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GUIDANCE DOCUMENTS
STRATEGIC DIRECTION
NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY (NSS)
Classified document/ Unclassified summary
Signed by: POTUS
Transmitted to: Congress
When: NLT 150 days after taking office; annually thereafter, with the Budget
What Does It Do: Provides POTUS' strategic-level guidance, broad in nature; includes:
- worldwide interests, goals, and objectives of the US that are vital to the national security of the US
- foreign policy, worldwide commitments, and national defense capabilities of the US, necessary to deter
aggression and to implement the national security strategy
- proposed short-term and long-term uses of the political, economic, military, and other elements of the
national power of the US to protect or promote the interests and achieve the goals and objectives
- adequacy of the capabilities of the US to carry out the national security strategy of the United States,
including an evaluation of the balance among the capabilities of all elements of the national power of
the US to support implementation of the national security strategy
- such other information as may be necessary to help inform Congress on matters relating to the
national security strategy
UNIFIED COMMAND PLAN (UCP)
Prepared by: Director for Strategy, Plans, and Policy (J-5)
Reviewed by: SECDEF and CJCS
Approved/Signed by: President of the United States (POTUS)
Transmitted through: SECDEF to Geographic Combatant Commanders (GCCs) / Functional Combatant
Commanders (FCCs)
When: Reviewed not less than every 2 years, in conjunction w/Forces for Combatant Command memo
What Does It Do: Provides basic guidance from the POTUS to CCDRs; establishes broad missions and
responsibilities; delineates geographic boundaries; arid, specifies functional CCDR responsibilities.
NOTE: Except during time of hostilities or imminent threat of hostilities, the President shall notify
Congress not more than 60 days after: a) establishing a new combatant command; orb) significantly
revising the missions, responsibilities, or force structure of an existing combatant co mmand.
CONTINGENCY PLANNING GUIDANCE (CPG)
Consulted with: CJCS
Signed by: POTUS
Transmitted to: CJCS
When: Annually
What Does It Do: Focuses the guidance given in the National Security Strategy (NSS) and the Defense
Planning Guidance (DPG), and is the principle source document for the Strategic Campaign Plan (JSCP).
Revised 13 Sep 19
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STRATEGIC GUIDANCE
NATIONAL DEFENSE STRATEGY {NDS ) - Title 10, Not JSPS, 10 U.S. Code 113, Requirement
Classified document/ Unclassified summary
Advised by: CJCS
Signed by: SECDEF
Transmitted to: Secretaries of Military Departments/ Chiefs of Staff/ CCDRs / heads of Defense
Agencies & DoD Field Activities, Congressional Defense
When: Reviewed every 4 years, in Ja nuary, and intermittently, as appropriate
What Does It Do : Supports most recent National Security Strat egy. Include s:
-DoD priority missions and assumed force planning Scenarios and constructs
-Assumed strategic envi ro nment , including the most critical and enduring threats to US (and US allies')
national security and the strategies the DoD will employ to counter such threats and to provide to the
national defense
-Strategic framework that guides how DoD will prioritize among threats and missions; allocates and
mitigates resulting risks; how DoD will make resource investments
-Roles and missions of the armed forces; assumed roles and capabilities of the interagency, allies and
international partners
-Force size and shape, force posture, defense capabilities, force readiness, infrastructure, organization,
personnel, technological innovation, and other elements of the defense program
-Major investments in defense capabilities, force structure, force readiness, force posture, and
technological innovation by DoD in the following five years
DEFENSE PLANNING GUIDANCE {DPG)
Classified document/ unclassified summary
Signed by: SECDEF
Transmitted to: GCCs/Service Chiefs/Combat Support Agencies (CSA)/Directors/Applicable Defense
agencies/DOD Field Act ivities/ Chief, National Guard Bureau (NGB)·
When: Annually
What Does It Do: Establishes DoD's force development planning and resource priorities in o rder to
prevail in the Nation's current operations and to develop a balanced joint force to meet future
contingencies; consolidates and integrates force development planning priorities into a single
overarching document and replaces guidance from previous documents such as the Strategic Planning
Guidance and Global Defense Posture; provides SECDEF policy-military guidance to inform development
of the Program Objective Memorandum (POM) and incorporates information from the National Defense
Strategy and the National Military Strategy. Unless authorities specify otherwise, priorities from the DPG
and GEF supersede previously existing force development planning guidance documents.
FORCES for COMBATANT COMMANDS Memo (Forces for Memo)
Signed by: SECDEF
Transmitted to: Service Secretaries/Combatant Commanders
When: As necessary, in conjunction w/ UCP
What Does It Do: Directs SVC Secretaries to assign forces to Combatant Commands
Assigned forces will be under COCOM of the GCC or FCC
Revised 13 Sep 19
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GLOBAL FORCE MANAGEMENT IMPLEMENTATION GUIDANCE (GFMIG}
Prepared by: Director for St rat egy, Pla ns, and Policy (J-5)
Reviewed by: CJCS
Approved by: SECDEF
When: Published in even years
Transmitted to : CJCS, subsequently to GCCs/ Service Chiefs/Combat Support Agencies
{CSA)/Directors/Applicable Defense agencies/DOD Field Activities/ Chief, National Guard Bureau {NGB)
What Does It Do: Establishes guidance for assignment, apportionment, and allocation of forces in
support of Global Force Management {GFM) fr ame work. Describes how to implement a Global Force
Management {GFM ) model that accounts for strategic uncertainty by prioritizing the maintenance of
capacity and capabilities for major combat, while providing options for proactive and scalable force
employment . Ensures that resource allocation is aligned with strategy, and enab les the Joint Force to
meet Combatant Command requirements, while building readiness, ensures the ability to respond to
the unexpected , and provides strategic predictability to our Allies and unpredictability to our
adversa ries. As such , describes CJCS advice on how DoD should execute the assi gnment, allocat ion, and
apportionment of the Joint Force. Provides SECDEF direction for all aspects of Global Force
M anage ment .
Section I: GFM Overview {J8)
Section II: Assignment of Forces {"Forces For") {J8)
Section Ill : Allocation of Forces (J3)
Section IV: Apportionment of Forces {J8) {CJCS Approves)
GLOBAL FORCE MANAGEMENT ALLOCATION PLAN (GMAP}, appendix to GFMIG
Prepared by: Director for Operations (J-3)
Approved Signed by: SECDEF
When: Annually
Transmitted to : CJCS, subsequently to GCCs/ Service Chiefs/Combat Support Agencies
{CSA)/Directors/Applicable Defense agencies/DOD Field Activities/Chief, National Guard Bureau {NGB)
What Does It Do : Communicates allocation of forces in support of Global Force Management {GFM)
framework
What Does It Do: Annual deployment order for the Joint Force and is modified to meet emerging or
crisis-based requirements. Changes are captured and transmitted through the SECDEF's Defense Orde rs
Book {SBOB) .
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Revise d 13 Sep 19
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STRATEGIC PLANNING
JOINT STRATEGIC PLANNING SYSTEM (JSPS)
The primary method by which the CJCS fulfills his Title 10, U.S.C. responsibilities, maintains a global
perspective, and provides military advice to the SECDEF and the POTUS . The Chair man ' s six primary
functions ar e: providing strategic direction for the Armed Forces, conducting strategic and contingency
plannin g, assessing comprehensive joint readiness, managing Joint Force development, fostering joint
capability development, and advising on global military integration .
CHAIRMAN'S PROGRAM RECOMMENDATON
Prepared by: Directorate for Force St ruct ure , Resources, and Assessments (J-8)
Signed by: CJCS
Transmitted to : SECDEF
When : Annually
What Does It Do: Represents Chairman' s military advice to the SECDEF on capability invest ments. Each
CPR is unique ; there is no standard format or required contents . A typical CPR provides a wide range of
recommendations to improve comprehensive joint readiness; a typical CPR will recommend capabilities
and approaches that could improve how the Joint Force employs and sustains the force and ensures the
resiliency of critical capabilitie s; may also provide recommendations on allies and partners, posture, and
the defense industrial base and in force sizin g; in consideration of future competitive environment, CPRs
recommend new approaches and capabilit ies.
NATIONAL MILITARY STRATEGY (NMS)
Classified document
Prepared by: Director for St rat egy, Plans , and Policy (J-5)
Signed by: CJCS
Transmitted to: Congress & Joint Chiefs of Staff
When: Reviewed bi-annually (even numbered years), updated or rewritten
What Does It Do: Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff's (CJCS) central strategy and planning document;
provides strategic direction to the Joint Force regarding plan s, force employment, post ure, and future
force development. Translates policy guidance into Joint Force action and assists the SECDEF in
providing for the strategic direction of the armed forces by providing guidance regarding plans, force
employment , posture , and future force development . Provides the strategic framework for the
prioritization of planning, resource allocation , and the distribution of risk. Serves as the starting point for
all other JSPS actions and constitutes the Chairman' s military advice to the Secretary of Defense and the
Presi dent . The foundation for the annual Chairman's Risk Assessment.
Outlines Chairman' s view of the global strategic enviro nment :
Implications of the environment
Ways and means by which the military can best accomplish the goals of the National Security
Strategy (NSS)
Revised 13 Sep 19
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CHAIRMAN'S RISK ASSESSMENT (CRA)
Classified document
Prepared by: Director for Strategy, Plans, and Policy (J-5)
Signed by: CJCS
Transmitted thru SECDEF to Congress
When: Annually, NLT 15 Feb
What Does It Do: Provides an assessment of the strategic risks associated with the most current National
Military Strategy {NMS). Includes a risk mitigation plan for all areas of significant risk. Informs Nat ional
Military Strategy {NMS) revisions and the Joint Military Net Assessment (JM NA).
JOINT STRATEGIC CAMPAIGN PLAN (JSCP)
Prepared by: Director for St rat egy, Plans, and Policy (J-5)
Signed by: CJCS
Transmitted to: GCCs/ Service Chiefs/Combat Support Agencies (CSA)/Directors/Applicable Defense
agencies/DOD Field Activities/Chief, National Guard Bureau (NGB)
When: Reviewed every 2 years
What Does It Do: Directs contingency planning consistent with the Contingency Planning Guidance
(CPG); expands on the CPG with specific objectives, tasks, and linkages between campaign and
contingency plans. This 5-year global strategic plan operationalizes the National Military Strategy {NMS).
Establishes a common set of processes, products, priorities, roles, and responsibilities to integrate the
Joint Force's global operations, activities, and investments from day-to-day campaigning to
cont ingencies. Directs campaign contingency, and support plans; directs four types of campaign plans
(Global, Regional, Functional and Combatant Command). *Based in problem sets vs. numbered
OPLANS. Delineates support plans to foster Joint Force collaboration and coordination in time, space,
and purpose.
Global Campaign Plans
Prepared by: Director for Strategy, Plans, and Policy (J-5)
Approved by: SECDEF & CJCS
Signed by: CJCS
Transmitted thru: SECDEF
Transmitted to: Congress
When: Annually
What Does It Do: Integrated plans that address the most pressing transregional, multifunctional
strategic challenges across all domains. The CJCS, as the global integrator, determines which challenges
require GCPs. As problem-focused plans, GCPs look across geographic and functional Combatant
Command seams and simultaneously provide direction to the Combatant Commanders and military
advice to the SECDEF. GCPs foster an integrated approach to requirements, trade-offs, and risk across
three interdependent posture elements: forces, footprints, and agreements. CJCS 's military advice,
derived from GCP assessments, can take the form of a GCP memorandum focused on a single challenge
or be contained within a broader JSPS product .
Revised 13 Sep 19
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OPERATIONAL PLANNING
Theater Strategy
Signed by: GCC
Transm itted to : CJCS & Subordinate Commands
When : Reviewed bi-annually or as necessary
What Does It Do: GCC guidance and vision for the assigned theater
COMBATANT COMMAND CAMPAIGN PLANS (CCPs), replaced Theater Campaign Plans (TCPs)
*Not part of the Joint Strategic Planning System (JSPS)*
Signed by: CCDR
When: Reviewed bi-an nually or as necessary
Transmitted to: Subordinate Commands
What Does It Do: Primary plans through which the Combatant Commands execute day-to-day
campaigning; address theater objectives as well as objectives directed by Global Campaign Plans (GCPs),
Regional Campaign Plans (RCPs) and Functional Campaign Plans (FCPs). Plan to achieve priorit ized
strategic end states; synchronizes subordinate and supporting planning and operations; translates GCC
theater or FCC functional strategies into executable plans
Assigns forces to subordinate commands
ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS & ASSOCIATED TERMINOLOGY
COCOM Posture Statements
Signed by: CCDR
Transmitted to: Congress
When: Annually
What Does It Do: Communicates CCDRs vision, prioritie s, and progress in AOR; defines relationship
to national goals; informs Congress as it prepares defense authorizations
Joint Strategic Planning System (JSPS) - The method by with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
(CJCS) fulfills his responsibilities under Title 10, U.S. Code (Title 10, U.S.c.), maintains a global
perspective , and develops military advice for the Secretary of Defense (SECDEF) and the President
(POTUS).
JOINT OPERATION & EXECUTION SYSTEM (JOPES)
Responds to NSS, NMS, and NDS
What Is It : Overarching and comprehensive process
What Does It Do: Supports every facet of the planning, decision-maki ng and execution continuum
Applies To: Development and implementation of operation plans and orders
FORCES ASSIGNED- IAW "Fo rces for Combatant Command s" memo
FORCES APPORTIONED - Plan/budget purpo ses, not assigned
FORCES ALLOCATED - Tasked to " chop" to COCOM , forces assigned to a combatant command may be
transferred or allocated to another combatant commander for employment ...under procedures
prescribed by the SECDEF and approved by POTUS
Revised 13 Sep 19
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SERVICE RETAINED-AC and RC operational forces under the administrative control of respective
Secretaries of Military Departments, and not assigned to a CCDR. These forces remain under
administrative control of their respective Services and are commanded by a Service-designated
commander responsible to the Service unless allocated to a CCDR for the execution of operational
missions.
UNASSIGNED FORCES - Forces not assigned to a CCDR and instead retained under Service control in
order to carry out function of the Secretary of a Military Department
COMBATANT COMMANDERS (GCC or FCC) - Exercise command authority over all assigned forces;
Holds Directive Authority for Logistics (DAFL).
SERVICE SECRETARIES - Organize, train and equip; provide logistic support to forces (even when
assigned to GCC)
COMMAND RELATIONSHIPS
- Supported - Lead for a task/ mission
- Supporting - enabler for a task/ mission
COMMAND AUTHORITY
Combatant Command (COCOM} authority
Operational Control (OPCON}
_ Tactic al Control (TACOM}
Support
AUTHORITIES
Administrative Control (ADCON} is not a command relationship
Revised 13 Sep 19