Military and Veterans Studies Commons^™

Brief -- Tennessee Board Of Regents: Veteran Reconnect Grant Researching Student Veteran Academic Success, Linda Euto, Erica M. Hawvermale, Gilly Cantor

Institute for Veterans and Military Families

The Veterans Education Task Force, funded by the Veteran Reconnect Grant and led by Syracuse University's IVMF with guidance from the Tennessee Board of Regents, evaluated veteran education strategies from 2020-2023. Their assessment, involving surveys and data from 39 TBR institutions, found strong institutional commitment but highlighted issues with identifying and supporting student veterans. Many institutions are developing veteran-focused programs but still lack comprehensive plans and resources. Key needs include better faculty/staff training and improved systems for identifying and supporting veterans.

Grit And The Military Service Member: How Cultivating Grit Enhances Performance, Resilience, And Mental Health, Phillip R. Jenkins

Faculty Publications

The transition from asymmetric warfare to Great Power Competition has brought the role played by Airmen to the forefront of the conversation. When uncontested operations, superior weaponry, and more detailed intelligence are not guaranteed, the weight of victory rests on the shoulders of Airmen. The exploration of grit and the role it plays in the development and sustainment of mental wellness, resilience, and performance has emerged in this context as a linchpin quality. The idea that an inherent drive, determination, and strength of purpose could offset the impact of stress—both combat and noncombat—is deeply compelling. However, leaders cannot look to …

The Employment Situation Of Veterans: August 2024, Institute For Veterans And Military Families At Syracuse University

Institute for Veterans and Military Families

In August, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a rise in overall employment by 142,000 and a stable unemployment rate of 4.2%. However, veteran unemployment rates increased slightly, with notable variations by age, gender, and ethnicity; for example, female veterans saw a significant rise to 7.0%, while veterans aged 25-34 experienced a decrease to 4.3%. Despite these fluctuations, veteran unemployment rates often remain lower than their nonveteran peers in most age and ethnic groups.

Veteran Health Equity: Key Highlights For Understanding The Unique Health-Related Needs Of Veterans Of Color, Mariah Brennan, Rosalinda V. Maury, Jeanette Harvie

Institute for Veterans and Military Families

This brief provides highlights from Understanding the Unique Health Related Needs of Veterans of Color study, a study that examined barriers to care, patient experiences, and cultural competence in veteran health care settings. Specifically, researchers seek to understand the challenges veterans of color face, including difficulties in accessing timely and appropriate care, experiences of discrimination, and varying levels of cultural competence among healthcare providers, and provide actionable policy suggestions to improve veteran healthcare experiences.

Book Review: Standing Up Space Force: The Road To The Nation’S Sixth Armed Service, Robert D. Bradford Iii

Parameters Bookshelf – Online Book Reviews

Author: Forrest L. Marion

Reviewed by Robert D. Bradford III, associate professor of defense and Joint processes, Department of Command, Leadership, and Management, US Army War College

Robert D. Bradford III reviews this “first history” of the United States Space Force. He overviews the author Forrest L. Marion’s resources (“primary sources and extensive oral history interviews”) and highlights the book’s value in the way it “depicts cultural and bureaucratic barriers to…organizational change.” Bradford notes the history’s universal applicability as it relates to other situations in which an institution successfully approaches change.

Satellites In The Russia-Ukraine War, Ron Gurantz

Books, Monographs & Collaborative Studies

Satellites and counterspace systems have shown themselves to be important parts of modern warfare in the Russia-Ukraine War but have also been subject to various restrictions to prevent escalation. This monograph examines the role of satellites and counterspace systems in the Russia-Ukraine War’s high-technology warfare and the effects of satellite proliferation and commercialization on the conduct of the war. It also analyzes the restrictions under which space-based capabilities have been operating and the implications of these limits for future conflicts—a subject that has received little attention. Relying on an exhaustive study of open-source material and the application of limited-war theory …

Themes In Help-Seeking Of Female Military Sexual Assault Survivors, Priscilla Phan

Doctoral Dissertations

While large efforts have been made to address military sexual assault, there are still barriers in the help-seeking journey that need attention. This study aimed to examine barriers and facilitators to formal and informal help-seeking behaviors and to understand the role of stigma in survivors' help-seeking behaviors for female military sexual assault survivors. Through semi-structured interviews, the study explored the help-seeking experiences and mental health sequela of fourteen female military sexual assault survivors. This study focused on cis-gender women over the age of eighteen who experienced a military sexual assault, by another military service member, while on active-duty. Women shared …

Implementation Of Reintegration Program Before Discharge For Veteran Population, Abigail Ross, Zeida Gutierrez

Summer 2024 OTD Capstone Symposium

A poster about creating and implementing a Reintegration program for War Veterans so they can possess the skills to be reintegrated into the community after they are discharged from the long-term care facility.

Ua94/6 Pershing Rifles Company B, 3rd Regiment Reunion Album, Stewart Wade

Student/Alumni Personal Papers

Reunion album created by Stewart Wade for the 2024 Pershing Rifles & Rebelettes reunion.

Operational Energy Solutions For A 21st Century Battlefield, Nestor R. Levin

Space and Defense

Development of alternative energy storage and distribution capacity for the modern battlefield is a major national security interest.

Book Review: Info Ops: From World War I To The Twitter Era, José De Arimatéia Da Cruz

Parameters Bookshelf – Online Book Reviews

Editors: Ofer Fridman, Vitaly Kabernik, and Francesca Granelli

Reviewed by Dr. José de Arimatéia da Cruz, Department of Homeland Defense and Security Issues, Center for Strategic Leadership, US Army War College

Dr. José de Arimatéia da Cruz calls Info Ops a “must-read for any future combatant commander concerned about how our enemies use information and communication technologies within a contested environment to advance their causes and wreak havoc within an increasingly polarized society.” He overviews the book’s topics, including World War I and World War II, social media, Soviet Union propaganda, and even Israel and Hamas, and discusses their immediate …

Research Review: "A Novel Mind-Body Podcast Program For Military And Veteran Caregivers", Institute For Veterans And Military Families At Syracuse University

Institute for Veterans and Military Families

This research review discusses how mind-body interventions can alleviate stress and enhance health for caregivers, but they are not widely accessible in many communities. To overcome this limitation, a study converted an 8-week mind-body program into a 28-day daily podcast series featuring education on stress response, relaxation techniques, and self-compassion exercises. The program was tested with 55 military caregivers, all cisgender women averaging 42.3 years old, and evaluations at the start, halfway through, and at the end of the program revealed notable reductions in stress, depression, and physical issues, along with improved social role performance, indicating that a daily mind-body …

2024 O'Callahan Society Newsletter, O'Callahan Society, College Of The Holy Cross

O'Callahan Society Newsletters

This annual newsletter of the O'Callahan Society includes articles about the 2023 Annual Dinner. Admiral James G. Stavridis, United States Navy (Retired) was guest speaker. President of the College of the Holy Cross, Vincent D. Rougeau, made introductory remarks. VADM Peter Daly, US Navy (Ret) was 2024 Annual Meeting Speaker.

Associations Between Combat Exposure, Moral Injury, And Suicidality Among U.S. Military Members: The Moderating Impact Of Positive Rumination, Jeffrey M. Gabelmann

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

Numerous studies have documented the risk for suicide among recent-era veterans with combat experience. Recently, moral injury has emerged as a possible contributor to suicidality in veterans. To that end, no study has approached the combat exposure-moral injury-suicidality link with a focus grounded in positive psychology. Specifically, the present study explored whether positive rumination, or the reflection on positive emotions and moods, may buffer the deleterious effects of potentially traumatic experiences in warzones on moral injury and suicidality. This study was a secondary analysis of 250 current or former U.S. military members (M_age = 33.3 years) who had …

A Call To Action: Lessons From Ukraine For The Future Force, John A. Nagl, Katie Crombe

Books, Monographs & Collaborative Studies

John A. Nagl, Project Director
Katie Crombe, Chief of Staff

This book explores the changing character of war through the lens of the Russia-Ukraine War. The authors analyze the conflict’s history, each side’s warfighting functions, the role of multidomain operations, and more. The radical changes in the character of war suggest the United States is at a strategic inflection point. The authors draw lessons from both the Ukrainians and the Russians to suggest improvements for the United States. Advances in drone technology, cyber warfare, and electromagnetic warfare pose new technological vulnerabilities and possibilities. In addition, the war has highlighted the …

Introduction To The Special Issue, John, Lord Alderdice

New England Journal of Public Policy

This issue of the New England Journal of Public Policy, with Lord John Alderdice as the guest editor, examines how, with the advent of sophisticated technologies and AI, the conduct of wars and peacemaking in the opening decades of the twenty-first century has changed, with implications for the future of both and society at large.

Brothers And Sisters From Another Mother–Promoting Inter-Cultural Understanding, Conflict Reduction, And Solidarity Among Partner Forces In The Sahel, Alain Tschudin, James Smith

New England Journal of Public Policy

The dynamics of war have changed markedly from conventional battlefield kinetic encounters to unconventional sub-threshold or asymmetric warfare, with combatants using new tactics and emergent technologies to gain a comparative advantage over their adversaries. In the face of such developments and mindful of globalized extremist challenges, we propose that fresh innovations should be encouraged with respect to the conventional training of international and African partner forces tasked with teaming up to engage security threats in the Sahel region. Accordingly, this article promotes a contemporary peacebuilding approach using a transformative, dialogical methodology that focuses on the promotion of greater inter-cultural understanding …

Understanding The Indirect Strategy Moment In Global Affairs, Kumar Ramakrishna

New England Journal of Public Policy

This article argues that policymakers need to better grasp what can best be understood as the “indirect strategy moment” in global affairs. It explains what is meant by indirect strategy in the classical strategic thought, before analyzing how indirect strategy has already been applied in the post-Cold War era. The article will then illustrate how indirect strategy is being applied in the cyber, social media, and telecommunications domains, before arguing that adopting “indirect strategy lenses” appears to be rather important in order to better frame current and ongoing geostrategic developments across a range of issues and domains. A recurring theme …

Pioneering The Digital Frontier: Cmi's Approach To Forward-Looking Dialogues, Johanna Poutanen, Felix Kufus

New England Journal of Public Policy

As contemporary conflicts grow increasingly complex, new approaches to peacemaking are needed. This article outlines how CMI – Martti Ahtisaari Peace Foundation (CMI) incorporates technology-enhanced foresight methodologies into its dialogue and mediation work. Digital tools, such as software dedicated to data analysis and visualization, play a key role in CMI’s foresight approach by facilitating broad-based data collection and participatory analysis. Interactive visual aids foster collective sense-making and help challenge entrenched mindsets of conflict stakeholders. The article illustrates how foresight approaches can be used to develop shared future visions and facilitate collaboration even in the context of stalled peace processes.

Reconciling Moral Dissonance: A Framework For Re-Integrating Moral Orientation With Life Agency During Warfighters’ Struggles With Military Moral Injury, Jeffrey L. Zust

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation uses case studies to critically examine the Three Mirror Model (TMM) as a framework for understanding the formation and healing of Military Moral Injury (MMI). I adapt the work of Stephen Brookfield and Neal Krause to evaluate using the TMM as a methodology for dealing with the complex issues of MMI within a military deployment cycle (training, warfighting, and healing) (Brookfield 2012, 2017; Krause 2022). Specifically, I use theorists, researchers, healers, and warfighters as key stakeholders to identify and critically examine the intersections of disciplines and the subsets of models where warfighters’ moral orientations and moral agency form …

The Foundations Of Civilian Supremacy: Civil-Military Relations During The American Civil War, Riley Callahan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The American Civil War was the defining event that shaped civil-military relations in the United States. This master's thesis explores the multifaceted dynamics between civilian and military leadership during this crucial period in American history. It examines the relationship between civilian political authority and the military establishment, while incorporating the related roles of Congress, public opinion and international influences. The research explores the decision-making processes, the balance of power, and the impact of leadership styles and personalities on civil-military interactions during times of armed conflict.

This thesis explores in particular the significance of President Lincoln's leadership, his ability to manage …

The Employment Situation Of Veterans: May 2024, Institute For Veterans And Military Families At Syracuse University

Institute for Veterans and Military Families

In May 2024, overall employment increased by 272,000 with a stable unemployment rate of 4.0%. Employment gains were notable in health care, government, leisure and hospitality, and professional services. Unemployment rates among veterans varied by age and demographic groups, showing disparities compared to nonveterans, such as higher rates among veterans aged 25-34 and lower rates among veterans aged 18-24 compared to their nonveteran peers.

Strategic Pathways To Minimal Deterrence And Counter-Terrorism: Enhancing Brunei’S Defense Capabilities, Brice Tseen Fu Lee, Filip Komšić, Juan Pablo Sims

Journal of Terrorism Studies

This paper explores the strategic enhancement of Brunei’s military capabilities under the guidelines of the Brunei Defense White Paper 2021, focusing on establishing a robust minimal level deterrence. It emphasizes transitioning from conventional defense paradigms to an integrated, technologically advanced military structure tailored to contemporary and future security challenges. The significance of minimal level deterrence is analyzed, illustrating how a proportionate and efficient military force not only deters potential aggressors but also supports counter-terrorism efforts. This approach underscores the dual benefits of ensuring national security while facilitating economic stability and growth, allowing Brunei to allocate resources more effectively between defense …

Du Undergraduate Showcase Abstracts: Research, Scholarship, And Creative Works, August Alexander, Kevin Summers, E. Paige Lloyd, Alyssa Aragon, Lauren Wols, Erica Larson, Colton Arciniaga, Lily Baeza, Ellie Barnett-Cashman, Sidney Barbier, Maverick Bartholomew, Ryan Bell, Trevor Briggs, Amanda Brown, Cory Marchi, Maddy Pontius, Jennifer Gallagher, Claire Kwok, Channing Bullock, Alex Mccollister, Kim Gorgens, Daniela Chavez, Yamilet Espinoza Nuñez, Giovanni Valladares Giron, William Christensen, Olivia Kachulis, Daniel Cierasynski, Brandon Cohen, Spenser Dobbs, Lindsay Goolsby, Noah Craver, Nyah Cubbison, Liam Doherty, Nicole Doris, Yan Qin, Alexander Nguyen, Lily Harmon, Shubh Todi, Naichen Zhao, Noah Fagello, Stacia Fritz, Paola Gascot-Chinea, Alex Volkova, Janelyn Geronimo, Elsie Harrington, Shane Simmons, Clarice Hise, Laura Moreno Palmer, Henry Xu, Yesu Leela Pasupula, Emily Fisher, Zachary Hogan, Colin Kleckner, Alyssa Knaus, Erin Kubat, Sam Werkema, Katie Lamberton, Lilliya Larson, Allie Leary, Vanessa Leon-Gamez, James H. Gallagher, E. Dale Broder, Robin M. Tinghitella, Emma Loeber, Alina Mali, Ixchel Marquez, Lauren Mcgrath, Ella Matthews, Grace Naegelen, Audrey Ng, Megan Lucyshyn, Rachel Brough, Alexandra Norman, Joe Ontiveros Rodriguez, Ben Dossett, Ori Miller, Janamejay Sharma, Christopher Reardon, Vincent Pandey, Regan Parish, Ren Pratt, Alisha Pravasi, Sanchari Das, Cari Reichel, Emma Robson, Victoria Rockwell, Jayce Rumsey, Steven Said, Norah Schroder, Alaina Smith, Shannon Murphy, Shujan A. Sharafeldeen, Stanley M. Kanai, James T. Nichols, David E. Clouthier, Macalia R. Augustus, Daniel Silva Rios, Scott Simpson, Anna Sparling, Chase Spurbeck, Kimberly Chiew, Christine Stadnik-Poteroba, Jacqueline Stephenson, Evelyn Stovin, Mia Supan, Lauren Tapper, Will Thrush, Anna Vogt, Michaela Walheim, Jon Weber, Hunter Whitehouse, Kansas Wood, Hayley Sayre, Lydia Mccann, Maread Mclaughlin, Kelly Krumrie, Olivia Wuttke

DU Undergraduate Research Journal Archive

Abstracts from the DU Undergraduate Research Showcase.

Impact Of The Department Of Defense Maternity Leave Policy Change On Retention And Postpartum Depression And The Air Force Postpartum Physical Fitness Policy Change On Physical Readiness Outcomes, Minette S. R. Herrick

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Understanding the implications of health policy is paramount to support continued execution and further wide-spread distribution. The Department of Defense has made many recent family friendly policy changes in effort to improve the health and morale of the force. Two such policies were analyzed in this study. The first was the change in maternity leave, in 2016, from allotting women six weeks time off to twelve weeks time off in the postpartum period. The second was executed by the Air Force to permit postpartum women a longer duration for their required physical fitness assessment (an increase from six months to …

The Employment Situation Of Veterans: April 2024, Institute For Veterans And Military Families At Syracuse University

Institute for Veterans and Military Families

Veteran employment trends and statistics among various demographics during April 2024.

Research Review: "Evaluating The Kidcope For Children In Active Duty Military Families", Institute For Veterans And Military Families At Syracuse University

Institute for Veterans and Military Families

The study aimed to replicate the factor structure of the KidCOPE in children from military families (N=2256, ages 7–12). However, no prior factor structure could be replicated. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses revealed a 2-factor model, but it was not confirmed. This suggests limitations of the KidCOPE as a valid measure of coping style among military children.

2022 National Survey Of Military-Affiliated Entrepreneurs: Military Spouse Entrepreneurs, Institute For Veterans And Military Families At Syracuse University

Institute for Veterans and Military Families

The 2022 National Survey of Military-Affiliated Entrepreneurs provides detailed insights into the experiences and challenges of military spouse entrepreneurs. In this brief, “military spouse” includes spouses/partners of active duty, National Guard, and Reserve servicemembers, as well as spouses/partners of veterans and retirees. However, we acknowledge that the differences between all of these groups are great, and their unique circumstances vary greatly. These findings are based on the data collected from 243 current business owners who self-identify as a military spouse. The findings highlight robust entrepreneurial activity among military spouses, while also pointing to the critical support needed to ensure their …

Outside Influence And Troop Deployment, Cara Wilson

Master's Theses

This paper examines the role that the President, the public, and the media played in troop deployment during the Afghanistan War. I hypothesized that each variable would influence troop deployment. Using a linear regression, I found that there is a positive relationship between the media and troop deployment. I concluded that media coverage did not influence troop deployment, but highlighted what was happening in Afghanistan. With the public, there is a negative relationship between the public and troop deployment. While troops increased, the public decreased in their support for the war. I conclude that the public did not have a …

Career Skills Congruence: Transferring Military Talent To The Civilian Job Market: A Preregistered Study, Anna M. Amos

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The training and experience gained through U.S. military service instill a strong sense of discipline, loyalty, and duty to one's country while preparing service members for the challenges they face during their military careers. Military culture is a defining aspect of servicemembers' identities, especially for those who have spent significant time in the military. The problem is that service members often enculturate into a life where they adopt an identity incongruent with the ability to engage in a smooth transition to civilian culture. The purpose of this cross-sectional regression study is to test social identity theory and transition theory that …