Leveraging diversity for military effectiveness: Diversity, inclusion and belonging in the UK and US Armed Forces
Abstract: In an evolving strategic environment, the Armed Forces need to effectively leverage all available advantages, including those stemming from their workforces, to maximise strategic and operational effectiveness. To support this effort, RAND researchers conducted a study to examine the opportunities for leveraging workforce diversity to enhance military effectiveness.
The study comprised a large-scale literature review as well as semi-structured interviews with subject matter experts and practitioners from the UK and United States to produce three outputs. Firstly, the study provided a framework to help guide the UK and US Armed Forces in their assessments of links between different kinds of diversity and military effectiveness, and how these links may be better leveraged in future. Secondly, the study team developed six vignettes illustrating the framework in relation to various operational and strategic requirements identified by the UK and US Armed Forces. Lastly, the study identified key implications and options for the Armed Forces as they consider leveraging the various operational and strategic advantages provided by diversity.
The study findings show that there are significant opportunities for leveraging workforce diversity to enhance military effectiveness across a wide spectrum of Defence activity. These opportunities cumulatively position diversity as a strategic enabler for the UK and US Armed Forces.
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Military populations are known to have higher prevalence and heavier alcohol use compared to the general population globally. This has serious negative implications to the military. The objective of this study was to describe the prevalence, patterns and associated factors of binge drinking among male military personnel in the Sri Lanka Army. METHODS: A cross sectional study was conducted among 1337 male Army personnel in active service using multistage sampling. A self-administered questionnaire and the interviewer-administered Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test which is a 10-item screening tool were used. Prevalence of binge drinking was summarised as a proportion with 95% Confidence Intervals (CI). Age specific prevalence rates and the age standardized prevalence rate of binge drinking were calculated. The standard measure of one unit of alcohol being equivalent to 10 g of pure alcohol was used as a reference to calculate the units of alcohol consumption. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to determine the factors associated with binge drinking. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of binge drinking was 51.2% (95% CI 48.5%-54.0%). The age standardized prevalence of binge drinking was 28.3%. The majority binge drank once a month (50.4%). Those engaged in binge drinking used 5.6 median units of alcohol on a typical day, 84% consumed arrack, 69.3% have ever thought or attempted to quit and median age of first alcohol consumption was 18 years. When controlled for confounding, those who had mental distress (AOR 2.46, 95% CI=1.72-3.53), had sex with a commercial sex worker (AOR 1.92, 95% CI=1.21-3.06), ever smoking (AOR 1.69, 95% CI=1.27-2.25), had serious consequences (AOR 1.58, 95% CI=1.13-2.20), currently used cannabis (AOR 1.39, 95% CI=1.02-1.89) and had combat exposure (AOR 1.37, 95% CI 1.00-1.87) had a higher likelihood of binge drinking. CONCLUSIONS: The high prevalence of binge drinking warrants immediate advocacy to the highest level of command of the Sri Lanka Army for support to implement sustainable evidence-based alcohol prevention programmes.