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Updated December 13, 2018
Defense Primer: Future Years Defense Program (FYDP)
Background
conjunction with the President’s annual budget request. The
The primary mechanism for the Secretary of Defense to
FYDP is generally submitted to the congressional
request, allocate, track, and expend DOD funds is known as
committees with jurisdiction over defense matters. Note
the Planning, Programing, Budgeting, and Execution
that while the data structure of the FYDP is unclassified,
(PPBE) process. The Future Years Defense Program
the actual FYDP data is classified.
(FYDP) is an annually compiled summary of the forces,
resources, and programs associated with DOD operations.
FYDP Organization and Content
The FYDP is typically completed during the programming
The FYDP is structured as a database which links DOD
phase of the PPBE process, and is generally updated during
resources (or inputs) to programs (or outputs). As such, the
the budgeting phase to reflect DOD’s final funding
FYDP can serve to compare or crosswalk the Department’s
decisions presented in the annual Presidential Budget
output-focused internal review structure with the input-
Request (PBR).
focused congressional review structure. The FYDP tracks
the three broad categories of resources available to the
PPBE Process
DOD as its inputs:
For more information, see CRS In Focus IF10429, Defense
Primer: Planning, Programming, Budgeting and Execution (PPBE)
Total Obligatory Authority (TOA) – Appropriated
Process, by Brendan W. McGarry and Heidi M. Peters.
funding, in thousands of dollars;
Manpower – Military endstrength and civilian full-time
equivalent work years; and
The FYDP captures resource management decisions related
Forces – Identified as either items of equipment or
to projected activities associated with normal, peacetime
combat units.
operations of the Department of Defense (DOD). By
grouping funding into programs—rather than activities as
depicted in the annual budget justification documents—the
FYDP outputs are currently grouped under twelve Major
FYDP reflects the allocation of DOD resources to major
Force Programs (MFPs). An MFP is an aggregation of the
strategic efforts over a multiyear period.
resources (TOA, Manpower, and Forces) necessary to
achieve DOD’s objective or plans. Currently, six of the
Formally approved by the Secretary of Defense, the FYDP
MFPs are considered combat force programs and six are
projects DOD funding, manpower, and force structure
considered support programs.
needs over a 5-year period. The FYDP depicts the
allocation of defense resources in the two previous fiscal
MFP 01* - Strategic Forces
years and the current fiscal year and it provides force
MFP 02* - General Purpose Forces
structure estimates for eight years. For example, the
MFP 03* - Command, Control, Communications, Intelligence,
FY2019 FYDP reflected FY2017 and FY2018
and Space
appropriations, the current budget year estimate (FY2019)
MFP 04* - Mobility Forces
as part of the 5-year program (FY2019-FY2023), and the
estimated force structure through FY2026 (Figure 1).
MFP 05* - Guard and Reserve Forces
MFP 06 - Research and Development
Figure 1. FY2019 FYDP
MFP 07 - Central Supply and Maintenance
MFP 08 - Training, Medical, & Other Personnel Activities
MFP 09 - Administration and Associated Activities
MFP 10 - Support of Other Nations
MFP 11* - Special Operations Forces
MFP 12 - National Security Space
*Combat force programs
FYDP Structure
Source: DOD Directive 7045.14. Figure created by CRS.
Note: A full FYDP was not provided with the DOD’s FY2018 budget
The FYDP database allows a user to identify, sort, and
request.
display DOD plans and programs in three dimensions:
component (military service or defense agency), MFP, and
Section 221 of Title 10, United States Code, requires the
appropriation title (e.g., military personnel, procurement,
Secretary of Defense to submit the FYDP to Congress in
military construction). See Figure 2.
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Defense Primer: Future Years Defense Program (FYDP)
Figure 2. FYDP Structure
DZ – Office of the Secretary of Defense
F – Air Force
J – Joint Staff
M – Marine Corps
N – Navy
Resource Identification Codes
Each FYDP resource is identified by fiscal year as TOA,
Manpower, or Forces using a Resource Identification Code
(RIC). The RIC is a four-digit code that specifies the type
of resource assigned to each PE. For example, TOA RICs
range from 0300 to 0999 and are used to identify
appropriation accounts in the President’s budget. TOA
RICs generally correlate to standard account codes assigned
by the U.S. Treasury.
Manpower RICs range from 0000-0299 and are used to
Source: Recreated by CRS from Defense Acquisition University
identify officer, enlisted and civilian manpower in each of
illustration.
the DOD components. Manpower RICs also exist for U.S.
Program Elements
direct hire, foreign direct hire, or foreign indirect hire
civilian personnel.
Each DOD component submitting data to the FYDP assigns
FYDP resources (TOA, Manpower, and Forces) to an MFP
Force RICs range from 1000 to 9999 and are used to
using a unique Program Element code or PE. The eleven
identify hardware items (such as missiles), weapons
MFPs comprise thousands of PEs. Each PE is a unique
systems (such as an aircraft or ship), or organizations (such
alphanumeric code that identifies functional or
as a brigade or squadron). For example RIC 1230 represents
organizational entities and their related resources. PEs may
an Army Air Assault Battalion and RIC 2646 represents a
have a narrow focus (such as Navy F/A-18 squadrons) or
DDG-51 Arleigh Burke-class destroyer.
broad focus (such as Air Force long-range strategic
planning).
Unlike PEs, RICs are not visible in DOD’s budget
PEs enable a user to identify allocations such as the total
submission to Congress. Instead, the budget documents
resources (TOA, Manpower, and Forces) assigned to a
generally identify the resource in plain text.
program, the weapon systems and support systems within a
program, specified resources in logical groupings, or
Relevant Statutes
selected functional groupings of resources. See Figure 3 for
Title 10, U.S. Code, Chapter 9 - Defense Budget Matters
an example of a PE.
Figure 3. Program Element for Night Vision
Technology: PE0602709A
Other Resources
DOD Directive 7045.14, The Planning, Programming, Budgeting,
and Execution (PPBE) Process, January 25, 2013 – note that this
directive superseded and canceled DOD 7045.7-H, Future
Years Defense Program (FYDP) Structure, April 2004.
FYDP Structure Handbook, “Department of Defense Future
Years Defense Program (FYDP) Structure: Codes and
Source: Created by CRS.
Definitions for All DOD Components,” February 2014,
available through DOD’s Office of Cost Assessment and
The first two characters identify the MFP that contains the
Program Evaluation (CAPE).
PE (in this case, MFP 06 - Research and Development).
The third and fourth characters have special uses within
Congressional Budget Office, “Long-Term Implications of the
certain MFPs. Within MFP 06, these characters indicate a
2016 Future Years Defense Program,” January 14, 2016.
specific DOD research and development funding category
ACQuipedia, Future Years Defense Program (FYDP), Defense
(in this case, applied research). The fifth through seventh
Acquisition University, September 29, 2016
characters provide the unique identification for that specific
element. The alphabetical suffix identifies the component
responsible for that PE. Commonly referenced PE suffixes
are:
Brendan W. McGarry, Analyst in U.S. Defense Budget
Heidi M. Peters, Analyst in U.S. Defense Acquisition
A – Army
Policy
BB – Special Operations Command
IF10831
C – Missile Defense Agency
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Defense Primer: Future Years Defense Program (FYDP)
Disclaimer
This document was prepared by the Congressional Research Service (CRS). CRS serves as nonpartisan shared staff to
congressional committees and Members of Congress. It operates solely at the behest of and under the direction of Congress.
Information in a CRS Report should not be relied upon for purposes other than public understanding of information that has
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