The planning phase begins in the februarymarch

Lesson 3.2
Upon successful completion of this lesson you should be able to:
 Recognize the focus areas of the PPBE Planning Phase.
 Identify the principle players of the PPBE Planning Phase.
 Identify the key documents/inputs associated with the DoD Planning process.
 Identify the purpose of the key documents associated with the DoD Planning process.
 Recognize the key aspects of the PPBE Planning phase timeline.
 Recognize the flow-down from National Strategy Documents to Fiscal Guidance.
 Recognize how strategic planning informs the fiscal guidance.
Recognize how the fiscal guidance informs the programming phase.
Planning Phase Overview
This phase begins with a review of previous guidance, to include the most recent
National Security Strategy (NSS) (which includes input from multiple federal
level agencies); this document defines specific national-level strategic outcomes to be
achieved. This review also examines the evolution in required capabilities and changes
in military strategy and policy as documented in the Defense Strategic Guidance
(DSG) , which provides the SECDEFs strategic guidance in response to the
President’s strategic direction to the Department for the 21st Century. The review also
includes the National Military Strategy (NMS) issued by the CJCS. The NMS

Flowchart
Planning Phase Primary Inputs
The primary inputs to the PPBE Planning phase are:
1. National Security Strategy of the United States (NSS)
2. Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR)
3. Defense Strategic Guidance (DSG)
4. National Military Strategy (NMS)
5. Chairman's Program Recommendation (CPR)
The following page discusses each of these inputs in detail .

Primary Inputs
The National Security Strategy of the United States (NSS) is a key input to the
Planning phase.
Prepared by the National Security Council (NSC) and signed by the President, this
unclassified document provides general information on the following:
 National objectives and interests
 Global and regional trends
 Political, economic, and defense strategies