The Role of RAND Corporation in Solving the Soldiers Psychological Problems and Other Assistance - Term Paper Example

This article deals with Rand’s community policing, changes in Rand’s operations, how soldiers responded and how Rand responded to soldier’s issues. The RAND Corporation is a non-profit making body that focuses on issues of health education, national security, law, and the environment. With RAND Corporation's dedication to high-quality service, objective research, and analysis, RAND engages the community to create knowledge, information, and solutions which are effective and enduring.

RAND’s community policing in Oakland was geared toward curbing the rising crimes. Oakland electorates passed the violence prevention and public safety act to facilitate community policing. Deployment of problem-solving officers, which forms a very important part of community policing is always affected due to lack of available officers. The community’s participation has also been effective (Army G, Cox and Jeremy M, 2010). Since the 911 terrorist attacks on the USA, the RAND has since shifted focus to helping soldiers with psychological problems. About 1.64 million US soldiers have been deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Evidence shows that the psychological stress toll of these deployments is high compared to physical injuries combat. Several task forces and presidential commissions have been formed to examine the care of war-wounded soldiers and make recommendations about their psychological stress. In the recent past, concerns have been centered to encounter post-traumatic stress and traumatic brain injury. Due to the increasing incidences of suicide and suicide attempts among soldiers, concerns about stress is also in the rise (Rand, 2010).

Rand Corporation mainly focuses on post-traumatic stress, depression, and brain injury not because of the current interest, but also due to the fact that these conditions are often invisible to health service members, family members and the public in general. All these conditions affect a soldier’s moods and behavior yet they often go undetected. The Rand Corporation leadership has since made recommendations on depressions affecting soldiers. The Rand recommends that the delivery of care to all soldiers with depression would be beneficial.

These recommendations can even save money, improve the productivity of the soldiers and decrease medical and mortality costs. Care to soldiers may also be a cost-effective way to retain a healthy, ready military force for the future.