What does the Joint Strategic Capabilities Plan (JSCP) provide?

The Joint Strategic Capabilities Plan (JSCP) is a key document in military planning that outlines strategic tasks and objectives to ensure the U.S. military is prepared to address national security threats effectively. Specifically, it articulates priorities for the allocation of military resources and capabilities, guiding the Department of Defense and its components in developing plans and policies needed to support national objectives.

The provision of strategic tasks and objectives is critical because it aligns military capabilities with national defense priorities and operational requirements. The JSCP essentially translates the guidance from higher-level strategic documents into actionable plans for joint force readiness and deployment.

This plan does not address combat readiness assessments or operational effectiveness evaluations as its primary focus. Those elements are usually part of separate processes aimed at ensuring military units are prepared for deployment and can perform effectively in operations. Furthermore, resource allocation for domestic policy falls outside the scope of the JSCP, as the document is concentrated on military strategy and capability planning rather than domestic governance issues.