Officer Sabbaticals: Analysis of Extended Leave Options

As a competitive employer in the United States, the Department of Defense (DoD) strives to maintain benefits comparable to those of the public and private sector. DoD recently asked RAND to explore the greater use of extended leaves as part of the department's strategic human resource plan. The authors offer recommendations and observations on which extended leave programs would most benefit military officers as well as ideas on how to implement such programs.

Harry Thie (Ph.D., Business Administration, George Washington University) is a senior operations research analyst at RAND.

Margaret C. Harrell (Ph.D., Cultural Anthropology, University of Virginia) is a social scientist at RAND. Her research at RAND focuses upon military manpower issues and social issues in the military.