The U.S. Army National Guard and Reserve have more lieutenants but fewer captains than they are authorized to have. This monograph addresses the shortfall of captains, explores the magnitude of the shortfall, makes recommendations, and assesses the concepts of a National Guard academy and of requiring Officer Candidate School entrants to hold a four-year degree as feasible partial solutions to the shortfall.

Late in 1996, the Air Force enlisted RAND's help to respond to inquiries from Congress about the effects of a specific Air Force proposal to consolidate and divest a portion of Eglin Air Force Base's test and evaluation capabilities. The analysis found areas of financial merit in the proposal but also elements that may not be cost effective. The authors highlight areas of risk for Air Force consideration prior to implementation.