DOTMLPF

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.

• Doctrine
• Organization
• Training
• Materiel
• Leadership
• Personnel
• Facilities

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]