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U.S. Military Forces and Operations

CNAS examines the force structure, roles, missions, and overall health and wellness of America's military in order to help ensure our forces are prepared for the demands of 21st century conflict.

In September 2010, CNAS published An Indispensable Force: Investing in America’s National Guard and Reserves. The report concluded that despite commendable progress in recent years, the U.S. government still is not investing sufficiently in the policies, laws, and budgets required for the National Guard and Reserves to fulfill their current and future role in U.S. national security. In February 2010, CNAS released a report on military officer education. Titled Keeping the Edge: Revitalizing America's Military Officer Corps, the report provided recommendations for how the United States can keep its edge in the officer corps amidst an ever-increasing array of challenges.

In 2011, CNAS will undertake work on such vital topics as the future of the all-volunteer force, defense acquisition reform, military planning and budgeting, and the future of America’s “hard power.”

For other work related to U.S. Military Forces and Operations, see the CNAS projects on Military Wellness, Special Operations Forces, and Contracting in Conflicts.

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