An implicit goal of Congress, the Department of Defense, and the armed services is that diversity in the armed services should approximate diversity in the general population. A key aspect of that diversity is the representation of Hispanics. Although polls of Hispanic youth show a strong propensity to serve in the military, Hispanics are…

RAND found that, for most military service members, college attendance is compatible with Reserve service. Many reservists successfully combine service with both civilian jobs and college, and use the educational benefits available to them. However, those who score the highest on the AFQT may want to pursue college more intensively than the…

An analysis was made of the relative cost-effectiveness of two incentive programs for recruiting military personnel: enlistment bonuses and educational benefits. In comparing these alternative recruiting resources, the study considered the effects of such programs on the service history of recruits, including reserve component accessions, as well…

The armed services prefer to recruit high quality youth because they perform better and have lower attrition rates. Yet competition for this group is increasing because of fundamental changes in the civilian opportunities that these youth face. One of the most dramatic changes is the enormous increase in the relative returns from attending college…