Office of the Historian

78. Memorandum From the Joint Chiefs of Staff to Secretary of Defense McNamara1

JCSM–131–65
Washington, March 1, 1965.

SUBJECT

  • Joint Strategic Objectives Plan for FY 1970–74 (JSOP-70), Parts I Through V (Strategy and Objectives) and Part VI (Force Tabs and Analysis) (U)
1.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff have approved, and forward herewith, Parts I through VI of the Joint Strategic Objectives Plan for FY 1970–74 (JSOP-70).2 The entire JSOP-70 is designed to provide military advice by the Joint Chiefs of Staff for the development of FY 1967 budget justification for departmental FY 1967 program objectives as they pertain to major combatant forces, and the basis for reassessment of the current Department of Defense Five-Year Force Structure and Financial Program.
2.
Parts I through V consist of the following:
  • I Purpose—States the purposes of the JSOP and its various annexes.
  • II Strategic Appraisal—Analyses the world-wide threat through the mid-range period.
  • III Military Objectives—Describes military objectives which are considered necessary in support of national objectives.
  • IV Strategic Concept—Describes anticipated employment of forces on a functional and geographical basis.
  • V Basic Undertakings—Describes basic undertakings envisioned for the unified and specified commanders during the period.
3.
Part VI contains the force tabulation of the major combatant forces recommended to carry out the strategy presented in Parts I through V. These forces are presented in the format specified by the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) in a memorandum dated 19 January 1965, subject: “Force Tabs of JSOP-70.”3 Amplifying views of the individual Chiefs are attached as separate Tabs to the Force Tables.4 The further views of the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, will be forwarded by separate memorandum.5
4.
A summary analysis of the personnel implications of force level changes and an order-of-magnitude summary of dollar costing of the objective force levels were considered by the Joint Chiefs of Staff in arriving at the recommended force objectives.
5.
In arriving at the proposed force levels the present situation in Southeast Asia was only indirectly considered, and had little, if any, influence upon the JSOP-70 force levels. This is pointed out to identify a specific problem area that requires both a near term and long term solution. By separate action, the Joint Chiefs of Staff are addressing this problem and will provide you with their views on this subject.
For the Joint Chiefs of Staff:
Earle G. Wheeler 6
Chairman
Joint Chiefs of Staff
  1. Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 218, JCS Files, 3130 (1 Feb 65). Top Secret; Restricted Data.↩
  2. Not attached, but copies are ibid., 3130 (1 Feb 65) Secs. 1A–3. Parts I and II of JSOP-70 are printed as Document 43.↩
  3. Not found.↩
  4. Not attached, but copies are in the National Archives and Records Administration, RG 218, JCS Files, 3130 (1 Feb 65) Secs. 1A–3.↩
  5. Not further identified.↩
  6. Printed from a copy that indicates Wheeler signed the original.↩