Cost of Human Terrain Teams (HTTs)

According to newly released budget figures the U.S. military has spent a lot of money ($746M since 2007) on sending social scientists (as members of Human Terrain Teams or HTTs) to work in Iraq and Afghanistan. The HTTs are part of the overall Human Terrain System (HTS). The program had a rough start in attracting qualified personnel in its developmental period and initial fielding. In addition, there were early charges of mismanagement and corruption. Those problems seem to have been ironed out and the social scientists have been value added in the fight in both Iraq and Afghanistan by providing continuity to brigades that are newly arrived in the battle space and with the perspective of the battlefield environment in terms of the human dimension. However, the program continues to have its critics -especially in this time of austerity where every dollar is being scrutinized (well, not exactly - many of our expensive and unneeded weapons systems hardly get a glance). Read more about opposition to this valued program from members of Congress in "Military social sciences tab up to $726M since '07", USA Today, January 2, 2014.