Overview
Title
Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request
Agencies
ELI5 AI
The U.S. Defense Department wants to learn if training programs for soldiers are helping to stop bad actions, like bullying, by asking soldiers and their leaders questions. Before they start, they're asking people to share their thoughts about this plan until February 18, 2025.
Summary AI
The Department of Defense (DoD) is asking for comments on a new plan to collect information about resilience and leadership training for the U.S. Army. The plan includes surveys, interviews, and feedback forms aimed at soldiers and drill sergeants. The information will help the DoD determine if these training programs are effective in preventing issues such as sexual assault in the military. The public has until February 18, 2025, to submit their comments through a specific government website.
Abstract
The DoD has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for clearance the following proposal for collection of information under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act.
Keywords AI
Sources
AnalysisAI
The Department of Defense (DoD) has proposed a new plan to gather information on resilience and leadership training within the U.S. Army. This proposal has been submitted to the Office of Management and Budget for review, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act. The information collection will involve surveys, interviews, and feedback forms directed at soldiers and drill sergeants to assess the effectiveness of these training programs. Interested parties have until February 18, 2025, to submit comments on the plan via a designated government website.
Summary of the Document
The document is a formal notice from the DoD requesting public comments on a proposed information collection effort. This proposal seeks to evaluate the effectiveness of resilience and trauma-informed leadership training programs in the military. The objective is to support service members and address issues like sexual assault through prevention-focused interventions. The initiative involves multiple types of data collection with soldiers and drill sergeants as participants.
Significant Issues and Concerns
The document presents some noteworthy concerns:
Lack of Cost Details: The proposal does not provide a detailed cost estimate, making it challenging to evaluate potential financial inefficiencies or the effectiveness of resource allocation.
Measurement of Outcomes: There is insufficient detail on how the success of the pilot program will be measured and evaluated. This lack of specificity could hinder the ability to determine the program’s effectiveness and justify the resources allocated to it.
Abstract Language: Certain terms such as “fidelity” and “evidence-based approaches” are used without adequate explanation, which may make the document less accessible to the general public.
Link to Recommendations: While the document notes recommendations from the Independent Review Commission on Sexual Assault, it does not thoroughly explain how the data collection activities directly address these recommendations.
Complexity of Information: The detailed breakdown of respondent groups and their respective burdens is extensive and complex, which might be simplified for greater clarity and understanding.
Public Impact
Broadly, this document could impact the public by potentially improving the resilience and leadership skills within the military, which can contribute to a safer and more supportive environment for service members. However, the lack of clear cost estimates and measurement criteria could raise concerns about the efficient use of public resources.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
For soldiers and drill sergeants, the training programs being assessed could lead to enhanced support systems and preventive measures against issues like sexual assault. This development may foster a more secure and responsive military environment.
For government and DoD policymakers, the data collected can provide valuable insights for crafting and refining policies and programs tailored to support military personnel more effectively.
However, without clear details on cost and effectiveness metrics, taxpayers might be concerned about whether their contributions are being used wisely. A more detailed explanation of how the programs meet recommended goals and their expected outcomes might alleviate such concerns.
Overall, while the intent of the information collection appears to offer potential benefits, clearer articulation and transparency in execution and costs would likely improve public and stakeholder confidence in this initiative.
Issues
• The document does not provide detailed cost estimates for the proposed information collection, making it difficult to assess potential wasteful spending or resource allocation effectiveness.
• The document lacks specificity on how the outcomes of the pilot program will be measured and evaluated, which is important for determining the program's effectiveness and justification for resource allocation.
• The language regarding the purpose and necessity of the information collection is somewhat abstract, using terms such as 'fidelity' and 'evidence-based approaches' without sufficient explanation of these concepts for the general public.
• The document mentions the recommendation from the Independent Review Commission on Sexual Assault in the Military but does not elaborate on how the specific information collection activities directly address the recommendations.
• The complexity of information related to the burden on respondents is high, with multiple sections detailing different respondent groups and their respective burdens, which could be simplified for better clarity.