DoD not fit to deal with civilian casualty reports: Assessment
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The assessment was conducted by researchers from the RAND Corporation and CNA to assess DoD standards, processes, procedures, and policies relating to civilian casualties resulting from US military operations.
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The analysis reports on different research questions about the DoD's handling of civilian harm incidents.
According to key findings of a Department of Defense (DoD) civilian casualties and procedures assessment, the data and records kept by the US military to support evaluations of civilian injury may be incomplete.
The findings detail how intelligence activities are focused on the enemy, restricting resources available to comprehend the larger civilian picture.
Additionally, the military's criteria for determining the credibility of a civilian fatality is greater than it claims.
Furthermore, combat commanders that are preparing for high-intensity combat against near-peer opponents are unprepared to deal with civilian-harm problems.
The report details how investigations and credibility assessment reports do not allow for learning within the force, though they are the most thorough way to fully analyze incidents of civilian harm.
The assessment further details how the DoD's response to civilian injury and casualty has been inconsistent, noting that the regulations issued by the DoD are only a fraction of what should be a more complete response policy that encompasses all civilian-harm response alternatives.
Lastly, the assessment demonstrates how not enough full-time members are committed to civilian-harm concerns, and those in charge frequently receive insufficient training on their responsibilities.
The findings conclude how the DoD is also not fit or organized enough to monitor and properly evaluate civilian casualty trends and patterns across different terms.
