An Empirical Assessment of the U.S. Army’s Enlistment Waiver Policies - An Examination in Light of Emerging Societal Trends in Behavioral Health and the Legalization of Marijuana

Sep 17, 2026

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Empirical research assesses U.S. Army enlistment waiver policies and evaluates recommendations aimed at improving recruiting efficiency. The report examines the Army’s overall enlistment standards and waiver process, then analyzes data-driven relationships between waivers and outcomes using an analytic approach and recruitment selection tool. It further reviews marijuana-related waiver policy and behavioral health waiver policies, including ADHD and mental health, in light of societal trends, contextual factors, and changes to accession characteristics. Findings support policy improvement decisions while documenting research conducted by RAND.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages219

Reading Time9 h 12 min

AccessFree to download

Preface

Figures

Tables

Summary

Acknowledgments

Abbreviations

CHAPTER ONE - Introduction

The Army’s Enlistment Standards and Waiver Process

Army Context and Emerging Societal Trends

CHAPTER TWO - Data and Analytic Approach

Data

Analytic Approach

CHAPTER THREE - Analysis of Army Waivers

Findings from Past Studies

Estimated Relationships Between Waivers and Outcomes

CHAPTER FOUR - Assessment of the Army’s Marijuana Waiver Policy

Societal Context

The Army’s Marijuana Waiver Policy, Accession Characteristics, and Outcomes

CHAPTER FIVE - Assessment of the Army’s Behavioral Health Waiver Policies

Societal Context

Army’s ADHD and Mental Health Waiver Policies, Accession Characteristics, and Outcomes

CHAPTER SIX - Mitigating a Higher Likel

BETH J. ASCH, MICHAEL L. HANSEN, ROSANNA SMART, DAVID KNAPP, DANIEL SCHWAM An Empirical Assessment of the U.S. Army’s Enlistment Waiver Policies An Examination in Light of Emerging Societal Trends in Behavioral Health and the Legalization of Marijuana For more information on this publication, [visit](visit www.rand.org/t/RR4431)[ www.rand.org/t/RR4431](visit www.rand.org/t/RR4431) Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available for this publication. ISBN: 978-1-9774-0501-2 Published by the RAND Corporation, Santa Monica, Calif. © 2021 RAND Corporation R® is a registered trademark. Cover: Ted Small/Alamy Stock Photo Limited Print and Electronic Distribution Rights This document and trademark(s) contained herein are protected by law. This representation of RAND intellectual property is provided for noncommercial use only. Unauthorized posting of this publication online is prohibited. Permission is given to duplicate this document for personal use only, as long as it is unaltered and complete. Permission is required from RAND to reproduce, or reuse in another form, any of its research documents for commercial use. For information on reprint and linking permissions, please visit [www.rand.org/pubs/permissions](www.rand.org/pubs/permissions). The RAND Corporation is a research organization that develops solutions to public policy challenges to help make communities throughout the world safer and more secure, healthier and more prosperous. RAND is nonprofit, nonpartisan, and committed to the public interest. RAND’s publications do not necessarily reflect the opinions of its research clients and sponsors. Support RAND Make a tax-deductible charitable contribution at [www.rand.org/giving/contribute](www.rand.org/giving/contribute) [www. rand.org](www. rand.org) This report documents research and analysis conducted as part of a project entitled Strengthening and Optimizing the Army’s Policies on Enlistment Waivers, sponsored by the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Manpower and Reserve Affairs). The purpose of the project was to recommend improvements to the Army’s enlistment waiver policy, thereby improving recruiting efficiency. This research was conducted within RAND Arroyo Center’s Personnel, Training, and Health Program. RAND Arroyo Center, part of the RAND Corporation, is a federally funded research and development center (FFRDC) sponsored by the United States Army. RAND operates under a “Federal-Wide Assurance”(FWA00003425) and complies with the Code of Federal Regulations for the Protection of Human Subjects Under United States Law (45 CFR 46), also known as “the Common Rule,” as well as with the implementation guidance set forth in DoD Instruction 3216.02. As applicable, this compliance includes reviews and approvals by RAND’s Institutional Review Board (the Human Subjects Protection Committee) and by the U.S. Army. The views of sources utilized in this study are solely their own and do not represent the official policy or position of DoD or the U.S. Government. Preface ........................................................................................................... iii Figures ........................................................................................................... vii Tables ............................................................................................................ ix Summary ........................................................................................................ xi Acknowledgments ............................................................................................. xv Abbreviations ................................................................................................. xvii CHAPTER ONE Introduction ..................................................................................................... 1 The Army’s Enlistment Standards and Waiver Process ...........

FAQs

What is the report’s main purpose regarding enlistment waiver policy?

The project recommends improvements to the Army’s enlistment waiver policy to improve recruiting efficiency.

How does the report analyze the effects of waiver policies?

It presents an analytic approach using data and estimated relationships between waivers and outcomes, including prospective cohort outcomes based on changing waiver policy.

Which waiver policy areas are specifically assessed?

The report evaluates the Army’s marijuana waiver policy and behavioral health waiver policies, including ADHD and mental health waivers.

Sep 17, 2026

Uploaded by Miles