Report Summaries

PERSEREC-TR-PA-23-03 (DPAC-2023-324) October 2023

Preventing Targeted Violence at your Installation Evaluation Plan

The purpose of this evaluation is to determine the extent to which Program Plan activities are implemented and achieve their intended outcomes. Evaluation is important to determine what Program Plan activities work well, what could be improved, and whether the Program Plan would be appropriate to replicate at other installations. Evaluation data will inform improvements and decisions about future implementation, dissemination, and scale up of Program Plan activities. The evaluation will also provide data to report progress towards preventing targeted violence at an installation to the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Military Personnel Policy and the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence & Security. This Evaluation Plan includes information about the evaluation process, evaluation stakeholders and roles, approvals, evaluability assessment, the Program Plan and logic model, the evaluation purpose and approach, evaluation questions, risk and protective factors that are expected to be impacted by Program Plan activities, the impact of Program Plan activities on targeted violence indicators, and the evaluation timeline. Risk factors are characteristics or behaviors that contribute to an individual's risk of targeted violence perpetration, and protective factors are characteristics or behaviors that lower an individual's risk of targeted violence perpetration. The Program Plan and this Evaluation Plan focus primarily on risk and protective factors related to individual Service members and attitudes, beliefs, and intentions.
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PERSEREC-RN-23-04 (DPAC-2023-322) November 2023

Development of a Local-Level Targeted Violence Prevention Program Plan and Evaluation Plan

To address targeted violence at military installations, the Defense Personnel and Security Research Center (PERSEREC) developed a targeted violence prevention program plan and corresponding evaluation plan. The program plan uses existing installation resources (e.g., clinicians, chaplains, financial staff, and social workers) and resources in the local civilian community. It allows installations to adapt or add activities to existing local procedures and practices. The evaluation plan guides the installation as it assesses the program plan's implementation and effectiveness. This research note describes the development of the program plan and corresponding evaluation plan.
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PERSEREC-RN-21-09 (OPA Report No. 2021-051) April 2022

Engaging with Human Resources Professionals – A Workshop to Increase Collaboration

Risk management requires strong, collaborative, and trusting relationships across many organizational functions, especially between Insider Threat (InT) and Human Resources (HR) professionals. This research note describes development of a workshop, "Engaging with HR Professionals," designed to build this relationship through scenario-based learning. Together, InT Program personnel and HR professionals work through complicated inquiries that highlight the importance of collaboration for individual and organizational well-being.
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PERSEREC-TR-24-01 (DPAC- 2024-003) January 2024

Resources Exist, Asking Can Help (REACH) Field Test with Geographically Isolated Service Members

Despite the range of resources available to support Service members who encounter life stressors, approximately 50%–80% of military personnel who need mental health support, particularly those at risk for suicide, do not utilize resources. In FY21, the Defense Personnel and Security Research Center, a division of the Defense Personnel Analytics Center, developed a web-based Resources Exist, Asking Can Help (REACH) facilitator training designed to assist with REACH dissemination. REACH is an upstream suicide risk intervention that aims to normalize help-seeking among Service members by reducing barriers to care and increasing knowledge of resources. This field test used a randomized evaluation design to assess the effectiveness of the web-based REACH facilitator training relative to the existing instructor-led facilitator training. We also used a one-group pretest-posttest design to evaluate the effectiveness of REACH for reducing barriers to care, increasing knowledge of resources, and increasing resource utilization among geographically isolated Service members, who have limited access to services. Report recommendations address how to implement REACH more broadly across the total military force.
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PERSEREC-PA-23-04 (DPAC-2023-295) November 2023

Data Analysis Workbook for the Insider Threat Community: A Collaborative Workbook

Data analysis, management, and governance are critical elements of insider threat (InT) programs. To strengthen the InT community's ability to improve their prevention and response efforts, the Threat Lab developed the Data Analysis Plan for the Insider Threat Community: A Collaborative Workbook, an instructional guide for use by InT analysts.

This introductory Workbook is comprised of two main sections and is designed to:

• provide a basic understanding of research design and statistical principles
• demonstrate how to develop research questions based on data
• offer a framework for thinking about and generating important research questions
• demonstrate how to conduct basic statistical analyses and data visualization
• increase the Insider Threat (InT) hubs' workforce knowledge on the minimum data essential for meaningful reporting and analysis.

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PERSEREC-RN-23-05 (DPAC-2023-294) November 2023

Developing a Data Analysis Plan for the Insider Threat Community

As data accumulates as a part of U.S. Government Insider Threat (InT) initiatives, fundamental knowledge in research design and statistical principles, along with data governance and analytical capabilities, are required to effectively manage and analyze such data. At the programmatic level, data analysis can be used to evaluate the capabilities, effectiveness, feasibility, and costs of proposed and alternative programs under consideration. To strengthen the InT community's ability to identify and improve prevention and response efforts, the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security funded the Defense Personnel and Security Research Center's Threat Lab to develop a data and analysis Workbook for use by the InT community. The purpose of this Research Note is to document the workbook development process.
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PERSEREC-PA-22-33 (OPA Report No. 2022-085) September 2022

The Threat Lab Professional Development Unit (PDU) Guide

In support of professionalization of Counter-Insider Threat personnel, The Threat Lab has developed two certification programs, both of which require on-going professional development. This guide helps individuals holding those certifications to understand options for professional development opportunities and provides specific examples using activities and opportunities also developed by the Threat Lab.
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PERSEREC-RN-21-08 (OPA Report No. 2021-050) July 2022

Mitigating Toxic Leadership

Toxic leadership behaviors compromise the well-being of the workforce and increase an organization's vulnerability to insider threat incidents. Senior leaders can influence change, but they may not recognize toxic behaviors or know how to deal with them. To meet this need, we designed an online guide, "Step-Up and Step-In," to help senior leaders identify, mitigate, and prevent toxic leadership behaviors in themselves and others
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PERSEREC-RN-21-02 (OPA Report No. 2021-040) July 2023

The Dark Triad: Considerations in Hiring, Employment, and Termination

People high in psychopathy, narcissism, and Machiavellianism—collectively known as the Dark Triad—are more likely to engage in counterproductive work behavior. These same personality traits, however, may be adaptive or beneficial in certain careers or roles. "The Dark Triad: Considerations in Hiring, Employment, and Termination" is an explainer video that provides supervisors and human resources professionals with techniques to mitigate the challenges associated with these traits in order to maximize employees' positive contributions. This Research Note discusses the video.
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PERSEREC-PA-23-01 (OPA Report No. 2023-126) May 2023

Preventing Targeted Violent Attacks: Best Practices for Bystander Intervention

Many targeted violent acts are preventable through recognition and reporting. Early reporting increases the chances for successful resolution for all concerned. This brochure aims to help you prevent violent attacks by providing information on what, where, and when to report.
Standard Version | Trifold Version
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PERSEREC-PA-21-31, OPA Report No. 2021-083 April 2023

Insider Threat: Case Study Card Game

Insider Threat: Case Study Cards details 44 real cases of insider threat including information about indicators and warning signs. This card deck also includes a Guide Book with several exercises that individuals and organizations can use to help learn the warning signs and consequences of past Insider Threat incidents, the different types of threats they may face, and ways to prevent and mitigate those threats. Double-sided print versions available upon request.
Card Game, Category Cards, Mitigation Cards, Instruction book
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PERSEREC-TR-23-01 (OPA Report No 2023-048) March 2023

An Examination of Racial, Ethnic, and Gender Disparities in DON's Personnel Security Program

The Department of Navy (DON) would like to know if inequities in security clearance outcomes exist for protected classes. If they do, these inequities could affect DON's ability to recruit and retain a diverse workforce. In this report, we examine racial, ethnic, and gender disparities in security outcomes to ensure that DON's Personnel Security Program is operating as intended-without disparate impact on racial/ethnic minorities and women. We focus on five personnel security outcomes: receipt of a statement of reasons (indicating intent to deny or revoke clearance), an eligibility determination (favorable, neutral, or unfavorable determination), a local access suspension, a security incident report, or any of these negative actions. We did not detect any conclusive racial, ethnic, or gender differences in personnel security outcomes using demographic and proxy ethnicity (e.g., birth country region) predictors. We posit that the lack of identifiable relationships could be due to highly standardized vetting processes, which are predominantly blind and always subject to significant legal review. We recommend additional analyses examining this research question (a) in the DoD-wide personnel security population and (b) across more nuanced vetting outcomes. This deeper-dive research should consider whether protected classes are more prone to certain adjudicative issues (e.g., criminal disqualifications reflecting criminal justice system bias) or whether their cases take longer to complete. These issues remain problematic for personnel even when outcomes such as final eligibility determinations are ultimately favorable.
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PERSEREC-RN-21-19 (OPA Report No. 2021-128) February 2023

Increasing Workforce Commitment and Loyalty in the 21st Century

Employee commitment and loyalty have significant implications for insider threat and personnel security. While organizations are faced with an unprecedented shift in the generational composition of the 21st Century workforce, research shows that generational differences do not appear to be a primary factor in loyalty and commitment. Instead, our research identified other factors that contribute to employees' ongoing commitment and provide strategies to improve important organizational attributes across career stages. The Threat Lab developed an associated Guidebook and Employee Career Stage Cards to help managers increase organizational commitment and loyalty in the workforce.
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PERSEREC-PA-21-38 (OPA Report No. 2021-127) February 2023

21st Century Manager's Field Guide to Employee Loyalty: Guidebook & Employee
Career Stage Cards

This guidebook pulls together evidence-based strategies to assist managers in promoting loyalty and commitment. These strategies are practical, easy to apply, and designed to help managers create positive perceptions about working for the organization.
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PERSEREC-PA-21-16 (OPA Report No. 2021-068) January 2022

Structured Professional Judgment Tools: A Reference Guide

As Counter-Insider Threat (C-InT) programs begin to include concerns about workplace violence, they must be equipped to effectively assess and manage the associated risks. The current gold standard is structured professional judgment (SPJ), an evidence-based approach that combines empirically validated tools with professional judgment. The objective of this project was to produce a Reference Guide to educate C-InT professionals about the use of SPJ tools in violence risk assessment (VRA) and threat assessment (TA).
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PERSEREC-RN-22-05 (OPA Report No. 2022-201) September 2022

Results of the Initial Stakeholder Test of the eInterview Mobile App Prototype

PERSEREC was tasked with creating and testing a prototype eInterview mobile application that could be used to help expedite the background investigation process. The PERSEREC project team worked closely with stakeholders from multiple Federal agencies to develop a question set and a mobile application to automate the collection of delinquent debt information. This report details the development of the prototype eInterview mobile app, the stakeholder test process, results of the user testing, and recommendations for next steps based on those findings.
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PERSEREC-RN-22-01 (OPA Report No. 2022-214) October 2022

Compatibility Assessment and Prediction of Misconduct: A Review of the Academic Research Literature

The Personnel Security and Research Center (PERSEREC) conducted a comprehensive review of applicant compatibility assessments on behalf of DoD's Office of the Under Secretary for Personnel and Readiness (OUSD P&R) Accession Policy Directorate, Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office (SAPRO), and the Office of Force Resiliency (OFR). The goal of this review was to identify best practices for assessingand selecting DoD military applicants. Compatibility assessments are used to determine whether an applicant is likely to be a good "fit" for an organization and to estimate an applicant's risk of engaging in future misconduct, violence, or other problematic behavior. These assessments may evaluate aspects of an applicant's character, personality, values, opinions, decision-making, or behavioral and legal history.
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PERSEREC- PA-22-17 (OPA Report No. 2022-177) October 2022

Ensuring Fairness and Enhancing the Protection of Privacy in Counter-Insider Threat Programs: Resources and Reflection Activities

The resources and activities included in this collection are intended to encourage Counter-Insider Threat professionals to reflect on the ethical execution of their responsibilities. The questions and scenarios explored here are designed to provoke thought and inquiry, and the resources offer opportunities for further exploration of the topic.
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PERSEREC-RN-21-13 (OPA Report No. 2021-089) July 2022

Teaching Organizational Risk Prevention and Mitigation Using Problem-Based Learning

This Research Note describes the development of a Problem-Based Learning experience that uses an insider threat case study to educate current and future leaders about the types of organizational vulnerabilities and risks posed by insiders, the responsibilities they have to mitigate these risks, and the consequences of failing to do so.
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PERSEREC-PA-21-35 (OPA Report No. 2021-090) September 2022

Insider Threat Prevention and Mitigation - A Problem-Based Learning Experience for Organizational

Malicious or careless insiders can intentionally or unwittingly compromise an organization and threaten the safety and well-being of its workforce. To protect an organization and its employees, it is imperative that current and future leaders understand how to detect and mitigate these potential threats. This problem-based learning experience provides a case synopsis of a known insider threat incident for you to analyze from the perspective of organizational risk prevention and mitigation.
Download: Facilitator Guide, Participant Guide, Slides
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PERSEREC- PA-22-16 (OPA Report No. 2022-175) September 2022

Digital Discernment Graphic Novel

The Threat Lab created this graphic novel to raise awareness of the tactics and features that make internet disinformation and misinformation so compelling and to present some strategies for evaluating the content consumed online.
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PERSEREC- PA-22-15 (OPA Report No. 2022-176) September 2022

Overview of the Structured Professional Judgment Tools (SPJ) Reference Guide Video

Government counter-insider threat (C-InT) programs are widening their scope to address workplace violence. Structured professional judgment (SPJ) is an evidence-based approach that combines empirically validated tools with professional judgment. This video provides an overview of the SPJ Tool Reference Guide, which was created to educate C-InT professionals on the variety of SPJ tools available to assess risk for different types of insider threat. The video was intended to increase awareness of Guide and the use of SPJ tools in violence risk assessment (VRA) and threat assessment (TA).
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PERSEREC-PA-21-14 (OPA Report No. 2021-064) September 2022

Fundamental Skills for the Counter-Insider Threat (C-InT) Analyst

This Reference Guide intended to serve as a source of information about some of the knowledge and skill areas that are fundamental to the C-InT analyst and is part of larger efforts to professionalize the growing C-InT analyst workforce. The Guide defines the role of the C-InT analyst in successful hub operations. It includes sections on C-InT policy, a C-InT analyst's role and key skills, and relevant foundational behavioral models.
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PERSEREC-PA-21-13 (OPA Report No. 2021-063) September 2022

Counter-Insider Threat (C-InT) Analyst Professionalization Road Map

This professionalization Road Map for C-InT Analysts is intended to support the evolution of the role of C-InT Analysts from a series of tasks to a profession of its own. It is designed to (a) define the role of the C-InT Analyst in a C-InT Hub; (b) define a core knowledge base that support's an organization's understanding of the C-InT Analyst's role; and (c) establish expectations for foundational knowledge and professional advancement.
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PERSEREC- PERSEREC-PA-22-12 (OPA Report No. 2022-123) September 2022

Counter-Insider Threat Professionalization Road Map Video

This video is intended to increase awareness of the Counter-Insider Threat Professionalization Road map (PA-21-13) and the ways that counter-insider threat analysts at all levels can use the Road Map to develop and advance in their careers; the Road Map can also help counter-insider threat program leadership determine selection criteria,
advance their people, and identify relevant training.
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PERSEREC-RN-21-07 (OPA Report No. 2021-043) August 2022

Misinformation in the Purple Ridge Mountains: A Navigate Your Fate Story
(Report)

Misinformation and disinformation represent persistent challenges to the integrity and safety of our organizations and institutions. If we want to protect against these threats, we need to develop and sustain robust critical thinking skills. This research note describes the development of the first installment in the Navigate Your Fate series-a series of pathway novels designed to train the general workforce. This novel, Misinformation in the Purple Ridge Mountains, leads readers through a fictional story and asks them to use critical thinking skills to successfully navigate their way to the conclusion.
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PERSEREC-PA-21-08 (OPA-2021-044) August 2022

Misinformation in the Purple Ridge Mountains: A Navigate Your Fate Story
(Novella)

Misinformation and disinformation represent persistent challenges to the integrity and safety of our organizations and institutions. If we want to protect against these threats, we need to develop and sustain robust critical thinking skills. This research note describes the development of the first installment in the Navigate Your Fate series-a series of pathway novels designed to train the general workforce. This novel, Misinformation in the Purple Ridge Mountains, leads readers through a fictional story and asks them to use critical thinking skills to successfully navigate their way to the conclusion.
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PERSEREC- PA-20-01 (OPA Report No. 2021-035) November 2021

Resources Exist, Asking Can Help-Spouse (REACH-Spouse)

EACH-S is an initiative for military spouses designed to destigmatize mental health challenges, normalize help-seeking and connect those in need with support. REACH-S is implemented through small-group discussions with military spouses divided into two sessions. Session One focuses on military spouses' barriers to seeking mental health care, solutions to these barriers and self-care practices. Session Two focuses on the service member's barriers to seeking mental health care and teaches suicide prevention skills to military spouses. Prospective facilitators will need to download and familiarize themselves with the Facilitator's Manual, REACH-S Slides, Resources Handout, and Demonstration Videos before leading a REACH-S session.
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PERSEREC-RN-21-12 (OPA-2021-067) January 2022

Structured Professional Judgment Tools

As Counter-Insider Threat (C-InT) programs begin to include concerns about workplace violence, they must be equipped to effectively assess and manage the associated risks. The current gold standard is structured professional judgment (SPJ), an evidence-based approach that combines empirically validated tools with professional judgment. The objective of this project was to produce a Reference Guide to educate C-InT professionals about the use of SPJ tools in violence risk assessment (VRA) and threat assessment (TA).
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PERSEREC-RN-21-14 (OPA Report No. 2022-087) February 2022

Deepfakes and Unintentional Insider Threats

Deepfakes are digital forgeries that use artificial intelligence to create believable but misleading images, audio, and videos. When organizational insiders interact with this manipulated media, they may inadvertently take actions that compromise their organization's security. To address this problem, we've developed a short video to raise awareness of deepfakes and provide guidance on how to counteract them. The purpose of this effort is to decrease unintentional insider threat by building greater awareness of deepfakes and how they are used to influence workforce behavior.
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PERSEREC-PA-21-36 (OPA Report No. 2022-088) February 2022

Deepfakes – Prepare for the Next Challenge

The Threat Lab presents a short video on the emerging threat of deepfakes, a form of digitally altered media that uses artificial intelligence to create believable messaging engineered to encourage people to provide access to information or systems they would otherwise protect.
https://vimeo.com/602102971/f1f1012cf5
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PERSEREC-PA-21-41 (OPA Report No 2021-123) September 2021

Best Practices for K-12 Public School Security Policy

Tragic events like the shootings at Columbine, Sandy Hook, and Parkland have a very low probability of occurring, but their consequences demand constant dedication to prevention. As part of previous work, the Defense Personnel and Security Research Center (PERSEREC) researchers conducted a systematic review of academic, professional, and government publications to identify evidence-based best practices for security programs associated with active shooter prevention and response, managing threats made by students, post-crisis family reunification, and mental health interventions (Beneda et al., 2020).

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PERSEREC-RN-21-01 (OPA Report No. 2021-038) June 2021

"Maybe It's Me"—A Visual Campaign To Encourage Self-Awareness & Self-Improvement in the Workforce

A trusted reporting and response process is only one piece of a comprehensive Counter-Insider Threat Program. Employees should also feel motivated and be incentivized to monitor and mitigate their own concerning behavior, especially if it interferes with the overall well-being of the organization. "Maybe It's Me" is a visual campaign designed to address this difficult topic in a non-confrontational manner and encourage both self-awareness and self-improvement to benefit individuals and organizations.

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PERSEREC-PA-20-01 (OPA Report No. 2020-060) March 2020

Dangerous Disclosure Graphic Novel

Unauthorized disclosure is an ongoing national security concern DoDM 5200.01. In collaboration with DoDs Counter-Insider Threat Program and the National Insider Threat Task Force, the Threat Lab created this graphic novel to raise awareness of the harm that unauthorized disclosures may cause and help to prevent these damaging events. (https://vimeo.com/530462391)

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PERSEREC-RN-20-08 (OPA Report No. 2020-107) November 2020

Building a Supervisor Guide to Concerning Conduct

The Threat Lab, operating under The Defense Personnel and Security Research Center (PERSEREC), a division within the Office of People Analytics, created a prototype job aid, or guide, to help supervisors identify concerning behaviors, institutional resources to address concerning behaviors, and employee-oriented resources for supervisors to share with employees.

User testing showed that supervisors and subject matter experts found the guide helpful and easy to use. As the largest Federal agency, DoD is too big and diverse for a single application to cover all existing information about behaviors of concern and supervisor reporting requirements. But there are DoD-wide resources that supervisors should be aware of, and an application, such as this one, that ties these resources together can help supervisors overcome obstacles to maintaining a productive and safe workplace.

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PERSEREC-TR-20-02 (OPA Report No. 2020-105) November 2020

Shifting the Mindset on Help Seeking in the Military: REACH Field Test Results

Despite the prevalence of DoD and Service branch resources to support Service members who are dealing with stressful situations, approximately half of all military personnel who need mental health support, particularly for suicide risk, do not access it. In FY19, the Defense Personnel and Security Research Center, a division of the Office of People Analytics, developed an upstream suicide risk intervention entitled Resources Exist, Asking Can Help (REACH), in coordination with Military Community and Family Policy, Defense Suicide Prevention Office, and the military Service branches. REACH is an intervention designed to normalize help seeking among Service members by reducing barriers to care, increasing comfort with seeking help, and increasing knowledge of resources. REACH includes an interactive icebreaker; a short video modeling stressors and problems that all Service members face; a small group discussion about barriers, solutions, and resources; and a practice call to Military OneSource. The current study is a field test to evaluate the effectiveness of REACH using a formative approach. Participants in the field test came from the Navy, Air Force, and Army Service branches. Researchers trained facilitators who then led REACH sessions with groups of 6 to 20 Service members. Results from three of the four sites demonstrate that REACH sessions lowered perceptions of barriers, increased Service members' comfort with seeking help, and increased their knowledge of resources. Data from the fourth site were analyzed separately and models were underpowered to detect the effect of the REACH session on the outcomes of interest. Recommendations are discussed for how to bring REACH up to scale across the total military force.

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PERSEREC-RN-20-09 (PERSEREC-RN-20-09, OPA Report No. 2020-099) Oct 2020

Structured Professional Judgment Tools

Whether we are highly trained, experienced professionals or new to the field of risk assessment, evaluating a subject's risk of violence is challenging. This is due to a variety of factors, including: professionals differ in their training, experiences, and expertise; each case is unique and the circumstances vary considerably; and all people are susceptible to a variety of cognitive biases that may affect their decisions. Ultimately, however, organizations look to us to evaluate an uncertain future and provide actionable guidance to prevent violence. Fortunately, structured professional judgment (SPJ) tools are designed to help trained evaluators systematize the complicated process and maximize the likelihood of prevention.<