Military and Veterans Studies Commons^™

Simulating Cyber-Resilience: The Strategic Role Of The Locked Shields Exercise In Enhancing International Cyber Preparedness, Christopher A. Ramezan, Ludwig Christian Schaupp, Elizabeth A. Vitullo, William J. Walker

Journal of Cybersecurity Education, Research and Practice

As cyberthreats to critical infrastructure remain prevalent, national response mechanisms must evolve beyond the technical domain to incorporate legal, communicative, strategic, and cross-sector coordination. This work explores Locked Shields, an annual exercise conducted by NATO's Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence, as a pedagogical and conceptual framework for simulating whole-of-government responses to cyber incidents. Unlike traditional cyber exercises, Locked Shields engages legal advisors, media strategists, and civil-military roles in realistic, scenario-driven simulations that portray the political and operational conditions of a real international-scale cyber crisis. We detail the exercise architecture, contrast with other cyber exercises, and assess its pedagogical and …

Book Review: Betting Against America: The Axis Powers’ Views Of The United States, Thomas Bruscino

Parameters Bookshelf – Online Book Reviews

Author: Harry Yeide

Reviewed by: Thomas Bruscino, professor, operational art and theater planning, Department of Military Strategy, Planning, and Operations, US Army War College

What if the Axis powers had seen America clearly before launching into war? Betting Against America dives into the flawed intelligence, cultural biases, and strategic miscalculations that led Germany, Japan, and Italy to underestimate the United States. Through intercepted communications and insider reports, Harry Yeide reveals how these fatal errors shaped the course of World War II.

Book Review: Rhino Tanks And Sticky Bombs: Gi Ingenuity In World War Ii, William Phillips

Parameters Bookshelf – Online Book Reviews

Author: Robert P. Wettemann Jr.

Reviewed by: Colonel William Phillips, US Army (retired), assistant professor, Department of Joint, Interagency, and Multinational Operations, US Army Command and General Staff College

Improvised weapons and battlefield creativity take center stage in Rhino Tanks and Sticky Bombs, Robert P. Wettemann Jr.’s tribute to the ingenuity of American GIs during World War II. From modifying tanks to crafting makeshift explosives, soldiers turned innovation into survival and success. This compelling account reveals how necessity and resourcefulness shaped the outcome of history’s most devastating conflict.

Copyright: ©2026 William Phillips

Book Review: The Russian-Ukrainian War, 2023: A Second Year Of Hell And The Dawn Of Drone Warfare, Paul Andrew Lushenko

Parameters Bookshelf – Online Book Reviews

Author: John S. Harrel

Reviewed by: Paul Andrew Lushenko, professorial lecturer, Elliott School of International Affairs, The George Washington University

In the brutal second year of Russia’s invasion, Ukraine faced relentless assaults while pioneering the battlefield use of drones in a desperate bid for survival. Retired General John S. Harrel delivers a gripping account of mechanized warfare’s evolution, where unmanned aerial vehicles reshaped tactics from the trenches to the Black Sea. This vivid chronicle captures the chaos, innovation, and global reverberations of a war that redefined modern combat.

©2026 Paul Andrew Lushenko

Book Review: Lessons From The Admiral: Naval Wisdom And Sea Stories For Leaders, Richard M. Yates

Parameters Bookshelf – Online Book Reviews

Author: Mark C. Fava

Reviewed by: Commander Richard M. Yates, US Navy, faculty instructor, Department of Command, Leadership, and Management, US Army War College

Mentorship, reliability, and adaptability—explore the Admiral’s wisdom for navigating high-stakes environments. From attention to detail to building resilient teams, discover insights that transcend the military and shape modern leadership.

Copyright: ©2026 Richard M. Yates

Book Review: Cassino ’44: The Brutal Battle For Rome, Wylie W. Johnson

Parameters Bookshelf – Online Book Reviews

Author: James Holland

Reviewed by: Wylie W. Johnson, chaplain, US Army War College class of 2010

In this masterful retelling of the Italian Campaign’s final months, James Holland captures the harrowing struggle to break through the German Gustav Line and liberate Rome. Drawing from 20 years of research and firsthand accounts, he brings to life the chaos of Monte Cassino and Anzio through the eyes of soldiers, nurses, and civilians caught in the maelstrom. Cassino ’44 redefines our understanding of World War II’s most grueling campaign, revealing its strategic importance and human cost just days before the D-Day landings.

©2026 …

The Employment Situation Of Veterans: January 2026, Institute For Veterans And Military Families At Syracuse University

Institute for Veterans and Military Families

The January 2026 BLS data show U.S. employment rose by 130,000, with unemployment holding at 4.3%. Veteran unemployment increased from 3.9% to 4.5%, and Post‑9/11 veteran unemployment rose to 5.8%. Trends varied by demographic group: young veterans (18–24) saw improvement, while veterans 45–54 experienced a sharp rise. Female veteran unemployment climbed notably to 5.8%. Black veterans saw unemployment rise to 8.3%, while Hispanic veteran unemployment dropped to 2.1%. Overall, veterans experienced greater volatility than nonveterans across age, gender, and racial groups.

Research Review: "Black Veterans' Insight On Racial Disparities In Military Administrative Separations", Institute For Veterans And Military Families At Syracuse University

Institute for Veterans and Military Families

Military service provides a path toward the middle class by granting veterans benefits, including healthcare and compensation for disabilities acquired during service. Military characterization of service, assigned by the Department of Defense at separation, can qualify or disqualify veterans from benefits access. Black service members are 50% more likely than White service members to receive an Other Than Honorable rather than an Honorable discharge, resulting in disproportionate impediments to the benefits designed to facilitate re-entry into civilian life and prevent poverty. Yet, the Department of Defense provides little meaningful remedy for Black veterans to correct less than Honorable discharges, instead …

Veteran Families In The 2025 Mfls: Community, Transition Needs, And Family Financial Situation, Jeanette Harvie, Rosalinda V. Maury

Institute for Veterans and Military Families

The 2025 Military Family Lifestyle Survey (MFLS), a collaboration between Blue Star Families and Syracuse University's D'Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families since 2014, was released Feb 3, 2026. This year, the survey collected responses from over 6,000 military-connected individuals, including 2,846 veteran family respondents. Key findings include that 58% of veteran respondents described their military-to-civilian transition as difficult, with many reporting significant unmet needs for housing assistance, caregiving resources, and financial planning support at the time of transition. Preliminary analysis showed that veteran families who experienced difficult transitions may experience worse long-term outcomes, with 39% currently struggling financially …

Roadmap To Implement Statewide Veterans Coordinated Care In New Mexico, Nosa Akol, Zachary Bridgewater, Vincent Delsignore, Emily Graham, Mary Rachel Keville

Institute for Veterans and Military Families

The New Mexico State Legislature is interested in building a statewide coordinated care network to better connect veterans and their families to service. This document translates community input into an actionable roadmap for implementation. This outlines key activities, objectives, and milestones across each phase of the project--designed to guide state leaders and implementation partners from design to launch to steady state operations.

A Long, Hard Year: Russia-Ukraine War Lessons Learned 2023, John A. Nagl, Michael T. Hackett

Integrated Research Projects

Following the 2024 A Call to Action: Lessons from Ukraine for the Future Force, which explored military lessons learned from the first year of the Russia-Ukraine War, this book examines the changing character of war as the second year of the war unfolded. This year’s authors explore the conflict from four different angles: information advantage (intelligence, information operations, and cyber); landpower operations (fires, maneuver, force protection, mission command, and mercenaries); multi-domain operations (air and maritime); and crosscutting themes (diplomacy, sustainment, and innovation and adaptation). The second year witnessed the innovative approaches to combat of the first year—drones, unmanned aerial …

A Human-Centric Framework: Employment Principles For Lethal Autonomous Weapons, Brennan Deveraux

Books, Monographs & Collaborative Studies

This monograph challenges the Department of War to reframe the conversation about humans’ involvement in lethal autonomous weapons systems by codifying a human-centric framework built on the employment pillars of certification, authority, restriction, and accountability. Although an ample body of literature discusses lethal autonomous weapon systems, this monograph takes a novel approach by proposing a theoretical framework and applying it to historical and hypothetical practical scenarios involving weapons with autonomous characteristics. In terms of methodology, the monograph relies heavily on primary sources, including UN documents and Department of War publications, which are augmented by secondary sources from experts in the …

Adaptable Psychopathic Traits: Military And Para-Military Organizations, Mariana Ramirez

Student Theses

Although culturally distinct, both military and law enforcement careers demand individuals to operate effectively in high-risk environments; a characteristic shaped through processes of military and para-military occupational socialization, reinforced by an adaptable personality. Understanding the distinctions between military and law enforcement cultures provides a foundation for examining individual-level factors such as personality, behavior, and mental health. Recent research (e.g. Anestis et al., 2019; Batastini et al., 2023; Falkenbach et al., 2017; Falkenbach et al., 2018; McKinley & Verona, 2023; Patton et al., 2018; Preston et al., 2020; Roșca et al., 2021) has increasingly applied a psychopathic framework to study these …

The Employment Situation Of Veterans: December 2025, Institute For Veterans And Military Families At Syracuse University

Institute for Veterans and Military Families

In December 2025, U.S. unemployment held steady at 4.6%, while veteran unemployment rose from 3.4% to 3.9%. Post-9/11 veterans saw a sharper increase to 5.1%. Younger veterans (18–24) faced the highest rate at 14.8%, far above nonveterans (8.4%). Female veteran unemployment jumped to 4.5%, exceeding nonveteran women (3.8%), while male veterans remained slightly below nonveteran men. Racial trends varied: Black veterans’ unemployment fell to 6.6%, below nonveterans, while Hispanic veterans rose to 4.3%. Employment gains occurred in food service, healthcare, and social assistance, while retail declined. Overall, veteran unemployment trends diverged significantly by age, gender, and ethnicity.

Drone Dichotomy: Investigating The Application Of Unmanned Aerial Systems For Offensive And Defensive Chemical, Biological, Radiological, And Nuclear-Related Tasks, Evan Jacob Martinovitch

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

This thesis investigates the application of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) for both offensive and defensive chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) tasks to determine if they serve as a force multiplier on the modern battlefield. As CBRN weapons reemerge as realistic threats alongside the rapid proliferation of UAS, the intersection of these fields presents unique challenges and opportunities. Through a methodology that examines the history of the UAS-CBRN intersection, military doctrine, and the status of UAS technology, this research evaluates the capability of current and emerging UAS against specific CBRN delivery, reconnaissance and surveillance, and decontamination tasks. The analysis conducted …

The Ones Who Watched: Technology, Proxy Warfare, And The Testing Ground Hypothesis, Sean J. Oliver

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Great powers need laboratories for war. This thesis argues that great powers find these laboratories in proxy forces. Proxy warfare is not just a tool for strategic influence. It is a machine for experimentation. This study posits a central testing-ground hypothesis. It contends that great powers deliberately use surrogates to vet emerging technologies, doctrines, and mobilization schemes under the pressure of real combat. The analytical methodology is historical. It traces patterns from the ancient world's proxy forces and the innovations of the Crusades to the Cold War and the digital age. The thesis examines enduring patterns, including the tension between …

Lessons Unlearned: Cultural Competence And The Limits Of U.S. Army Doctrine In Iraq And Afghanistan, Kylie W. Ha

CMC Senior Theses

This thesis examines how the absence of comprehensive cultural and linguistic competence within U.S. Army doctrine contributed to operational and ethical failures during the wars in Iraq (2003–2011) and Afghanistan (2001–2021). It focuses on the gap between doctrinal recognition of culture and language and the failure to institutionalize these elements as measurable, force-wide competencies. The thesis analyzes doctrinal publications spanning the period from 2001 to 2014 and finds that, while these publications increasingly acknowledged the importance of cultural awareness, language, and local context—particularly in counterinsurgency operations—these elements were not embedded as standardized requirements across training, planning, or evaluation. Iraq and …

Physical Activity Among Active-Duty Us Military Servicemembers With Overweight And Obesity, Natalie M. Yarish, Jessica L. Morse, Jennalee S. Wooldridge, Erin E. Dooley, Niloofar Afari

Exercise Science Faculty Publications

Background

To examine physical activity (PA) among US military servicemembers (SM) with overweight and obesity (OW/OB) and if they meet Physical Activity Guidelines (PAG). To assess differences in PA by sex and associations between PA and body composition.

Methods

PA duration and intensity were objectively collected via accelerometers and self-reported daily average via self-report International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) among US active-duty SM (n=113, 58% female, Mean BMI = 33.3 ± 3.9 kg/m2). Sex, body mass index (BMI), and body fat % (BF% via circumference and an equation) were measured. Accelerometer PA and sedentary time were computed for IPAQ categories …

Motivational Factors Influencing Military Service: A Structural Equation Model Of Rotc Students And Service Members’ Motivation-Confidence To Serve, Brian J. Vansingel

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Amid declining college enrollment across the United States, academic institutions with United States Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) programs must consider underrecruited populations, such as military-bound young adults, in their recruiting strategies. To support this effort, this study examined the motivational factors associated with individuals’ decisions to serve in the U.S. Armed Forces. This study utilized a quantitative, correlational research design with a survey comprising multiple sections: sociodemographic variables, items across six motivational factors for military service, and a Motivation-Confidence to Serve scale. The study used data from a convenience sample of 709 respondents, including college military science students …

Biomechanical Integrity Of The Female Pelvic Floor: A Comparison Of Military And Civilian Women, Vladimir Egorov, Peter Takacs, Vincent Lucente, Heather Van Raalte, Joy A. Greer, Noune Sarvazyan

Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology Faculty Publications

Introduction

The health of the pelvic floor depends on the integrity of its muscles, connective tissue, ligaments, and their innervation. The female pelvic floor may be more vulnerable to repetitive heavy loads in a military environment than the male pelvic floor because of anatomical and physiological differences. The study aim was to identify and explore possible differences in the female pelvic floor conditions between active military and civilian women with similar demographics.To identify and explore possible differences in the conditions of the female pelvic floor between active military women and civilian women with similar demographics.

Materials and Methods

Military active …

Enhancing Military Health System Organizational Efficiency And Quality Of Care Through A Social-Ecological Framework, Eric L. Peipelman

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Timely and fair adjudication of incivility-related actions within the Department of Defense (DoD) and Military Health System (MHS) is increasingly crucial for maintaining accountability, mission readiness, and quality of care. Ongoing delays in resolving workplace complaints and inefficiencies in resource-heavy adjudications highlight the need to shift from reactive complaint handling toward proactive civility promotion and transparent decision-making. This Integrated Learning Experience (ILE) introduces the Peipelman Civility Discussion and Assessment Toolkit (PCDAT)—a comprehensive, evidence-based framework designed to improve civility, optimize resources, and enhance communication, even in the MHS. Based on the Social-Ecological Model (SEM) and adapted from the Workplace Power and …

Autonomous Weapons And Strategic Stability, Chick Edmond

Political Science & Geography Faculty Publications

The increasing number of artificial intelligence (AI) elements within military systems has introduced new forms of security dilemmas related to speed, level of secrecy, and transfer of responsibility from humans to machines. This article addresses the question of whether or how AI enabled autonomous weapons can lead to greater levels of strategic instability. Three causal mechanisms were determined by this study to potentially create destabilizing effects due to the introduction of autonomy; the first mechanism is a reduction in time available for decision making. The second mechanism involves the creation of multiple pathways of escalation. The third mechanism is the …

Nato's Evolution And European Security Dynamics, Chick Edmond

Political Science & Geography Faculty Publications

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has transformed dramatically since the end of the Cold War. As a collective defense alliance, it was primarily focused on defending itself against the Soviet Union. NATO is now focused on addressing multiple types of threats: traditional, hybrid, and non-traditional. This study uses a qualitative methodological approach that includes a systematic content review of NATO’s Strategic Concepts from to 1991–2022; NATO Summit Communiques; NATO Defense Planning Guidance and Elite Speeches. This allows us to analyse the causes and effects of NATO’s transformation over time. Our results suggest that because of Russia’s actions as a …

Hunter. Hunted. Human: Warfighters' Emotional Responses To Weapons In Tactical & Strategic Context, Simon Mace

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

Human emotional responses to weapons have long been assumed to be relatively parsimonious, comprised predominately of aggression, anxiety, and fear responses. However, most research on this weapons effect has focused on civilians – who are notably more likely to be targeted by than to employ weapons. So, there is reason to speculate that emotional responses to weapons vary more than previously believed. This is significant for three reasons. First, positive emotional responses generate more desirable combat behaviors, specifically the willingness to engage adversaries. Second, negative emotional responses catalyze an unpredictable range of behaviors, many of which are tactically and operationally …

A Modular Virtual Reality Training Framework For Multi-Target Drone Defense, Susann Schleupner

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

Unmanned aerial systems (UAS), commonly referred to as drones, have become a rapidly growing challenge in modern military operations. In particular, the increasing use of small, agile, and low-cost systems—such as first-person-view (FPV) drones and coordinated multi-drone deployments—places high cognitive demands on operators, requiring rapid target detection, prioritization, and decision-making under time pressure.

Existing training approaches either rely on costly and logistically constrained live exercises or focus primarily on isolated piloting and shooting tasks, without sufficiently addressing these cognitive demands. At the same time, advances in commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) virtual reality (VR) hardware enable scalable, flexible, and repeatable training environments. …

The Employment Situation Of Veterans: November 2025, Institute For Veterans And Military Families At Syracuse University

Institute for Veterans and Military Families

The November 2025 Employment Situation Report shows that U.S. employment changed little, while the overall unemployment rate held at 4.6 percent. Veteran unemployment rose from 2.6 percent in September to 3.4 percent in November, with Post‑9/11 veterans experiencing a sharper increase to 4.3 percent. Unemployment patterns varied widely across veteran age groups: rates spiked for ages 18–24 and 35–44, while veterans 45–54 and those 65+ saw declines. Female veteran unemployment fell significantly, while male veteran unemployment rose. Racial disparities persisted, with Black veteran unemployment rising and Hispanic veteran unemployment falling.

Disaster Risk Reduction In Rural Indonesia: Evaluation Of The Japan Red Cross Program In Pujiharjo Village, Meyralda Dara Adisa, Pujo Widodo, Anwar Kurniadi, Wilopo Wilopo

Preventia: The Indonesian Journal of Public Health

Pujiharjo Village in Malang Regency, Indonesia, is highly vulnerable to natural disasters. In 2021, the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) partnered with the Japanese Red Cross Society (JRCS) to implement a community-based disaster preparedness program. This study evaluates the program's effectiveness in terms of community participation, institutional support, and alignment with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030. Using a qualitative case study, data were collected through document analysis of Vulnerability and Capacity Assessments (VCA), Community Action Plans (CAP), and local SOPs. Thematic analysis explored disaster risk perception, governance, mitigation investment, and emergency preparedness. The program successfully improved risk awareness, …

U.S. Military Veterans And Socioeconomic Opportunities: A Financial Lens On National Public Service, Corri Zoli, Linda Euto, Rosalinda Maury

The Lender Center for Social Justice

This brief offers policy-relevant insights into how military service is an important lever for socioeconomic opportunity and social mobility in the United States. Drawing on the social science literature and recent data from federal sources, this brief focuses on the many financial advantages that result from service, whether due to standardized military pay rates, military networks, or military and veterans’ benefits, from the GI Bill to housing allowances. Such financial advantages from service may also reduce socioeconomic disparities and create economic opportunities for military service members, from building intergenerational wealth to becoming homeowners, including for underrepresented minority service members.

The Identity Navigation Challenge, Arielle Badger Newman, Mauricio Mercado, Ashley Gomez, Rosalinda Maury

The Lender Center for Social Justice

While veteran status should serve as a credential that opens doors for entrepreneurs, our research reveals a troubling reality: underrepresented racial minority (URM) veteran entrepreneurs must perform complex "identity work" to navigate bias in funding and support systems. Through interviews with 76 veteran entrepreneurs, we discovered the Intersectional Legitimacy Work Model, a three-phase process showing how entrepreneurs strategically manage their race, gender, and veteran identities when seeking resources. Black and Latino veteran entrepreneurs report having to prove they are the "right kind" of veteran, often downplaying or emphasizing aspects of their identity depending on their audience. This creates an exhausting …

Dialogue And Storytelling To Bridge The Civil-Military Gap On Campus—And Beyond: Resources And Recommendations, Corri Zoli, Linda Euto

The Lender Center for Social Justice

This brief presents key applied insights from innovative approaches to bridge the gap on college campuses between student veterans and nonveterans. The brief provides a model for using dialogue and storytelling as powerful pedagogical and research tools to share insights with students and the broader public about public national service, the distinctive contributions of U.S. military service members, and the transition needs of military students in higher education.