and Hurlin test. In G7 countries, one-way causality relationship from HTX to MEXP and two-way causality relationship between MEXP and GDPPC have been identified. Also, in NIC countries, two-way causality relationship between HTX and MEXP and one-way causality relationship from GDPPC to MEXP have been determined. Cointegration relations are tested by Pedroni test and the series are found to be cointegrated. It is seen that in the G7 countries, 1% increase in MEXP during the period of 1988-2015 increased HTX by 0.71% and GDPPC by 0.98%. In NIC countries, the 1% increase in MEXP increased HTX by 1.7% and GDPPC by 0.96%. The effect of MEXP on HTX is found much higher in NIC countries.

Modern Military Operations

Modern military operations are characterized by ubiquitous use of technology, in particular the use of information and communication technologies for real-time information sharing. The use of technology on the battlefield is assumed to improve decision making in military practice. By making use of a friendly fire incident in Afghanistan, namely the Sangin incident in 2011, the author highlights why moral decision making could be hampered by technology. This is partly due to the fact that information and communication technologies subtly connect sub-practices that exist within the broader military practice, thus potentially blurring normative structures. Blurring of normative structures can cause problems for moral decision making on the battlefield, because it is suddenly not clear who is responsible for the course of action.

Conflict Risk and Defense Expenses and Their Impact on the Economic Growth

The main purpose of this chapter is to identify the effects of conflict risk and defense expenses on economic growth. Within this scope, annual data of 17 emerging economies for the period between 1989 and 2014 were analyzed. In addition to this situation, Dumitrescu Hurlin panel causality test was taken into consideration in order to reach the objective. As a result of the analysis, it was determined that there is a causality relationship between conflict and defense expenses for these countries. This situation shows that emerging countries, which have high conflict risk, also increase defense expenses so as to minimize the negative effects of these conflicts. Additionally, it was also identified that economic growth is a significant reason of high defense expenses. In other words, it can be said that when the economy of an emerging country is developed, it gives more importance to defense expenses in order to take action for this conflict.

Framework for Military Applications of Social Media

This article describes how social media has revolutionised the way in which people communicate, interact and engage. This phenomenon has transformed the digital world with its ease, convenience and numerous capabilities for sharing, involving and participating in exchanges. The military is now being confronted with how this platform can be used to aid its activities. When utilised correctly, social media could become a force multiplier for the military. Day-to-day functions, official communications, networking and training are just some of the capabilities that can be supported by social media. However, clear guidance, management and governance are required in order to ensure that the platform is implemented correctly. This article discusses the drive for the use of social media within the military and how it can be utilised for military activities. It addresses the high-level functionalities of social media within the military, as well as an overall approach to guide the process.

Science and the Morality of Weapons Research

If it were not for weapons research, there would be no predator drones or smart bombs or improvised explosive devices or assault rifles. The insurgents in the Middle East and elsewhere would have no means to fight, and there would be no wars, large or small. Even more importantly, there would be no vast arsenals of thermonuclear weapons capable of ending much of the sentient life on the planet. The world would then most certainly be a safer place. The main issue for ethics and weapons research centres on the ethical or moral evaluation of the activity: Is it ever morally justified to design the means to kill, harm and destroy, and if so, under precisely what circumstances?