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The Process Appears to Be Effective Overall, but Transparency and Communication Could Improve

• The process is relatively effective at identifying human rights violators, but it could be more transparent to DoD stakeholders.
• Much of the confusion stems from the complexity of the system and the lack of clear, transparent, and consistent communication among all stakeholders.
• Formal written procedures necessarily vary for embassies, but we found that the clarity and comprehensiveness of standard operating procedures (SOPs) varied widely among embassies.

There Are Some Challenges with Using the Department of State's (DoS's) Database to Support Policy Analysis

• Access to the database can be an issue for DoD personnel.
• It is not always clear to policymakers how decisions are affecting training events.
• DoS's database, International Vetting and Security Tracking (INVEST), lacks a way to sort or aggregate information according to whether the DoD or DoS Leahy law applies.

Few Problems With Process Time Lines Were Reported, but Steps to Avoid Problems Sometimes Had Unintended Consequences

• When intense deadline pressures arise, vetters may abandon cases that might have led to resolution with further discussion or investigation.

Improving Training May Improve Implementation Significantly

• Training differs for DoD and DoS staff, but neither appears to focus sufficiently on the vetting process itself.