DOTMLPF

Summary

DOTMLPF (pronounced "Dot-MiL-P-F") is an acronym for doctrine, organization, training, materiel, leadership and education, personnel, and facilities. It is used by the United States Department of Defense[1] and was defined in the Joint Capabilities Integration Development System, or JCIDS Process as the framework to design what administrative changes and/or acquisition efforts would fill a capability need[2] [3]: 47:00  required to accomplish a mission.[4] Because combatant commanders define requirements in consultation with the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD), they are able to consider gaps in the context of strategic direction for the total US military force and influence the direction of requirements earlier in the acquisition process, in particular, materiel.

It also serves as a mnemonic for staff planners to consider certain issues prior to undertaking a new effort.

Here is an example of how DOTMLPF would be interpreted in the military context:

  • Doctrine: the way they fight, e.g., emphasizing maneuver warfare combined air-ground campaigns.
  • Organization: how they organize to fight; divisions, air wings, Marine-Air Ground Task Forces (MAGTFs), etc.
  • Training: how they prepare to fight tactically; basic training to advanced individual training, various types of unit training, joint exercises, etc.
  • Materiel: all the “stuff” necessary to equip our forces that DOES NOT require a new development effort (weapons, spares, test sets, etc that are “off the shelf” both commercially and within the government)[5]
  • Leadership and education: how they prepare their leaders to lead the fight from squad leader to 4-star general/admiral; professional development.
  • Personnel: availability of qualified people for peacetime, wartime, and various contingency operations
  • Facilities: real property; installations and industrial facilities (e.g. government owned ammunition production facilities) that support the forces.

The idea is to fix the capability gap, and CJCSI 3170.01G – Joint Capabilities Integration and Development System, 1 March 2009, is the one governing instruction that encompasses both materiel (requiring new defense acquisition programs) and non-materiel (not requiring new defense acquisition program) solutions. [6]

The Defense Acquisition University Glossary gives the following definitions.

  • Material: Elements, constituents, or substances of which something is composed or can be made. It includes, but is not limited to, raw and processed material, parts, components, assemblies, fuels, and other items that may be worked into a more finished form in performance of a contract.[7]
  • Materiel: Equipment, apparatus, and supplies used by an organization or institution.[7]
  • Material specification: Applicable to raw material (chemical compound), mixtures (cleaning agents, paints), or semi-fabricated material (electrical cable, copper tubing) used in the fabrication of a product. Normally, a material specification applies to production, but may be prepared to control the development of a material.[7]
  • Materiel solution: A new item (including ships, tanks, self-propelled weapons, aircraft, etc., and related spares, repair parts, and support equipment, but excluding real property, installations, and utilities), developed or purchased to satisfy one or more capability requirements (or needs) and reduce or eliminate one or more capability gaps.[7]

DOTMLPF-P edit

During the US Army's process of developing and fielding laser Directed Energy-Maneuver Short-Range Air Defense (DE-MSHORAD) on Strykers, the Army Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office (RCCTO) has established an "Octagon"— a stakeholder forum for doctrine, organization, training, materiel, leadership and education, personnel, facilities, and policy.[8]

Similar acronyms edit

NATO uses a similar acronym, DOTMLPF-I, the "I" standing for "Interoperability": the ability to be interoperable with forces throughout the NATO alliance.[9]

UK Ministry of Defence uses the acronym TEPID-OIL.

Recent JCIDS issuances expand this to DOTMLPF-P or DOTmLPF-P, where the second P refers to "Policy".[10]

Joint Staff's J6 Joint Deployable Analysis Team (JDAT) validates DOTMLPF recommendations.[11]

References edit

  1. ^ Joint Publication 1-02, Department of Defense Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms Archived October 12, 2009, at the Wayback Machine, 8 November 2010 (As Amended Through 15 March 2015) see Joint Concept
  2. ^ "Untitled Document".
  3. ^ (Sep 16, 2015) Perkins discusses operationalizing the Army Operating Concept
  4. ^ See for example Defense Acquisition University (2014) Scenarios for Capabilities
  5. ^ "Article Details". www.dau.edu. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
  6. ^ "DOTMLPF Analysis". Archived from the original on June 22, 2011. Retrieved May 26, 2010.
  7. ^ a b c d "Defense Acquisition University Glossary" (PDF). US Defense Department. pp. B157–B160. Retrieved June 23, 2021.   This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  8. ^ Nancy Jones-Bonbrest (21 Dec 2020) Army preps Strykers for laser combat shoot-off
  9. ^ NATO Acronyms & Definitions
  10. ^ CJCSI 3010.02D 22 November 2013 Archived May 18, 2015, at the Wayback Machine GUIDANCE FOR DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF JOINT CONCEPTS
  11. ^ DoD Budget

External links edit

  • DOTmLPF - P analysis Archived February 23, 2019, at the Wayback Machine Acquipedia entry on DOTmLPF
  • Current JCIDS Manual and CJCSI 3170.01 at DAU