QDR 2010 Hi-Lights

QDR 2010 Highlights (see Robert Farley's post for link to the document)

• Two clear objectives
o Rebalance to prevail in today’s wars while preparing for future threats
o Reform DoD institutions and processes

• Defense strategy
o Prevail in today’s wars
o Prevent and deter conflict
o Prepare to defeat adversaries in a wide range of contingencies
§ 2 “MRC” construct is back, but there is the “need to plan for the broadest possible range of operations”
o Preserve and enhance the All Volunteer Force

• Rebalancing the force (6 key missions)
o Defend the US and support civil authorities at home
§ Enhancements
• Improve responsiveness and flexibility of consequence management forces
• Enhance capabilities for domain awareness
• Accelerate development of standoff radiological/nuclear detection capabilities
• Enhance domestic capabilities to counter IED’s

o Succeed in counterinsurgency, stability and counterterrorism operations
§ Initiatives
• Increase availability of rotary wing assets
• Expand manned and unmanned aircraft systems for ISR
• Increase key enabling assets for SOF
• Increase counterinsurgency, stability ops and counterterrorism competency and capacity in general purpose forces
• Increase regional expertise for Afghanistan and Pakistan
• Strengthen key supporting capabilities for strategic comms

o Build the security capacity of partner states
§ Initiatives
• Strengthen and institutionalize general purpose force capabilities for security force assistance
• Enhance linguistic, regional and cultural ability
• Strengthen and expand capabilities for partner aviation forces
• Strengthen capacities for ministerial level training
• Create mechanisms to expedite acquisition and transfer of critical capabilities to partner forces

o Deter and defeat aggression in anti-access environments
§ Enhancements
• Expand future long range strike capabilities
• Exploit advantages in subsurface operations
• Increase the resiliency of US forward posture and base infrastructure
• Assure access to space and use of space assets
• Enhance the robustness of key ISR capabilities
• Defeat enemy sensors and engagement systems
• Enhance the presence and responsiveness of US forces abroad

o Prevent proliferation of weapons of mass destruction
§ Actions
• Establish a JTF Elimination HQ to plan train and execute WMD elimination ops
• Research countermeasures and defense to non-traditional agents
• Enhance nuclear forensics
• Secure vulnerable nuclear materials
• Expand the biological threat reduction program
• Develop new verification technologies

o Operate effectively in cyberspace
§ Initiatives
• Develop a more comprehensive approach to DoD operations in cyberspace
• Develop greater cyber expertise and awareness
• Centralize command of cyber operations
• Enhance partnerships with other agencies and governments
• Guiding the Evolution of the Force

o Changes directed characterized under the following trends
§ US ground forces remain capable of full-spectrum ops
§ Navy forces continue robust forward presence and power projection ops; add capabilities and capacity for working with partner navies. Rapid growth of sea and land based missile defense
§ Air Forces more survivable as 5th gen fighters join the force. Need for greater range, flexibility and multi-mission versatility in land and sea based fighter force. Addition of aircraft to the inventory appropriate to training and advising partner air forces
§ Increase capacity of special ops forces
§ More and better enabling systems—ISR, EA, comms networks, resilient base infrastructure, enhanced cyber defenses
o Program kills highlighted (in addition to 2010 budget kills—F22, DDG 1000 (truncated), FCS, defer prepo ship, stretch procurement cycle for CVN’s)
§ C17—cease production
§ LCC (command ship)—delay; SLEP existing ships
§ CGX—cancel
§ Net Enabled Command and Control Program—cancel

• Taking care of people
o Wounded warrior care
o Managing deployment tempo
o Recruiting and retention
o Supporting families
o Developing future military leaders
§ “recognizing joint experience whenever and wherever it occurs in an officer’s career”
o Developing the total defense workforce

• Strengthening relationships
o Strengthening key relationships abroad
o Evolving US global defense posture
o Improving unity of effort (whole of government approach)

• Reforming how we do business
o Reforming security assistance
o Reforming how we buy
o Strengthening the industrial base
o Reforming US export control system
o Crafting a strategic approach to climate and energy

• Balancing for a complex future (2011-2015)
o Department of the Army
§ 4 Corps HQ
§ 18 division HQ
• 73 BCT
o 45 active 28 reserve
§ 40 infantry
§ 8 Stryker
§ 25 heavy
§ 21 combat aviation brigades (13 active 8 reserve)
§ 15 Patriot battalions, 7 THAAD batteries

o Department of the Navy
§ 10-11 CVN 10 CVW
§ 84-88 large surface combatants, including 21-32 BMD capable combatants and AEGIS Ashore
§ 14-28 small surface combatants (+14 mine countermeasure ships)
§ 29-31 Amphibs
§ 53-55 SSN, 4 SSGN
§ 126-171 land based ISR and EW aircraft
§ 3 Prepo squadrons
§ 30-33 CLF ships (+1 MLP)
§ 17-25 command and support vessels (including JHSV, T-AKE, MLP
§ 51 RO/RO strat sealift vessels
§ SSBN’s will be part of the Nuclear Posture Review
§ 3 MEF’s
• 4 MARDIVS (3 AC, 1 Reserve)
o 11 infantry regiments
o 4 arty regiments
• 4 MAW
o 6 fixed wing groups
o 7 rotary wing groups
o 4 control groups
o 4 support groups
• 4 Marine Logistics groups
• 7 Marine expeditionary unit command elements

o Department of the Air Force
§ 8 ISR wings (up to 380 primary mission acft)
§ 30-32 airlift and aerial refueling wing equivalents
§ 10-11 theater strike wing equivalents (72 acft per wing)
§ 5 long range strike bomber wings (up to 96 acft per wing)
§ 6 air superiority wing equivalents (72 acft per wing)
§ 3 C2 wings and 5 fully operational air and space operations centers
§ 10 space and cyberspace wings

o SOF
§ Approx 660 special operations teams (Army ODA’s, SEAL Platoons, Marine Spec Ops Teams, USAF STS operational aviation detachment
§ 3 Ranger battalions
§ 165 tilt-rotor/fixed wing mobility and fire support primary mission acft

Assessment:

1. Very little here that would surprise anyone.
2. Return of a 2 MRC “like” planning construct notable
3. Recognition of “Jointness” anywhere in an officer’s career is important
4. Nuanced and hedged view of China, respect for India
5. Importance of partnerships/relationships/capacity building
6. Recognition of “international system” and special role of US in its sustainment
and protection
7. No discussion of “pre-emption”, but America’s Armed Forces “…will retain the
ability to act unilaterally and decisively when appropriate…”
8. Notable emphasis on HA/DR, mitigation of human suffering
9. Predictable emphasis on Jointness and Whole of Government approach
10. USN/USAF “Air Sea Battle” highly touted; interesting given that it has yet to
yield anything


QDR 2010 is a solid statement of priorities and approaches well-known to observers as hallmarks of the Obama Administration approach to defense and national security issues. Acquisition reform, whole of government approaches, strengthening relations with allies, and a general acceptance of the status quo vis-à-vis force levels—in addition to the continuing emphasis on “winning the war we’re in” through commitment to irregular warfare investments in training and material—these are the touchstones of this document.

Bryan McGrath