Skip to content

National Military Strategy

The National Military Strategy (NMS) is issued by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff as a required report to Congress, outlining the strategic aims of the armed services. It is best thought of as the Chairman’s strategy to operationalize the Secretary’s National Defense Strategy.

The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS) prepares the National Military Strategy in accordance with 10 U.S.C., Section 153, and in consultation with the other members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), the Commanders of the Unified Combatant Commands (CCMDs), the Joint Staff and the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD).

Currently in the Archive:

Title 10 requires that not later than February 15 of each even-numbered year, the Chairman submit to the Senate Committee on Armed Services (SASC) and the House Committee on Armed Services (HASC) a comprehensive examination of the national military strategy. This report must delineate a national military strategy consistent with the most recent National Security Strategy prescribed by the President; the most recent annual report of the Secretary of Defense submitted to the President and Congress; and the most recent Quadrennial Defense Review conducted by the Secretary of Defense.

Before submitting the report to Congress, the Chairman provides a copy to the Secretary of Defense. The Secretary provides an assessment and comments on the report and submits these comments to Congress when the report is formally transmitted.