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Updated January 28, 2020
Defense Primer: Future Years Defense Program (FYDP)
Background
output-focused internal review structure with the input-
The Future Years Defense Program (FYDP) is a projection
focused congressional review structure.
of the forces, resources, and programs to support
Department of Defense (DOD) operations. The FYDP is
The FYDP tracks the three broad categories of resources
compiled every year and typically completed during the
available to the DOD as its inputs:
programming phase of the Planning, Programming,
Budgeting, and Execution (PPBE) process. The program is
Total Obligatory Authority (TOA) – Appropriated
updated during the budgeting phase to reflect DOD’s final
funding, in thousands of dol ars;
funding decisions presented in the annual President’s
Manpower – Military endstrength and civilian ful -time
budget request.
equivalent work years; and
Forces – Identified as either items of equipment or
The FYDP captures resource management decisions for
combat units.
projected DOD activities associated with normal, peacetime
operations. Grouping funding by programs—rather than
activities, as depicted in the annual budget justification
FYDP outputs are currently grouped under 12 Major Force
documents—the FYDP reflects the planned allocation of
Programs (MFPs). An MFP is an aggregation of the
DOD resources to major strategic efforts over a multiyear
resources (TOA, Manpower, and Forces) necessary to
period.
achieve DOD’s objective or plans. Currently, six of the
MFPs are considered combat force programs and six are
The FYDP projects DOD funding, manpower, and force
considered support programs.
structure needs over a five-year period. The program is
MFP 01* - Strategic Forces
typically depicted with defense resources for the two
previous fiscal years and force structure estimates for the
MFP 02* - General Purpose Forces
three subsequent fiscal years. For example, the FY2020
MFP 03* - Command, Control, Communications, Intelligence,
FYDP reflects FY2018 and FY2019 appropriations, the
and Space
current budget year estimate (FY2020) as part of the five-
MFP 04* - Mobility Forces
year program (FY2020-FY2024), and the estimated force
structure through FY2027. See Figure 1.
MFP 05* - Guard and Reserve Forces
MFP 06 - Research and Development
Figure 1. FY2020 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: CRS graphic based on DOD Directive 7045.14.
The FYDP database allows a user to identify, sort, and
Section 221 of Title 10, United States Code, requires the
display DOD plans and programs in three dimensions:
Secretary of Defense to submit the FYDP to Congress in
component (military service or defense agency); MFP; and
conjunction with the President’s budget request. The FYDP
appropriation title (e.g., military personnel, procurement,
is generally submitted to the congressional committees with
and military construction). See Figure 2.
jurisdiction over defense matters. While the data structure
of the FYDP is unclassified, the actual FYDP data is
classified.
FYDP Organization and Content
The FYDP is structured as a database which links DOD
resources (or inputs) to programs (or outputs). As such, the
FYDP can serve to compare or crosswalk the department’s
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Defense Primer: Future Years Defense Program (FYDP)
Figure 2. FYDP Structure
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 request.
TOA RICs generally correlate to standard account codes
assigned by the Department of the Treasury.
Manpower RICs range from 0000 to 0299 and are used to
identify officer, enlisted and civilian manpower in each of
Source: CRS graphic based on Defense Acquisition University
the DOD components. Manpower RICs also exist for U.S.
il ustration.
direct hire, foreign direct hire, or foreign indirect hire
civilian personnel.
Program Elements
Force RICs range from 1000 to 9999 and are used to
Each DOD component submitting data to the FYDP assigns
identify hardware items (such as missiles), weapons
resources to an MFP using a unique program element code
systems (such as an aircraft or ship), or organizations (such
or PE. The 12 MFPs include thousands of PEs. Each PE is a
as a brigade or squadron). For example RIC 1230 represents
unique alphanumeric code that identifies functional or
an Army Air Assault Battalion and RIC 2646 represents a
organizational entities and their related resources. PEs may
DDG-51 Arleigh Burke class destroyer.
have a narrow focus (such as Navy F/A-18 squadrons) or
Unlike PEs, RICs are not visible in DOD’s budget
broad focus (such as Air Force long-range strategic
submission to Congress. Instead, the budget documents
planning).
generally identify the resource in plain text.
PEs enable a user to identify allocations such as the total
resources assigned to a program, the weapon systems and
Relevant Statutes
support systems within a program, specified resources in
Title 10, U.S. Code, Chapter 9 - Defense Budget Matters
logical groupings, or selected functional groupings of
resources. See Figure 3 for an example of a PE.
Figure 3. Program Element for Night Vision
CRS Product
Technology: PE0602709A
For more information, see CRS In Focus IF10429, Defense
Primer: Planning, Programming, Budgeting and Execution (PPBE)
Process, by Brendan W. McGarry.
Other Resources
DOD Directive 7045.14, The Planning, Programming, Budgeting,
Source: CRS graphic.
and Execution (PPBE) Process, January 25, 2013 – note that this
directive superseded and canceled DOD 7045.7-H, Future
The first two characters identify the MFP that contains the
Years Defense Program (FYDP) Structure, April 2004.
PE (in this case, MFP 06 - Research and Development).
The third and fourth characters have special uses within
FYDP Structure Handbook, “Department of Defense Future
certain MFPs. Within MFP 06, these characters indicate a
Years Defense Program (FYDP) Structure: Codes and
specific DOD research and development funding category
Definitions for All DOD Components,” February 2014.
(in this case, applied research). The fifth through seventh
ACQuipedia, Future Years Defense Program (FYDP), Defense
characters provide the unique identification for that specific
Acquisition University
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
A – Army
Heidi M. Peters, Analyst in U.S. Defense Acquisition
Policy
BB – Special Operations Command
C – Missile Defense Agency
IF10831
DZ – Office of the Secretary of Defense
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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
been provided by CRS to Members of Congress in connection with CRS’s institutional role. CRS Reports, as a work of the
United States Government, are not subject to copyright protection in the United States. Any CRS Report may be
reproduced and distributed in its entirety without permission from CRS. However, as a CRS Report may include
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wish to copy or otherwise use copyrighted material.
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