Decision Support for Optimal Use of Joint Training Funds in the Canadian Armed Forces

Joint exercises are vital to the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) meeting its readiness targets. However, CAF resources are often insufficient to participate in all candidate joint exercises. Many organizations face resource challenges. In the context of preparing the CAF for its mandated missions and operational tasks, this chapter addresses the following research question: How can the CAF get the most value out of its joint training resources? Using strategic analysis and operations research, the authors designed a value model to gauge a joint exercise's value and an optimization model to support decision makers when selecting a joint exercise portfolio. This chapter describes these models, presents an example of their application, and discusses future improvements.