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Sept. 26, 2023

Trauma Takes a Toll in the U.S. Intelligence Community

Intelligence analysts immerse themselves in brutality for their jobs. They deploy to war zones, watch videos of terrorists beheading prisoners, and review detailed accounts of atrocities.

Researchers at RAND interviewed current and former intelligence professionals about their experiences with trauma and traumatic stress. They found that analysts need more support--before they reach their breaking point.

RAND's Karen Sudkamp, lead author of the study and a former intelligence analyst, did hit a breaking point. "I thought I was fine until that one day when it was very clear that I wasn't," she said.

There are barriers that prevent intelligence professionals from getting help: They can't discuss classified information with others, they fear that seeking help will endanger their security clearances, and the agencies they work for don't do enough to promote a workplace culture that supports mental health.

These findings should push intelligence agencies to increase their efforts to understand the traumas their analysts face and what they can do to help.

For Sudkamp's part, the study helped her realize she wasn't alone: "It wasn't my fault. I worked with amazing people in the intel community who, day in and day out, are doing their jobs, trying to protect the country. We need to take care of them so they can fulfill that mission."

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UFO Research Is Harmed by Antigovernment Rhetoric

Both Republicans and Democrats have expressed support for increased transparency around government records related to unidentified anomalous phenomena, or UAPs (more commonly called UFOs). But according to RAND's Marek Posard and Caitlin McCulloch, conspiracy theories and antigovernment sentiment could halt progress on this issue. "If UAP information gets caught up in debates over antigovernment conspiracies, that'll put the entire area of research--and the movement to make data more transparent--at risk."

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Planning for Ukraine's Reconstruction

It's unclear how or when the war in Ukraine might end. What is clear, say RAND's Charles Ries and Howard Shatz, is the need for an extensive post-war reconstruction. Ries and Shatz recently analyzed past rebuilding efforts--in Western Europe after World War II, for example--to understand what will be required in Ukraine. Among the key takeaways: the United States and Europe should partner on Ukraine's reconstruction, with the United States leading on security matters and the EU leading on economic assistance.

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** RAND Recommends

- RAND's Timothy Heath talked with International Business Times about the "many valuable lessons" Taiwan could learn from Ukraine's resistance to Russia as tensions rise between the island and China.
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- As part of RAND's Gun Policy in America initiative, researchers have reviewed thousands of studies to understand the effects of common gun policies. In this brief Instagram video, RAND's Rosanna Smart discusses what the evidence can (and can't) tell us about firearm laws.
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- A new RAND report examines food insecurity among veterans--a group less likely than food-insecure nonveterans to participate in nutrition assistance programs. RAND's Tamara Dubowitz was featured in a Stars and Stripes article about the study.
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** Events

Policy Lab: Building the U.S. Workforce Through Stackable Credentials
Thursday, September 28, 2023 (Online)
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Balancing the Needs of Requesting and Producing Parties: Getting E-Discovery Right
Tuesday and Wednesday, October 3-4, 2023 (Arlington, VA)
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Pardee RAND Admissions Webinar: M.Phil. Overview
Wednesday, October 18, 2023 (Online)
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** About RAND

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