Pentagon Releases 2009 Quadrennial Roles and Missions (QRM) Review

News in Balance:

WASHINGTON, Jan. 29, 2009 -- The U.S. Department of Defense released today the 2009 Quadrennial Roles and Missions Review (QRM) Report to Congress in accordance with the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008. Although the department has completed similar reviews in the past, this was the first review conducted with the intention of establishing a framework for performing roles and missions analysis on a recurring basis every four years.

Within the 2009 QRM review, the DoD defined its core missions and core competencies. In addition, the department reviewed recent efforts undertaken across the force to improve its ability to conduct joint operations in several evolving mission areas.

The department defined its core mission areas as "missions for which DoD is uniquely responsible, provides the preponderance of capabilities, or is the U.S. government lead as established by national policy." The DoD's core mission areas are: homeland defense and civilian support; deterrence operations; major combat operations; irregular warfare; military support to stabilization, security, transition and reconstruction operations; and military contribution to cooperative security.

In order to link DoD core mission areas with its capabilities development processes, the department identified nine core competencies: force application; command and control; battlespace awareness; net centric; building partnerships; protection; logistics; force support; and corporate management and support.

The 2009 QRM review also describes how the department reviewed the rapidly-evolving roles, missions, and capabilities associated with irregular warfare, cyberspace operations, unmanned aircraft systems, and intratheater airlift. The report discusses ways the department is working to enhance operations in these areas, as well as opportunities to improve whole-of-government approaches to solving problems in today's complex security environment.

The department will continue initiatives to establish the right balance between winning today's wars while preventing tomorrow's conflicts.

(From a U.S. Defense Department news release.)

Related: Download 2009 Quadrennial Roles and Missions (QRM) Review Report (pdf)

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