美國重要的國防政策與戰略研究機構「蘭德公司」（RAND Corporation）9月底發表新報告指出：美國軍方的每一項任務都與環境議題日益相關，軍方必須更好的準備來因應這些議題。
該機構發現，如果在軍隊部署期間對於環境議題進行更好的管理，軍事單位可以獲得一些戰術與戰略上的優勢，這將有助於軍隊在戰鬥中或衝突後的行動，並且促進整個任務的成功。
這份研究報告由位於加州聖摩尼卡的蘭德公司阿羅育中心（RAND Arroyo Center）所提出，名為《綠色戰士：軍事行動的環境考量》，在當中對於美軍領導階層提供了重大政策考量的分析研究。該報告的主筆之一，同時也是蘭德公司的研究員莫雪（David Mosher）表示，「美軍在達成美國國家目標，如反暴動和維安行動中，所可以扮演的角色，也許正是環境考量中最不受重視的部分。」
該研究發現，美軍總司令在進行作戰計畫的時候通常不會在環境關懷方面給予太多的重視，雖然環境上的條件將會影響到軍隊的健康、安全和保障，最重要的是他們可能對當地民眾所造成的各種影響。
環境考量包括了乾淨的水、汙水處理基礎設施、士兵的健康、遵守環境法、永續經營、保護歷史及文化遺址、農業和自然資源的有效管理等。
美國陸軍負責環境、安全暨職場健康事務的副部長戴維斯（Tad Davis）透過電子郵件向ENS表示，「美軍非常重視他們對於環境方面所承擔的義務。」他認為蘭德公司提出此份軍事行動分析報告的時機「恰如其時」，特別是美軍正打算「改善對環境議題方面的處理方式，如戰場上的訓練、計畫及應變行動等層面。」
他說，「在未來的幾年之後會證明，這份報告對所有的軍事服務和鄰近社區會是非常有用的工具。」
The U.S. Army has become increasingly involved with environmental issues in every operation and must be better prepared to deal with them, according to a new RAND Corporation study released this week.
By better managing environmental issues during deployments, U.S. Army units can gain tactical and strategic advantages that will help in combat and post-conflict operations, and boost overall mission success, the study finds.
The report, "Green Warriors: Environmental Considerations in Army Contingency Operations," was prepared by the RAND Arroyo Center in Santa Monica, which provides analytic research on major policy concerns to leadership of the U.S. Army.
"Perhaps the most underappreciated aspect of environmental considerations is the role that they can play in achieving U.S. national objectives in counterinsurgency and stability operations," said report co-author David Mosher, a researcher at RAND.
The study finds that commanders have not usually given environmental concerns high priority during planning, despite the effect environmental conditions can have on troop health, safety and security, and the importance they have for the local population.
Environmental considerations include clean water, sewage-related infrastructure, soldier health, compliance with environmental laws, sustainability, protection of historical and cultural sites, and management of agricultural and natural resources.
Tad Davis, deputy assistant secretary of the Army for environment, safety and occupational health, told ENS in an email statement, "The Army takes its commitment to the environment very seriously."
He called the RAND report "timely" in view of actions the Army is taking "to improve how it addresses environmental issues in training, planning and conducting contingency operations in theater."
"It will prove to be an extremely useful tool for all the military services and the joint community for years to come," Davis said.
