Noncombatant Evacuation Operations in Useucom

The purpose of this research was to examine Noncombatant Evacuation Operations in the USEUCOM area of responsibility. The processes that make up a NEO are collection of evacuees, verification of identity, security screening, and transportation to a safe haven. Understanding the complex interactions between process building blocks can enlighten military planners aiding them in accomplishing this critical mission faster, safer, and more efficiently. Specifically, this graduate research project focused on identifying areas where efficiency could be improved by modeling the evacuation process using discrete-event simulation. The effort resulted in a general, flexible Noncombatant Evacuation Operation Arena model. The model was designed to be adapted to specific operational plans and run using varying assumptions to validate the plan. Recommendations to implement the model in validating current plans and for further research are discussed.