Bill Overview
Title: Don Young Arctic Warrior Act
Description: This bill requires the military departments and the Department of Defense (DOD) to provide certain benefits to specified members of the Armed Forces who are assigned to a duty station in Alaska or those assigned to perform cold weather operations. Additionally, DOD must establish various programs and incentives for certain behavioral health students or professionals.
Sponsors: Rep. Speier, Jackie [D-CA-14]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals involved in military operations or assignments in cold weather regions, specifically in Alaska
Estimated Size: 150000
- The bill targets members of the Armed Forces who are stationed in Alaska or involved in cold weather operations.
- It includes provisions for benefits which could impact all Armed Forces personnel performing duties under cold weather conditions.
- Since it involves the Department of Defense and the military departments, all applicable members under such conditions are impacted.
- It also mentions incentives for behavioral health students or professionals.
Reasoning
- The policy targets members of the Armed Forces stationed in Alaska and those involved in cold weather operations. This is a finite group, but significant given the strategic military presence in these regions.
- There is an additional focus on behavioral health professionals, which broadens the scope slightly beyond just service members to include associated support personnel.
- The Cantril wellbeing scores provide insights into subjective wellbeing, capturing anticipated improvements due to increased support and incentives under the policy.
- Given the budget constraints and the target population size, the policy must be designed to reach the maximum number of high-impact individuals within the Armed Forces and associated health personnel.
- In generating the interviews, it's crucial to represent a mix of individuals who directly benefit (through direct operational duty assignments) and those who might be indirectly affected (such as the behavioral health professionals).
- The range in Wellbeing responses reflects variance in how tangible the perceived benefits are across different roles and personal circumstances.
Simulated Interviews
Infantry Soldier (Anchorage, Alaska)
Age: 28 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm hoping the policy will mean better equipment and more reliable support during our training missions.
- Benefits like this are essential, especially for those of us stationed in challenging environments.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Military Health Professional (Fairbanks, Alaska)
Age: 35 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I believe the policy might provide more resources for mental health services, which are incredibly needed.
- Adequate support can reduce turnover and improve servicemembers' readiness.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Logistics Officer (Seattle, Washington)
Age: 29 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Having access to the right resources and backups is a game-changer for us in logistics.
- If the policy means smoother operations, it's absolutely beneficial.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Civilian Contractor (New York, New York)
Age: 41 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's uncertain how much this will impact my work directly, but improvements in soldier training are welcome.
- Indirect benefits might surface through improved efficiency.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Air Force Environmental Engineer (Ketchikan, Alaska)
Age: 24 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- With the new policy, I'm hoping for increased awareness and better tools to address environmental considerations.
- Our work is often overlooked, so this could be a morale boost.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Navy Submariner (Juneau, Alaska)
Age: 31 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Any support is good support; the policy could improve our readiness and personal comfort.
- I'm cautiously optimistic about what changes will actually happen on the ground.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
Family Therapist (Fairbanks, Alaska)
Age: 37 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm hopeful that more resources will come to help families adjust to these challenging environments.
- Improved wellbeing of soldiers directly impacts families.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Army Chef (Fairbanks, Alaska)
Age: 30 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy could mean better provisions, making my job easier and less stressful.
- If it includes better facilities, it could improve daily life significantly.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Policy Analyst (Washington, D.C.)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- While I won’t be directly impacted, understanding these policies is crucial for strategic planning.
- The long-term benefits will need continuous review to ensure effectiveness.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Army Nurse (Anchorage, Alaska)
Age: 26 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Any improvement to our medical facilities or supplies would directly benefit my work.
- I'm particularly interested in how behavioral health incentives play out.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $1000000000 (Low: $800000000, High: $1200000000)
Year 2: $1020000000 (Low: $820000000, High: $1220000000)
Year 3: $1040000000 (Low: $840000000, High: $1240000000)
Year 5: $1100000000 (Low: $880000000, High: $1320000000)
Year 10: $1200000000 (Low: $960000000, High: $1440000000)
Year 100: $1500000000 (Low: $1200000000, High: $1800000000)
Key Considerations
- The cost for benefits and programs is dependent on the scale of deployments and number of eligible personnel in Alaska and other cold regions.
- Potential logistical challenges and higher operational costs due to harsh environmental conditions should be factored.
- Incentive programs for behavioral health professionals might require ongoing funding if recruitment targets are not met immediately.