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National For sale by the U.S. Gevernment Printing Office Superintendent of Documents, Mail Stop: SSOP, Washington, DC 20402-9328 ISBN 0-16-045531-6

National CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF WASHINGTON, D.C. 20318-9999

The dramatic events comprising the end of the Cold and the demise of the , as well as longer-term economic, demographic, environmental, and technological developments, have profoundly altered the international environment. The security challenges of a largely bipolar world have been replaced with more ambiguous and, in some cases, equally dangerous problems.

Our strategy for meeting these challenges is described by the President in A Strategy of Engagement and Enlargement. Under this national strategy we will enhance our security by maintaining a strong defense capability, promoting cooperative security measures, working to open foreign markets and spur global economic growth, and promoting democracy abroad.

This new national military strategy, derived from the national security strategy and the defense framework outlined in the Bottom-Up Review, describes the critical role which the Armed Forces will play in helping to achieve our Nation’s objectives. This is a strategy of flexible and selective engagement required to support our Nation’s interests. Reflecting the ambiguous nature of our security challenges, the strategy emphasizes full spectrum capabilities for our Armed Forces.

The fundamental purpose of the Armed Forces must remain to fight and win our Nation’s whenever and wherever called upon. With worldwide interests and challenges, the United States must maintain its capability to deal with more than one crisis at a time. For this reason, our Armed Forces must maintain the capability to fight and win two nearly simultaneous regional contingencies, even as we continue to restructure and reduce the size of the force.

The challenge of the new strategic era is to selectively use the vast and unique capabilities of the Armed Forces to advance national interests in peacetime while maintaining readiness to fight and win when called upon. This new national military strategy describes the objectives, concepts, tasks, and capabilities necessary in the near term to adapt the Armed Forces’ proven capabilities to meet this challenge.

/Signed/

JOHN M. SHALIKASHVILI Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

National Military Strategy National Military Strategy Table of Contents

Executive Summary ...... i Introduction ...... 1 International Environment ...... 2 Regional Instability of Mass Destruction Transnational Dangers Dangers to Democracy and Reform

National Military Objectives ...... 4 Promote Stability Thwart

Strategy ...... 6 Strategic Concepts ...... 6 Overseas Presence

Components of the Strategy ...... 8 Peacetime Engagement Military-to-Military Contacts 8 / Nation Assistance 8 / Security Assistance 8 / Humanitarian Operations 9 / Counterdrug and Counterterrorism 9/ 9

Deterrence and Conflict Prevention Nuclear Deterrence 10 / Regional 10 / Crisis Response 11 / Arms Control 11 / Confidence-Building Measures 12 / Noncombatant Evacuation Operations 12 / sanctions Enforcement 12 / Enforcement 12

Fight and Win Clear Objectives - Decisive Force 13 / Wartime Power Projection 13 / Fight Combined and Fight Joint 13 / Win the Information War 15 / Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction 15 / Two Major Regional Contingency Focus 15 / Force Generation 15 / Win the Peace 16

Military Capabilities ...... 17

Posture and Size

Force Building Foundations Quality People 18 / Readiness 18 / Enhancements 18 / Modernization 19 / Balance 19

Conclusion ...... 20

National Military Strategy National Military Strategy i Summary

A Strategy of Flexible and Selective Engagement

Introduction dangers such as drug trafficking and United States’ interests requires the ; and the dangers to use of appropriate military In formulating national democracy and reform in the capabilities in concert with the military strategy, the Chairman of the former Soviet Union, Eastern economic, diplomatic, and Joint Chiefs of Staff derives guidance Europe, and elsewhere. informational elements of our . Our Armed Forces from the national security strategy are engaged worldwide on a articulated by the President and from Many ethnic, religious, territorial, and economic tensions, continual basis to accomplish two the Bottom-Up Review conducted held in check by the pressures of the national military objectives — by the Secretary of Defense. The bipolar global , erupted promoting stability and thwarting National Security Strategy of when the constraints posed by the aggression. Engagement and Enlargement were removed. Regional emphasizes worldwide instability also results when regional We anticipate a engagement and the enlargement powers such as Iraq, , and considerable period before stability of the community of free North pursue aggressive returns to our strategic environment. democracies. In turn, this new policies in attempts to dominate their Our peacetime efforts to counter regional instability, impede the national military strategy calls for neighbors militarily, politically, or proliferation of weapons of mass flexible and selective economically. engagement, involving a broad destruction, reduce the impact of transnational threats, and support range of activities and capabilities to Despite progress, the democracy and reform are important address and help shape the evolving process of economic and political for promoting stability and deterring international environment. reform in the successor states to the aggression during the post-Cold Soviet Union is subject to reversal. War transformation process. Moreover, will continue to The International retain large numbers of nuclear The Strategy Environment weapons and associated delivery systems. Thus, it is important for us Our military forces must to work with Russia and the other Challenges to our global perform three sets of tasks to newly independent states to stem interests did not disappear with the achieve the military objectives of the proliferation of all types of end of the Cold War. Today we face promoting stability and thwarting weapons of mass destruction and to a world in which threats are aggression. These three support the process of democratic widespread and uncertain, and components of the strategy are reform. where conflict is probable, but too peacetime engagement, often unpredictable. The strategic deterrence and conflict landscape is characterized by four National Military prevention, and fighting and principal dangers which our military Objectives winning our Nation’s wars. must address: regional instability; Accomplishing the specific tasks of the proliferation of weapons of Guarding against threats to the strategy is facilitated by the two mass destruction; transnational mass destruction; transnational complementary strategic concepts of overseas presence and power projection. National Military Strategy ii

Strategic Concepts: and enhance regional stability. The and friends and fight jointly, elements of peacetime engagement integrating the required capabilities Overseas presence takes include military-to-military contacts, from each of the Services. the form of both permanently nation assistance, security stationed forces and forces assistance, humanitarian operations, (4) help dominate temporarily deployed abroad. Thus, counterdrug and counterterrorism, operations by winning the we maintain overseas presence not and peacekeeping. information war. only through forces permanently stationed overseas but also through In concert with the other (5) counter weapons of a broad program of routine air, elements of US national power, our mass destruction through deterrence ground and naval deployments, military capabilities serve to deter and improved capability to operate various contingency operations, and aggression and prevent conflict in contaminated environments; global prepositioning of equipment. by convincing potential adversaries Overseas presence helps to keep that their objectives will be denied (6) initiate force important available and and that their aggression will be preparations to handle a second ready in times of crisis. Although decisively defeated. Deterring major regional contingency at the the size of our permanent overseas nuclear attack against the United outset of the first conflict to deter presence has decreased significantly States remains a critical task for our potential aggressors; in recent years because of changes military. This second component of in the international environment, the the strategy is a product of many (7) generate the required importance of these forces has not concepts and programs which forces by withdrawing from lower diminished. They provide visible include nuclear deterrence, regional priority missions and mobilizing of our commitment to defend alliances, crisis response, arms critical Reserve forces; and American interests and those of our control, confidence-building allies and friends. measures, noncombatant evacuation (8) begin to win the operations, sanctions enforcement, peace at the outset of the conflict. With fewer US forces and peace enforcement. permanently stationed overseas, we Military Capabilities must proportionately increase our Being ready to fight and capability to project forces abroad. win the Nation’s wars remains our The US Armed Forces are The existence of a credible power foremost responsibility and the prime now in their eighth year of projection capability complements consideration governing all our drawdown. As we reduce the force, our overseas presence in acting as a military activities. This ability serves we are also restructuring it for the deterrent to potential adversaries. It as the ultimate guarantor of our vital challenges of the next century. This further provides our national leaders interests and is the fundamental smaller, restructured force will be greater flexibility in employing reason that our Nation has raised improved through enhancements and military force. and sustained its military forces. selected modernizations, enabling it to execute our new strategy, fully Components of the In war, the employment of prepared for the challenges of a new Strategy: US forces will follow these era. principles: Peacetime engagement The core requirement of our (1) set clear objectives and describes a broad range of strategy as laid out in the Bottom- apply decisive force; noncombat activities undertaken by Up Review is a force capable of our Armed Forces that demonstrate fighting and winning two major (2) project the necessary commitment, improve collective regional conflicts nearly power to the of operations; military capabilities, promote simultaneously. While this democratic ideals, relieve , requirement most challenges the (3) fight combined with allies National Military Strategy iii , other needs, such as where there is a substantial payoff. forces to provide adequate overseas Existing weapons systems and presence, space capabilities to platforms will continue to be updated support a wide range of activities in to take advantage of rapid peace and war, and secure nuclear technological advances. forces for deterrence, have also been taken into account. The fifth force-building foundation is balance. Despite its The combat forces and smaller size, our military must retain supporting capabilities are built on an appropriate mix of forces and five fundamental foundations. The capabilities to provide the versatility first is the high quality men and to handle today’s challenges and to women who comprise our military provide a hedge against forces. There is no greater factor unanticipated threats. Combat for our military success which is why forces must be balanced with we are working hard to recruit and capable supporting forces, active retain quality people through realistic duty forces must be balanced with training and a good quality of life. appropriate Reserve capabilities, and force structure must be balanced The second foundation is with infrastructure. readiness. Maintaining high readiness of our forces is a Conclusion prerequisite to deterring aggression and responding to crises. Today we The national military strategy are placing increased emphasis on of flexible and selective joint readiness by strengthening joint engagement addresses the and education, developing challenges and opportunities of the joint readiness measures, and next century. US global improving joint and coalition training. responsibilities require global capabilities, despite a regional focus The third foundation consists in implementing the strategy. We of various force enhancements. must apply all our strengths and Improvements are already work with allies and friends to assure underway to our strategic mobility stability in a troubled and complex capability, including , , and world. This means our smaller prepositioning. Continued forces must be made stronger and improvements are also required in more versatile but remain built on the battlefield surveillance, our global same strong foundation of system, and outstanding people. the ability to employ precision weapons.

The fourth foundation is modernization, which is vital to preserve the essential combat edge that US forces now possess and to ensure future readiness. Due to budget constraints, major new investments will be pursued only National Military Strategy 1

war to achieve our national military objectives in this new international Introduction environment.

National military strategy ith the end of the Cold guidance developed in the Bottom- addresses the main dangers which War, international Up Review, this military strategy threaten US security interests, W relations have entered a outlines how best to use US military identifies the national military new era. New democracies are capabilities to help achieve national objectives, determines the military evolving within the former Soviet goals. This military strategy of tasks we must accomplish to achieve Union and Europe; old are flexible and selective engagement these objectives, and examines the being transformed. For the United prescribes a selective employment capabilities and forces required. States this unsettled period provides of military capabilities in peace and both opportunities and risks as we the use of decisive military force in This is a strategy which seek to promote our values and applies day-to-day to guide our protect our interests worldwide. activities in the near term, even when we are at peace. But let there be no In A National Security doubt about one fundamental fact: Strategy of Engagement and military forces exist — are organized, Enlargement the President trained, and equipped — first and described our security objectives foremost to fight and win America’s and provided the Armed Forces the wars. Within this overriding guidance to shape our military requirement, this strategy also strategy. Drawing also from the embodies a number of associated priorities.

National Military Strategy 2 International Environment

e have recently passed power, must address: regional The revival of age-old from a longstanding instability, the proliferation of religious, ethnic, and territorial Wbipolar order to a still weapons of mass destruction, quarrels, in many cases unsettled multipolar world. This was transnational dangers, and the compounded by the more a welcome development, bringing dangers to democracy and reform contemporary tensions stemming promising opportunities to advance in the former Soviet Union, Eastern from the disintegration of the Soviet our interests and values but also Europe, and elsewhere. Union, may present an even wider ushering in new and diverse threat: the risk that they may engulf challenges. neighboring states. Among the REGIONAL former Soviet republics, in Today the United States INSTABILITY theBalkans, in the Maghreb, and faces no immediate threat to its throughout , dangerous national survival. However, global instabilities litter the landscape. egional instabilities are, and interdependence and transparency, Additional challenges are posed by will remain, a recurring coupled with our worldwide security R Iraq, Iran, and North Korea, each interests, make it difficult to ignore challenge, from nations that explode of which is an imminent threat to the troubling developments almost into internal conflict, as happened in security of its neighbors and region. anywhere on earth. In fact, in the 5 Yugoslavia, Somalia, and Rwanda, years since the fall of the Berlin Wall to attacks against neighboring states, we have deployed our forces to as we saw when Iraq invaded WEAPONS OF assist in security or humanitarian Kuwait. Many antagonisms that MASS DESTRUCTION crises about 40 times — a far greater were buried by the frozen pace than in the preceding 20 years. relationships of the Cold War have he threat of nuclear attack This level of activity, a measure now surfaced, adding to those that T against the American reflective of these unsettled times, carried over from that era. suggests a continuing need for flexible and robust military capabilities.

It is also true that the intentions of other nations can change, sometimes very rapidly, and thus our national military strategy must account for the military capabilities of other nations as well as their current intentions.

In surveying the international environment, the national security strategy as articulated by the President recognizes four principal dangers Iraqi forces continue to threaten regional stability which our military, in combination with other elements of national

National Military Strategy 3 homeland today has diminished but technology is increasing the risks we there are still thousands of nuclear face. Even the prospect of a hostile DANGERS TO warheads and strategic delivery or terrorist group DEMOCRACY systems in the world. Despite the gaining access to nuclear, chemical AND REFORM internal political and economic or biological weapons contributes to changes underway in the states of regional insecurities and increases the he community of democratic the former Soviet Union, we must difficulty of settling disputes nations and free-market remain mindful of these capabilities. peacefully. T economies is growing throughout the For as long as these weapons exist, world — a trend consistent with they will remain a threat to our important US interests. The United security. TRANSNATIONAL States is committed to supporting DANGERS nations transitioning into this Especially troubling is the community and therefore will assist prospect that some of these weapons ncreasing global in efforts to defend against threats or their component materials might interdependence has made to democratic and economic reform be stolen or otherwise acquired by I every nation more vulnerable to in the former Soviet Union, Eastern third parties. Thus, the security and growing transnational threats. Europe, and elsewhere. However, accountability of all nuclear Spreading , fleeing refugees, the transition process in these warheads, systems, and international syndicates, and emerging democracies remains materials remain a grave concern. drug lords are several of the more susceptible to setbacks and serious transnational threats that reversals. The failure of democratic Indeed, the proliferation of bleed across our own and other reform in the newly independent weapons of mass destruction — nations’ . What gives these states, and particularly in Russia nuclear, chemical, and biological — threats unique character is that itself, would not necessarily return is one of the most troubling dangers combating them lies beyond the us to the bipolar standoff that we face. The ongoing efforts to reach of any single . But characterized the Cold War, but it obtain such weapons by a number the damage they might inflict on our would in all likelihood adversely of countries present great and health, children, prosperity, and affect the United States and its growing risks for the United States could be significant. interests. and its allies. The continuing diffusion of delivery

Turning the armed forces of the former Soviet Union into a professional military under democratic control remains one of the greatest challenges facing the world today.

National Military Strategy 4 National Military Objectives

ince the birth of the Nation military terms, we have translated long-term stability that is our military strategy has these purposes as two advantageous to the United States. S been anchored to the same complementary objectives: There is ample historical core purpose: to protect our Nation promoting stability and thwarting in this century that regional instability and its interests, while maintaining aggression. in military, economic, and political fundamental American values intact. terms can escalate into global Throughout the latter half of the conflict. Our strategy further century this has required a strategy PROMOTE STABILITY promotes stability in order to of global engagement. This establish the conditions under which engagement is no less required e must not expect an easy democracy can take hold and today, even though our national W transition to the stable, expand around the world. We intend military strategy has continued to multipolar world we seek. The last to use the daily, peacetime activities evolve. transition of such magnitude, at the of the Armed Forces to pursue this end of II, took years and effort. US forces stationed overseas, In addressing the four saw numerous conflicts; and the as well as those temporarily dangers discussed earlier, US form of that stability posed a threat deployed, participate with allies at military strategy must be intrinsically to our Nation for nearly 40 years. all levels in cooperative and defensive constructive, proactive, and security arrangements that help preventive, helping to reduce the A primary thrust of our preclude conflict and foster the sources of conflict and at the same strategy must be to promote a peaceful enlargement of the time blocking the effective use of community of free market nations. force by potential adversaries. In

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This is a period of great promise but also of great uncertainty ... Without our and engagement aboard, threats will fester and our opportunities will narrow.

A National Security Strategy of Engagement and Enlargement

In carefully selected cases, occur, our forces, in concert with heavily committed elsewhere. where our interests so dictate, we those of our allies and friends, must Consequently, we must have forces must be prepared in peacetime to be capable of defeating any potential of sufficient size and capabilities, in use our vast capabilities to , adversary and establishing the concert with regional allies, to defeat communicate, support, assist, and decisive conditions which lead to potential in major conflicts manage to address our regional long-term solutions. that may occur nearly simultaneously security needs and counter emerging in two different regions. Maintaining instabilities. When more significant Because the United States this capability also provides a hedge interests are at stake and our has important national interests against the emergence of a hostile capabilities would make a difference, throughout the world, we must avoid coalition or a more powerful or we must also be prepared to deploy any situation in which a hostile power resurgent adversary. forces, usually in conjunction with in one region might be tempted to allies and friends, but alone if we take advantage when US forces are must.

THWART AGGRESSION

he most serious measure of T engagement is our commitment to protect US extended interests and our allies. We will be prepared to respond promptly in the Persian Gulf area, in Northeast Asia, and other regions where US interests or allies are threatened. Through this preparation we seek to prevent conflict and reassure allies and friends of our commitment and capabilities.

Should war nevertheless The Demilitarized Zone -- a constant reminder of the need for deterrent forces on the Korean Peninsula

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essential mechanism to support our fundamental interests in forward Strategy regions where the support of these interests can best be developed. he end of the Cold War has Strategic Overseas presence takes further tightened the close, Concepts the form of permanently stationed T complementary relationship forces and forces temporarily that must exist between military deployed, some on a regular, activities and other elements of US rotational basis. In addition, we national power. The President’s OVERSEAS maintain an overseas presence national security strategy describes PRESENCE through a broad program of routine this relationship and prescribes a set air, ground, and naval deployments, of integrated regional approaches to as well as various contingency meet US interests in different parts operations. of the globe. The strategic military verseas presence forces, objectives described above will thus O including some tailored for In accordance with our be achieved in concert with other specific missions, perform a variety security needs, the bulk of our elements of power and by military of activities that promote stability and overseas presence forces are activities which may vary from region prevent conflict. Additionally, deployed in Western Europe, Japan, to region depending on US interests through overseas presence we and , with smaller and particular conditions. maintain mobile, combat-ready forces capable of responding to a capabilities elsewhere in the Pacific, the Middle East and Southwest Asia, This strategy of flexible and wide range of threats throughout the and Latin America. Approximately selective engagement comprises world. US forces overseas provide 100,000 US military members serve three sets of tasks: remaining visible proof of our commitment to in Europe in ground forces constructively engaged in peacetime; defend American interests with our consisting of substantial elements of acting to deter aggression and allies and friends worldwide. two divisions along with a prevent conflict; and fighting and Overseas presence is not a crutch headquarters, associated winning our Nation’s wars when for friends who refuse to bear their corps troops, and other supporting called upon. To facilitate performing share of the burden; rather it is an elements; in air forces consisting of these tasks, we continue to refine the two fundamental and complementary strategic concepts of overseas presence and power projection. Our strategy for accomplishing our national military objectives is best understood by examining these two strategic concepts and the three components of the strategy: peacetime engagement, deterrence and conflict prevention, and warfighting.

US and Egyptian forces together in Exercies Bright Star

National Military Strategy 7 about two and one-third fighter deployments have decreased in overseas forces, the ability to project wings; and in a Mediterranean naval recent years, and in Europe tailored forces through rapid, ashore presence sufficient to support dramatically, their importance has not strategic mobility gives national a carrier group and an diminished. They signal our leaders additional time for amphibious ready group. commitment to the region in which consultation and increased options they are deployed and are a visible in response to potential crises and In Northeast Asia we also reminder to those who would conflicts. retain close to 100,000 troops. In threaten our interests. South Korea they serve in one Army Our ability to rapidly project and one wing of combat power worldwide depends on four . In Japan we maintain a strategic mobility enhancements: Marine Expeditionary Force, an POWER increased airlift capability, additional Army , one PROJECTION prepositioning of heavy equipment and one-half wings of combat afloat and ashore, increased surge aircraft, and forward deploy an capacity of our sealift, and improved With fewer US forces , amphibious assault readiness and responsiveness of the permanently stationed overseas, we , and their support . Ready Reserve Force. must increase our capability to project forces abroad. Credible In the Middle East we Power projection is power projection capability maintain only a small presence. The essential for pforming the required complements our overseas presence bulk of our overseas presence tasks of all components of the in acting as a deterrent to potential commitment in this area, as well as strategy, however, it is most critical adversaries. Effective power in Southwest Asia, is reflected in the in the deterrence and conflict projection capabilities also provide significant periodic deployments of prevention and warfighting portions greater flexibility in employing forces, to include participation in of our military strategy. military force. Coupled with contingency operations. Our forces deploy to Africa to participate in humanitarian or peace operations as national interests dictate. In Latin America small numbers of our Armed Forces help to promote democratic growth in many countries and work to halt the import of drugs into our country.

Our overseas presence helps to keep important infrastructure Aerial refueling - available and ready. Permanently one of the keys to stationed forces maintain support global power and basing that are vital for receiving projection reinforcement and for throughput and onward movement in time of crisis and conflict.

Although the size of our forces permanently stationed overseas and the size of some

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Components of the humanitarian and peace op- Strategy erations such as in Haiti. The success of these opera- tions hinges on mutual PEACETIME trust, effective communications and inter- ENGAGEMENT operability, and doctrinal familiarity, precisely the verseas presence and results we seek from O power projection provide the ongoing military-to- basis for executing the tasks required Military contacts at all levels promote military contacts. understanding by our strategy. The first group of these tasks, peacetime engagement, These programs are also a describes a broad range of non- platform for imparting influence and combat activities undertaken by our democratic values to in Nation Assistance Armed Forces that demonstrate reforming or newly democratic commitment, improve collective nations. The militaries of Central and Our forces participate military capabilities, promote are a particular selectively in a variety of activities democratic ideals, relieve suffering, priority. US military-to-military Joint to assist friendly nations as they and in many other ways enhance Contact Teams are at work in twelve combat lawlessness, , and regional stability. On any given day, of these countries today and we are . These efforts are tens of thousands of the men and expanding this program to other carefully orchestrated to reinforce women of our Armed Forces are regions this year. the host nation’s developmental engaged worldwide across the range programs. Specific activities that of peacetime engagement activities. Combined training exercises involve our Armed Forces include provide particularly useful military- bilateral and multilateral exercises, to-military contacts. Their benefits civil-military operations, intelligence Military-to-Military are many: combined training, joint and communications sharing, and Contacts readiness and interoperability, and logistic support. military professionalism. Our Military-to-military contact sponsorship of such exercises also Security Assistance programs are one of the most helps to shape our basing, prepositioning, logistic support, and effective instruments in our efforts to Security assistance involves security agreements. create a more stable security order. the selective use of cooperative Today there are opportunities to programs with allied and friendly We also maintain an active forge new and more cooperative armed forces that furnish these exchange program between military security relationships both with countries with the means to defend units and regularly assign individual former adversaries and with themselves from aggression and to personnel to work for limited formerly nonaligned nations. fight alongside US forces in a periods with other armed forces. Moreover, there has been a vast coalition effort. Providing vital Exchanges of personnel, both as increase in our participation in training and US-manufactured students and teachers, at military multinational operations whose weapons systems increases the academies and professional military members include many access and influence of the US schools foster understanding nontraditional allies, as we military and improves the between our respective military saw in the and in recent interoperability of potential coalition establishments. members. In addition, these contacts

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Humanitarian When the United States Operations does participate, we will follow the guidelines of Presidential Decision Our Armed Forces stand Directive 25, to include seeking a ready to participate in humanitarian clear delineation of the objectives of and relief operations at home each operation, ensuring an and abroad. The US military can unbroken chain of command to the offer unique capabilities in terms of President, and ensuring rules of (transport, supply, and engagement to protect our forces distribution), communications, and and permit the proper execution of security. Often, our greatest assigned tasks. The capabilities we contribution to these operations provide will be carefully tailored, resides in our ability to rapidly usually to reinforce and supplement respond when more traditional relief the resources of our international agencies are overwhelmed. After partners. We recognize that peace US forces provide medical care these are “up and operations are often different from during operations in Somalia running,” military forces can be traditional military operations in the withdrawn. A prime example of this tasks and capabilities they require of help to build and solidify concept is the recent US assistance our Armed Forces. We are relationships with emerging operation in Rwanda. continuing to develop appropriate democracies and security partners. doctrine and training for these Security assistance also deters Counterdrug and operations. aggression in unstable regions and Counterterrorism provides a cost-effective alternative Reserve component to maintaining larger US forces in the The Armed Forces, elements will take on increased region. working in close cooperation with responsibility for participating in and enforcement agencies, will use supporting peacekeeping missions. A very important avenue for all means authorized by the President interaction between US military and the Congress to halt the flow of DETERRENCE personnel and their foreign illegal drugs into this country. We counterparts is the International will also act both unilaterally and in AND CONFLICT Military Education and Training concert with security partners to fight PREVENTION (IMET) program. Last year, international terrorism. students from more than 100 foreign Deterrence and conflict countries studied at US military Peacekeeping prevention, the second component schools, learning not only technical of the strategy, is a combination of skills but also gaining a broader efforts to deter threats to our appreciation for American values We remain prepared to support traditional peacekeeping security and interests as well as a and perspectives. operations on a case-by-case basis. series of other actions we can take When warranted by circumstances to restore stability, security, and Our regional commanders- and national interests, this support adherence to . Our in-chief are unanimous in stating that military strategy envisions vigorous security assistance programs, along may include participation of US combat units. When appropriate, efforts in each of the following tasks with military-to-military contacts, we prefer to share the burden of in order to secure our interests and produce gains that far exceed their peacekeeping with allies and friends. reduce the potential for conflict. costs and we seek to reenergize and expand these important programs.

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Nuclear Deterrence anticipate tomorrow and on the adjusting its missions, command capacity to develop new arrangements, and forces The highest priority of our relationships as necessary. accordingly. Implementing the military strategy is to deter a nuclear Combined Joint Task Force concept attack against our Nation and allies. American forces in Europe will facilitate NATO’s participation Our survival and the freedom of continue to demonstrate a strong in non-traditional, out-of-area action that we need to protect commitment to this area of significant operations such as peace operations, extended national interests depend national interests. In addition, we sanctions enforcement, and upon strategic and nonstrategic provide NATO with key leadership, humanitarian assistance. It will also nuclear forces and their associated critical intelligence and enable NATO to provide timely command, control, and communications support, and much operational support to other bodies communications. of the nuclear force that guarantees such as the and the European security. Our capability Western European Union. We have recently to conduct military operations is concluded a comprehensive Nuclear sustained through frequent exercises Today, many of our former Posture Review that looked into the and interoperability training that adversaries have expressed a desire next century and validated those ensures the effectiveness of to join NATO — an indicator of systems we will need for the coalitions both in and beyond the NATO’s success in adapting to meet foreseeable future. Though we are area. new security challenges. More than continuing to pursue reductions 20 nations, including Russia and under the Strategic Arms Reduction The end of the Cold War other former Soviet republics, have Treaty (START) I and II, we still has seen NATO’s military focus already joined NATO’s Partnership need to maintain a survivable triad evolve from deterring aggression by for Peace program. These countries of strategic delivery systems. This the Soviet-led Pact to seek to align their defense programs serves both to deter still very dealing with today’s diverse security and policies more closely with powerful strategic and to challenges. The has NATO’s — and to forge stronger convince possible adversaries that embraced a new strategic concept ties to the West. The United States any attempt to seek a nuclear that recognizes the changes in the fully supports and participates in the advantage would be futile. We still geostrategic environment and is Partnership for Peace initiative which need to maintain a mix of forward both fosters regional stability and is deployed and deployable essential to the eventual enlargement nonstrategic nuclear weapons, both of the NATO alliance. to provide deterrent coverage over our allies, and because extended Five of the seven US mutual deterrence, in many cases, is a defense are with partners in decisive factor in our non the Asia-Pacific region, helping to proliferation efforts. underpin the relative stability of an area that is home to the world’s Regional Alliances fastest growing economies. We will remain engaged with the Association Our regional , and of Southeast Asian Nations, the the global strategy of which they are sponsor of the largest security forum a part, are built on the foundation of (involving 18 countries) in that strong and effective alliances. Our region. goal of a stable, multipolar world In Northeast Asia our hinges on both the ability to preserve The strategic triad provides the bilateral security relationship with and adapt our existing alliances to foundation for deterrence challenges we confront today and Japan remains fundamental to US

National Military Strategy 11

threatened areas as we demonstrated in October 1994 when Saddam Hussein once again moved forces south and threatened Kuwait. Critical to such reinforcement requirements are sea- and land-based prepositioned equipment sets, enhanced airlift and sealift capabilities, and air refueling forces. Rapid power projection, from the United States to overseas areas and between regions, remains key to crisis response.

US train with Partnership for Peace cooperation Arms Control partners in Exercise Cooperative Bridge '94 security. Our forces in Japan are a bilateral defense cooperation Arms control efforts visible demonstration of our agreements, security assistance, contribute significantly to our commitment to the peace and prepositioning, forward presence, security by limiting and reducing the stability of the entire region and are and combined exercises. These number and types of weapons that available for short-notice activities in a region vital to US and can threaten us and by reducing deployment throughout the theater. global security and prosperity assist regional arms buildups that can raise Frequent combined US and our friends in improving their self- tensions and risks. Among the Japanese military exercises continue defense while deterring aggression. fundamental arms control to enhance professional interaction agreements are the Anti-Ballistic between our militaries. We will continue to support Missile Treaty, START I and II, the the deepening of democracy Treaty on Intermediate-Range The defense of the Republic throughout the Western Nuclear Forces (INF), and the of Korea (ROK) will remain a key Hemisphere. We are strengthening Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. element of US strategy in this region. our relationships with Latin America The Treaty on Conventional Armed Our forward stationed forces there and Mexico and are working with Forces in Europe is a landmark represent an unambiguous the of American States agreement that has significantly demonstration of that commitment. to promote stability and mutual reduced conventional forces for the We will continue to conduct a security. first time in our generation and has vigorous exercise program with greatly enhanced security in this area ROK forces to ensure that we are Crisis Response vital to US interests. ready and able to work together and to reinforce the theater, if necessary. Should our resolve to Recognizing the protect vital national interests be contributions that arms control In Southwest Asia, we must challenged, we must be able to agreements can make to national remain alert to the dangers posed by respond rapidly through a wide security, we seek to broaden the a still aggressive Iraq and a spectrum of deterrent options and range of arms control efforts to revolutionary Iran that continues to preventive measures. We intend to address chemical and biological fan the flames of social, political, and respond initially to crises using our weapons. When implemented, the economic dissent among neighboring forces stationed and deployed Chemical Weapons Convention will states. US commitment to peace overseas but will be prepared to mandate the destruction of all and security in the critical Persian deploy all necessary forces to chemical weapons and their Gulf region is demonstrated through production facilities.

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Confidence-Building Measures We continue to incorporate the lessons learned from our recent experiences in Iraq, Somalia, and the Our military forces will former Yugoslavia. For example, continue to be directly involved in when significant US forces are confidence-building efforts to foster directed to participate in a major openness and transparency in peace enforcement operation likely military affairs. Implementation of to involve combat, our guidelines will Vienna Document 1994 is a concrete continue to be to: example of such efforts which include information exchanges, - Commit sufficient forces to exercise limits and observations, and achieve clearly defined objectives; demonstrations of . Agreements governing Dangerous - to achieve those Military Activities and regional objectives decisively; and initiatives, such as the Open Skies regime that permits aerial overflight - Reassess and adjust, as of participating nations’ territories, Forces training for emergency necessary, the size, composition, and directly support our goal of evacuation operations disposition of our forces to achieve preventing conflict. our objectives. Noncombatant Evacuation to search, divert, delay, or disrupt transport vessels and to assist in the Operations compliance of guidelines set by either Application of these US or UN authorities. Effective guidelines is clearly exemplified by The US Government is enforcement requires efficient our Operation Uphold Democracy responsible for protecting the lives coordination of military operations in Haiti commencing in September and safety of its citizens abroad. at sea, on land, and in the air and 1994. Often, that task falls to our Armed space. Forces. When conditions of or disorder in foreign Peace Enforcement During peace enforcement countries threaten American lives, operations, command and control US forces, in support of the On occasion, US forces arrangements are critical. Ordinarily Department of , will use all may be directed to participate in in such instances, a US command appropriate means to extract peace enforcement operations or will be established or the mission will American citizens promptly and other operations which stand in the be conducted through a competent, safely. gray zone between peace and war. established regional organization These operations are characterized such as NATO or an ad hoc Sanctions Enforcement by the use of force or the threat of coalition. The greater the US military the use of force, and are interwoven contribution and the greater the Military forces are with diplomatic and economic likelihood of combat, the more increasingly used to enforce efforts, often involving both inclined we will be to lead the resulting from governmental and nongovernmental operation. The President, however, national policy decisions and UN organizations. Such actions may be will never relinquish command Security Council resolutions. US undertaken to maintain or restore authority over US forces. forces will participate in operations international peace and security, or to respond to acts of aggression.

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provide the necessary intelligence, logistics, and communications support, as well as capabilities to protect our forces during deployment.

We continue to build on the lessons learned in Operation Desert Storm to strengthen our power projection capabilities. During the September 1994 deployment of forces to Haiti, roll-on/roll-off shipping was proved exceptionally ready and significantly more reliable as a result of post-Gulf War improvements. Early access to combat, , and Adaptive force packaging responds to the Joint Task Force combat support capabilities Commnader's requirements in the Reserve component is also vital to meet our power projection FIGHT AND WIN defined to support our national requirements for any major regional political aims in the conflict. We contingency. We have demonstrated intend to commit sufficient force to he ability of US Armed in recent operations in both Haiti and achieve these objectives in a prompt Kuwait that we have the ability to T Forces to fight and win, the and decisive manner. third component of our strategy, gain this prompt access to the Reserves, clearly indicating serves as the ultimate guarantor of Wartime Power Projection our vital interests. This ability is improved wartime capabilities. crucial to deter aggression and If we have forces deployed prevent conflict, and if challenged, it Fight Combined and to the threatened area when crisis assures that we will in fact prevail. Fight Joint turns to conflict, these forces will Being ready to fight and win remains assist our regional allies in creating a our foremost responsibility and the While we maintain the viable defense to halt the prime consideration governing all our unilateral capability to wage decisive rapidly and will form the basis for military activities. It is for this reason, campaigns to protect US and the subsequent buildup of combat fundamentally, that our Nation has multinational security interests, our power needed to defeat the raised and sustained its Armed Armed Forces will most often fight aggressor decisively. But we Forces. in concert with regional allies and anticipate that, for the most part, we friends, as coalitions can decisively will project air, land, and sea forces In war, our use of military increase combat power and lead to from the United States and, in some force will follow the principles a more rapid and favorable outcome cases, from overseas areas, to outlined below. to the conflict. Combined augment forward-deployed forces operations capitalize on our or to establish US presence in the peacetime training, help generate and Clear Objectives — theater of operations. This power sustain international support, and Decisive Force projection could ultimately entail the enable our forces to provide the transport of large numbers of high-leverage capabilities required to In any application of force, personnel and their equipment. Such achieve decisive outcomes against military objectives will be clearly an effort requires detailed plans to any adversary.

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Modern warfare requires opponents can effect flow of follow-on ground and land- US forces to fight as a joint team countermeasures. Land forces must based air contingents. These forces whether operating unilaterally or as possess the capabilities necessary to assist in providing protective cover part of an international coalition. dominate the land battle. In addition, from air, land, sea, or missile Accordingly, each of the Services they must provide the combat intrusion. By ensuring freedom of provides trained and ready forces to support and the seas and controlling strategic support the necessary to sustain the land battle choke points, naval and marine commanders’ warfighting plans and as well as provide critical elements forces provide strategic freedom of operations. Success in joint and of support to joint forces deployed maneuver and thus enhance combined military operations in theater. Ultimately, land forces deployment and sustainment of joint requires bringing to bear, at the right can occupy territory, control forces in theater. times and places, the unique and , and provide on-the- complementary capabilities of each scene assurance that political Air forces must be capable of the Services. objectives will be met. of conducting military operations to gain and maintain control of the Naval and marine forces Each Service has both a role skies, holding vital capabilities must be capable of conducting naval and primary and collateral functions at risk throughout the theater, and to execute, for which it must train, and amphibious warfighting helping to destroy the enemy’s ability organize, and equip its forces. Land operations. Forward-deployed to wage war. Air superiority is forces are mainly involved with naval expeditionary forces can essential so we can quickly move prompt and sustained combat respond immediately to a crisis, forces into theater and attack the operations on land; naval and marine execute forcible entry or reinforce enemy at will. Air control provides forces with operations at or from the other forward-deployed elements, sea; air forces with military and through prompt action help halt the joint force numerous operational operations in the air. Each of our an enemy and enable the and tactical advantages while Services leverages the benefits of facilitating land and naval maneuver. unhindered access to space. Air forces provide sustained, precise , and Land forces must be surveillance, critical refueling, and capable of deplaoying rapidly and, global lift to rapidly deploy and if necessary, executing forcible sustain joint forces in theater. entry o seize the initiative and close with and destroy enemy Space forces play an forces through synchronized increasingly important role in maneuver and precision fire prosecuting . They throughout the breadth and depth provide global and battlefield of the battle area. They ust be surveillance, ballistic missile capable of achieving operational warning, precise navigation, and tactical freedom of secure communications, maneuver and be sufficiently weather, and intelligence agile to achieve their information. objectives before Space assets facilitate

Joint warfighting requires the balanced contributions of all the Armed Services

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marked by biological, chemical, or radioactive contamination.

Two Major Regional Contingency Focus

When entering any regional conflict, we will fully apply all the principles addressed above to ensure decisive . At the same time, however, we will remain aware that risks and dangers remain in other regions. While projecting forces to one contingency, we will be enhancing the readiness of other Interactive information sharing is key to modern battlefield success assets to handle a challenge elsewhere. Some high-leverage capabilities could be used in one effective command and control and transmission warrants special major regional contingency and then enhance the joint utilization of emphasis. The Services and reallocated and redeployed to our land, sea, and air forces. combatant commands require such another as conditions permit. Other fused information systems. These capabilities essential to fighting and Special operations forces systems enhance our ability to winning the first conflict will remain from all three military departments dominate warfare. We must assure in the theater where they are provide combatant commanders that this leverage works for us and committed. and deployed forces with unique against our adversaries. New capabilities to conduct direct action, doctrine is being developed, and Force Generation special reconnaissance, training and control programs are , underway, to ensure that We will quickly generate counterterrorism, psychological advantages, built on the early combat power in wartime. Active operations, and civil affairs activities. success in Operation Desert Storm, forces engaged overseas in lower Properly employed, special are being exploited. priority missions may be recalled, operations forces provide reorganized, retrained, and commanders capabilities that extend Countering Weapons of redeployed. Normally our Armed their vision of the battlefield, increase Mass Destruction Forces will withdraw from their flexibility, and enhance their operations other than war when the initiative. These forces will be fully Potential adversaries should security situation is stabilized and integrated into military operations by recognize our capability to dominate other organizations are prepared to the combatant commanders. any escalation of conflict should assume responsibility for relief or weapons of mass destruction be security. In times of crisis, we will Win the Information War employed against us. In addition, need to accelerate this process. As we will maintain and strengthen our our first forces react to a major The remarkable leverage defensive capabilities against such regional crisis, we will begin actions attainable from modern weapons. We continue efforts to to ensure forces are ready to meet a reconnaissance, intelligence prevent the use of mass destruction second contingency should it arise. collection and analysis, and high- weapons and make preparations to Activities not involving critical US speed data processing and operate effectively in environments interests will be turned over to the

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humanitarian relief and nation United Nations or other responsible assistance that are included in the regional security organizations while peacetime engagement component we attend to higher priority taskings. of our military strategy. Planning for post-conflict operations will begin Substantial Reserve forces prior to and continue throughout any will be committed to combat and conflict. Close coordination and combat support missions early in any cooperation between military and major regional contingency. To other governmental and backfill active forces elsewhere and nongovernmental agencies will be to prepare for unforeseen particularly critical during the contingencies, some Reserve transition period following war as component forces can expect to be some functions are transferred to mobilized immediately and to remain non-military organizations and while on active duty throughout the our forces are being redeployed and conflict, even though they are not reconstituted. directly involved in operations.

Win the Peace

In the wake of any major theater conflict, our forces will likely encounter numerous demands to attend to the needs of the indigenous . This may well include activities such as providing

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Our military forces are being sized and structured using scenario- Military Capabilities based planning and assessments initiated during the Bottom-Up Review. Although no one can POSTURE AND SIZE Nevertheless, the United predict with certainty where the next States will retain formidable forces. conflict will occur, the use of While smaller, we must become he US Armed Forces are plausible, illustrative scenarios pound for pound more capable T now in their eighth year of against postulated threat forces through enhancements and selected drawdown and will continue to be enables comparisons and analyses modernizations. Our ability to reduced and reshaped in to determine the relative values of execute this strategy of flexible and In- accordance with the Bottom-Up different forces and capabilities selective engagement will be put at Review. By 1999 total active end across a range of circumstances. risk without these required force strength will reduce to 1,445,000 While the two nearly simultaneous upgrades. ter- people, down from 2,130,000 in major regional contingency 1989. Over the next few years, requirement most challenges the The dynamic and active Army divisions will continue force structure, other needs, such as unpredictable post-Cold War na- to decline from 18 to 10, active Air forces to provide adequate overseas environment demands that we Force fighter wings from 24 to 13, presence, space capabilities to maintain military capabilities flexible and battle force ships from support a wide range of activities in and responsive enough to cope with tional 567 to 346. Active Marine Corps peace and war, and secure nuclear unforeseen threats. Thus, US forces structure will remain at three Marine forces for deterrence, have also will be sized and structured to Expeditionary Forces, but end been taken into account. En- strength will continue to decline from achieve decisive victory in two nearly simultaneous major regional 197,000 personnel to 174,000. Combat support conflicts and to conduct combat Selected Reserve personnel will capabilities, including transportation, operations characterized by rapid vi- decline from 1,170,000 in 1989 to logistics, intelligence, response and a high probability of 893,900 in 1999, with a communications, and medical, success. proportionate decline in force remain vital to our success and will ron- structure. The will be strengthened. reduce its active end strength from ment 44,000 to 36,300.

US forces arriving in Haiti to support Operation Uphold Democracy

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FORCE BUILDING people requires FOUNDATIONS paying attention to quality of life for he combat forces and our service men T supporting capabilities and women and must be built on five fundamental their families. This foundations. involves not only providing adequate Quality People m i l i t a r y co m pe n sa t i on a n d f a m i l y The experience of p r o g r a m s but Operation Desert Storm confirmed e n s u r i n g that The key foundation of our Armed Forces that there is no substitute for high our o p e r a t i n g is quality people quality men and women in our tempo and planned Armed Forces. In a smaller force deployments are kept within readiness were defined in Service- with diverse requirements, quality reasonable bounds. specific terms. Today we are people provide the fundamental edge strengthening joint and allied doctrine over any adversary. Readiness and education, developing joint readiness measures, and improving The requirement for quality joint and coalition training and people is not an abstraction. It Experience show that crises exercises. reflects the fundamental reality of can emerge quickly and military operations: despite intense unpredictably. Our forces currently planning and high technology, maintain a range of possible postures Enhancements military operations are nevertheless to meet possible contingencies, from marked by ambiguity, uncertainty, American aircraft aloft on combat air Enhancement of our and chance, and are driven by patrol over the Adriatic Sea and strategic mobility capability, including emotion; they normally continue 24 elsewhere to large Reserve airlift, sealift, and prepositioning, is hours a day, in any conceivable component forces in the United already underway. We have taken terrain or climate, and in conditions States. delivery of the first 18 of the initial of extreme stress. Under these procurement of 40 C-17 advanced circumstances, leadership, courage, Our forces must be transport aircraft. One Army heavy initiative, flexibility, and skill will sufficiently ready - manned, equipment set is remain essential to victory. No equipped, trained, and sustainable - prepositioned aboard ships now on foreseeable change in technology to meet the deployment station to cover contingencies from will diminish the importance of high requirements our strategy demands Northeast Asia to the Persian Gulf. quality men and women in our and to provide a hedge against Our plans call for three additional military. uncertainty. They must be ready to brigade sets to be prepositioned fight today. We are working to ashore, two in Southwest Asia and We are working hard to strengthen readiness through better one in South Korea. We are maintain excellence among our understanding and prediction of procuring more sealift, including recuits. But we must also develop requirements as we restructure the medium-speed roll-on/roll-off ships. and retain these quality young people force. In combination, these assets will in the Armed Forces. Developing greatly improve the power this talent requires enlightened Warfighting plans require us projection capability of our forces. leadership as well as realistic and to strengthen joint readiness and to challenging training. Retaining good exercise routinely with our allies and Battlefield surveillance will friends. Traditional measures of continue to be upgraded with the

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consciously retiring certain weapons systems and platforms in order to afford more capable and modern equipment. Modernization programs provide the technological foundation for future capabilities and readiness.

Defense investments during the Cold War have provided us the necessary foundation in terms of platforms, systems, and research and development. We now seek the greatest value added under a more constrained budget. Major modernization programs involving significant are being undertaken only where there is clearly a substantial payoff. Continued modernization of existing platforms will take advantage of rapid technological change, particularly in the areas of reconnaissance and . Operational prototyping will be used to rapidly field small numbers of high leverage systems. C-17 Airlifter's and Roll-On/Roll-Off ships are key enhancements to Strategic Mobility Balance integration of systems such as the optimize support for the warfighter. Joint Surveillance and Target Attack We must retain a decisive advantage Despite its smaller size, our System, the upgraded in these areas. Armed Forces must retain an Airborne Warning and Control appropriate mix of forces and System, the RC-135 Rivet Joint Planned firepower capabilities to provide versatility and intelligence platform, and unmanned enhancements include the Joint a hedge against the unknown. Force aerial vehicles. Standoff Weapon, Joint Direct structure must support land, sea, air, Attack Munitions, sensor-fuzed and space requirements. Combat Enhancements to provide a weapons, ATACMS, and other forces must be balanced with robust, globally capable and strike enhancements for early arriving capable supporting forces, active interoperable communications and fighter-bombers. duty forces must be balanced with architecture are also required. appropriate Reserve capabilities, These include the jam- resistant Modernization and force structure must be balanced MILSTAR communications with infrastructure. system and the Global Command We intend to remain the and Control System. Additionally, best-equipped force in the world. As roles, missions, and the appropriate mix of US military Modernization programs preserve functions are reexamined in an effort and commercial space systems will the essential combat edge that US to attain greater efficiency, we must be integrated to reduce costs and forces now possess. Through a ensure that the balance among critical program of recapitalization, we are combat, combat support, and other supporting capabilities is retained. National Military Strategy 20 Conclusion

his national military The forces to meet our security strategy builds on its needs will be largely based in the T predecessors and continues United States. Even though smaller the evolution from the strategies than before, they will need to remain developed during the Cold War. highly capable. Quality people, Despite the breakup of the Soviet readiness, enhancements, selected Union and the subsequent modernization, and balance will drawdown of US forces, this is a provide the critical edge. strategy of continued global engagement. Flexibly and This military strategy is one selectively applied, US military of flexible and selective engagement, power will remain a fundamental designed to protect US interests factor in assuring national security. throughout the world and to help meet the security needs of our In keeping with the broad partners in key regions. This strategy outlines of military strategy requires a ready American military developed over nearly half a century, force capable of responding quickly we see the United States with and decisively to protect our worldwide responsibilities that Nation’s security. require flexible military capabilities. As before, we will stand together with our allies and friends to assure stability in a troubled world. Deterrence and conflict prevention are central elements of our strategy. A balanced force structure, including air, land, naval, and space elements, a strategic nuclear force, and correctly sized overseas presence are essential to maintaining the required deterrent and warfighting capabilities.

The days of the familiar bipolar competition with the former Soviet Union are now in the past. Security issues are more complex and increasingly regional in nature. Our actions must be appropriate to meet specific needs across a broad range of potential challenges. This requires a high tempo of military activity, including military operations, with a significant risk of hostile action.

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National Military Strategy