The Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR) is a legislatively-mandated review of Department of Defense strategy and priorities. The QDR will set a long-term course for DoD as it assesses the threats and challenges that the nation faces and re-balances DoD's strategies, capabilities, and forces to address today's conflicts and tomorrow's threats.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The mission of the Department of Defense is to protect the American people and advance our nation’s interests.

In executing these responsibilities, we must recognize that first and foremost, the United States is a nation at war. In Afghanistan, our forces fight alongside allies and partners in renewed efforts to disrupt, dismantle, and defeat Al Qaeda and the Taliban. In Iraq, U.S. military personnel advise, train, and support Iraqi forces as part of a responsible transition and drawdown. Above all, the United States and its allies and partners remain engaged in a broader war—a multifaceted political, military and moral struggle—against Al Qaeda and its allies around the world.

Furthermore, as a global power, the strength and influence of the United States are deeply intertwined with the fate of the broader international system—a system of alliances, partnerships, and multinational institutions that our country has helped build and sustain for more than sixty years. The U.S. military must therefore be prepared to support broad national goals of promoting stability in key regions, providing assistance to nations in need, and promoting the common good.

With these realities in mind, the 2010 Quadrennial Defense Review advances two clear objectives. First, to further rebalance the capabilities of America’s Armed Forces to prevail in today’s wars, while building the capabilities needed to deal with future threats. Second, to further reform the Department’s institutions and processes to better support the urgent needs of the warfighter; buy weapons that are usable, affordable, and truly needed; and ensure that taxpayer dollars are spent wisely and responsibly.

The strategy and initiatives described in the QDR will continue to evolve in response to the security environment. Using the QDR as its foundation, the Department will continually examine its approach—from objectives to capabilities and activities to resources—to ensure its best alignment for the nation, its allies and partners, and our men and women in uniform. ...

Download Quadrennial Defense Review Report 2010

PDF format, 6.7MB, 128Pages.

CONTENTS
PREFACE i
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY iii
INTRODUCTION 1
DEFENSE STRATEGY 5
A Complex Environment 5
America’s Interests and the Roles of Military Power 9
U.S. Defense Objectives 11
REBALANCING THE FORCE 17
Defend the United States and Support Civil Authorities at Home 18
Succeed in Counterinsurgency, Stability, and Counterterrorism Operations 20
Build the Security Capacity of Partner States 26
Deter and Defeat Aggression in Anti-Access Environments 31
Prevent Proliferation and Counter Weapons of Mass Destruction 34
Operate Effectively in Cyberspace 37
Guiding the Evolution of the Force 39
Sizing and Shaping the Force 41
Main Elements of U.S. Force Structure, FY 2011 – 15 45
TAKING CARE OF OUR PEOPLE 49
Wounded Warrior Care 49
Managing the Deployment Tempo 50
Recruiting and Retention 51
Supporting Families 52
Keeping Faith with the Reserve Component 53
Developing Future Military Leaders 54
Developing the Total Defense Workforce 55
STRENGTHENING RELATIONSHIPS 57
Strengthening Key Relationships Abroad 57
The Role of U.S. Defense Posture 62
Strengthening Interagency Partnerships 69
REFORMING HOW WE DO BUSINESS 73
Reforming Security Assistance 73
Reforming How We Buy 75
Institutionalizing Rapid Acquisition Capability 80
Strengthening the Industrial Base 81
Reforming the U.S. Export Control System 83
Crafting a Strategic Approach to Climate and Energy 84
A DEFENSE RISK MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK 89
Operational Risk 90
Force Management Risk 92
Institutional Risk 93
Future Challenges Risk 94
Strategic, Military, and Political Risk 95
CONCLUSION: THE WAY AHEAD 97
CHAIRMAN’S ASSESSMENT OF 2010 QUADRENNIAL DEFENSE REVIEW 99

Visit Quadrennial Defense Review Official Web Site

CONCLUSION: THE WAY AHEAD
This QDR report and the preceding months of deliberation served two purposes: first, to establish the Department’s key priority objectives, providing strategic context and recommendations on key capability development and investment priorities; and second, to communicate the Secretary’s intent for the next several years of the Department’s work.

The QDR serves as a capstone institutional document, shaping how the Department of Defense will support America’s military personnel today, while building the policy and programmatic foundation that will enable the next generation to protect the American people and advance their interests.

The challenges facing the United States are immense, but so are the opportunities. This QDR clarified the Secretary’s priority objectives for the Department: prevail in today’s wars, prevent and deter conflict, prepare to defeat adversaries and succeed in a wide range of contingencies, and preserve and enhance the All-Volunteer Force. The Secretary has been clear, and this report reaffirms the need to manage risk prudently across these objectives in favor of prevailing in today’s wars—it has outlined in detail how the Department intends to further rebalance its capabilities and reform its institutions in order to do so.

Strategy-driven, this QDR provided an assessment of the strategic environment, America’s national interests and global role, the role of U.S. military power, and a comprehensive description of the Department’s strategy and the implications for capability development, key policies and authorities, and our key defense relationships at home and abroad.

This report will be used to shape and influence a series of ongoing processes and reviews that provide direction to Department of Defense components. The strategic and investment priorities described in this report reflect the Secretary’s intent as the Department continues to reform and rebalance the U.S. military to better enable success in today’s wars while preparing for tomorrow’s threats.

Comments (0)

Name

Email

Comment

smaller | bigger

Add Comment