The Premature Debate on CERP Effectiveness

Abstract

What does the Department of Defense (DOD) community know about the effectiveness of the Commanders Emergency Response Program (CERP), how to use it to greatest effect, and cost versus its value to operations? DOD has been employing this weapons system for over a decade, and so much has been written on the topic that one would think quite a lot should be known. In fact, the surface of understanding has barely been scratched. Claims regarding CERP effectiveness are wide ranging and include arguments that it is ineffective and increases instability or that it is effective only for short-term stabilization. (footnote 1) Proponents of these perspectives base their conclusions on anecdotes, surveys, case studies, and/or statistical analyses of large datasets. The argument presented in this article is that CERP has yet to be studied in a manner that permits confidence in any conclusions presented to date.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 01, 2011
Accession Number
AD1042842

Entities

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  • Michael Fischerkeller

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  • Institute for Defense Analyses

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  • Human Systems
  • Weapons Technologies

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  • Explosives
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  • Educational Psychology
  • Maritime Security/Maritime Homeland Security
  • Systems Analysis and Design