This study examined the ability of three personality measures to predict midshipmen attrition at the United States Naval Academy. More specifically, the study examined the ability of the Myers Briggs Type Indicator and the Personal History Questionnaire to replace the Career Interest Score of the Strong Interest Inventory in the Naval Academy admissions formula and to better predict overall, voluntary, academic, and performance/conduct attrition. The data used were from the Naval Academy classes of 1995 to 2000. Logistic regression analysis was done using just the classes of 1995-1999. The...

This thesis examines personnel resources for space support currently available to Division and Brigade commanders while recommending methods to provide those resources more efficiently. Current standardized space support for Divisions and Brigades exists in the Space Support Element (SSE). When first envisioned, the SSE provided organic space capabilities to the lowest practical tactical level, but as requirements evolved, the need for full time space staff at those levels has diminished. Space capabilities are currently found on the Division staff and at the brigade level, but the amount of...

Just as terrestrial networks have shifted to routed, message centric networks, the satellite networking regime is beginning to transition in the same manner. Based on established networking theories and unique orbital models, a satellite based communications network architecture is modeled that would fulfill the requirements of capacity, coverage and logistics for current and future military needs. Specifically, various satellite constellations and network characteristics are examined with a focus on how to enhance current methods of routing data in this environment. The authors explore how...

This System Engineering Analysis Cohort 12 report applies a system engineering process tot he largely qualitative Global Fleet Station Concept, and its role in enduring stability in the regions of the world

Argentina and Guatemala are separated by more than 3,000 miles, and their societies are in many ways dissimilar. Yet they share similarities in the undermining of democracy throughout their histories. Both countries were caught up in the Western fear of communism during the Cold War. With considerable backing from the United States, both countries crafted military governments with the mission of better governance and removal of their internal communist threats. Human rights were repeatedly violated by militaries and terrorists alike in each country. Both countries began democratizing in the...

Operational commanders in Iraq and Afghanistan have identified a socio-cultural capabilities gap. Historically, when faced with a non-Western adversary, knowledge of the adversary's asymmetric socio-cultural values has been a key component in achieving conflict resolution. As such, a number of organizations within the U.S. government and civilian sector have undertaken initiatives to quantify what has been termed human terrain. Multiple theories, concepts, and models reside within the confines of social sciences that describe human activities, interactions, and behavior. One organization in...

The southern Thailand provinces of Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat and Songkhla have seen a resurgence in Malay-Muslim violence since 2004. The scale and level of sophistication of the insurgent attacks have caused instability in the region and disruption in a country already marred by political turmoil. This thesis examines the history, trends in violence and actors behind the Malay-Muslim insurgency as well as the effectiveness of the Royal Thai Armed Forces' counterinsurgency response. This is to create an analytical context that may be useful in the current Royal Thai Armed Forces (RTARF)...

This thesis focuses on the regional response to the crisis in Colombia. The major conclusions of the thesis are that the crisis directly affects the security of Colombia's neighbors; that the use of military force will be the most important element in a strategy to restore security and that the Colombian military will require external military assistance to do so; that while Colombia's neighbors have traditionally rejected ideas of intervention, there are indications that they may be willing to participate in such an endeavor; and that while less politically risky courses of action are more...

Colombia's four decades-old insurgency has been largely forgotten by the United States. With U.S. attention diverted towards Afghanistan, Iraq, and the Middle East, Colombia has undertaken a new strategy to deal with problems of the insurgents, paramilitaries, and narco-terrorists which have plagued the country since 1948. The current administration of Colombian President Alvaro Uribe has shifted strategy from one of negotiation and concessions to an active campaign to restore security and state control throughout Colombia. Under the Democratic Security and Defense Policy, the Uribe...