Airmen from the 133rd Airlift Wing in St. Paul, Minn., pose for a photo. The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement. Image: Tech. Sgt. Lynette Hoke
By: FEDweek StaffWhile the national-security contributions women make have been significant during the past five years, more needs to be done to evolve the roles they play, according to a new report by the RAND Corporation think tank.
Conducted five years after the passage by Congress of the Women, Peace and Security Act (WPS), the RAND study delved closely into how the Defense Department (DoD) is implementing guidelines set forth in the law. Its authors concluded that positive changes within the armed services have fostered “a growing gender-diverse and inclusive culture” that is paying off in activities and operations.
Nevertheless, “room for improvement exists to ensure continued implementation,” the report stated.
Key findings and conclusions in the study include:
• Barriers that otherwise would have impeded a partner nation’s ability to incorporate integration of women into a training exercise in Guyana were eliminated, with positive results.
• The presence of women contributed to successes during Operation Allies Welcome, the effort to provide housing and employment for 70,000 Afghan refugees.
• Continued adherence and commitment to WPS guidelines should continue to place the U.S. in a position that demonstrates a national commitment to “ensuring human rights and the rule of law.”
The report also offered a series of recommendations:
• Continued implementation of WPS principles should foster positive opportunities and results during the strategic competition with China and Russia.
• Factoring in gender perspectives when dealing with international partners would highlight “shared values at the expense of adversaries.”
• The U.S. armed forces will be challenged when addressing present and future security concerns without the integration of both men and women “into all roles” across DoD.
• The nationwide demonstrations for diversity served to highlight the need to implement WPS, both within DoD and across the country.
• Efforts to expand WPS principles should continue during the next five years.
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