MARCH 3, 2023 – Yesterday, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III, published a Message to the Force to reaffirm his three priorities: defending the Nation, taking care of our people, and succeeding through teamwork.
The memorandum reinforces the guiding principles and critical priorities in accordance with the National Defense Strategy while recognizing the commitment and hard work of the Department.
As we look to the year ahead, these same three priorities continue to guide all that we do. The 2022 National Defense Strategy articulates how we will achieve our goals through integrated deterrence, campaigning, and building enduring advantages. Implementing our strategy means tackling the pacing challenge from the People’ s Republic of China (PRC) while also confronting the acute threat of Russian aggression and managing the risk of escalation as Putin’ s cruel war against Ukraine enters a second year. We must also defend against and deter threats from Iran, North Korea, and global terrorist organizations, even while we grapple with 21st-century, transnational challenges such as climate change. Finally, we’ ll continue to modernize the Joint Force and out-innovate our competitors.
We face historic challenges – but we will meet them. We have the best fighting force in history, and our military families, civilian and contractor workforce, and domestic and international allies and partners are without equal. We will continue to recruit and sustain a uniformed and civilian workforce that embodies the diversity and dynamism of our great democracy – because our people are the bedrock of a strong national defense.
Secretary Austin provided his priorities and specific areas of focus:
- DEFEND THE NATION
- Prioritize China as the “Pacing Challenge”
- Tackle the Acute Russian Threat
- Address Advanced and Persistent Threats
- Innovate and Modernize
- Meet the Climate Crisis
- TAKING CARE OF OUR PEOPLE
- Grow Our Talent
- Build Resilience and Readiness
- Ensure Accountable Leadership
- SUCCEED THROUGH TEAMWORK
- Join Forces with Our Allies and Partners
- Strengthen Partnerships Across America
- Build Unity Within the Department
The full memorandum can be read here.