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Military policy (also calleddefence policy ordefense policy) ispublic policy dealing withmultinational security and themilitary. It comprises the measures and initiatives thatgovernments do or do not take in relation todecision-making andstrategic goals, such as when and how to commit nationalarmed forces.[1]
Military policy is used to ensure the retention of independence in national development and the alleviation of hardships imposed from hostile and aggressive external actors. TheDefence Ministry (or a synonymous organisation) is the primary decision-maker for the national military policy.
Military policy identifies threats of hostility and aggression based onintelligence analysis, and defines military scope ofnational security,defense alliances,combat readiness,military organisation of national forces and their use ofmilitary technology.
The national military policy defines the national defense strategy, the "when" of committing national armed forces. The national military policy also defines thestrategic posture, the "how", towards any possible threats to national territory, its society, environment, and economy, and defines options available to deal with such threats. The more options a military policy provides to the government, the better it is considered in its formulation. Strategic posture in turn defines themilitary doctrine of the armed forces. This doctrine may include confronting threats to national interests located outside of the national territory such as shipping lanes. The defense strategy and military doctrine are developed through strategic policy and capability development processes.
A military policy is created through themilitary policy process of making important organisational decisions, including the identification of priorities and different alternatives such as defence personnel and technology programs or budget priorities, and choosing among them on the basis of the impact they will have on the overall national development. Defence policies can be understood as political, management, financial, administrative and executable mechanisms arranged to reach explicit military goals and objectives.
Military policy addresses the achievement of its military goals and objectives by making explicit statements about the desired capability in:combat readiness,military organization, political-military relationships (civilian control of the military), the role of thearmed forces,command and control,military intelligence andcounterintelligence,defence diplomacy, defence capability in terms of (technology,mobility,materiel, andlogistics), block obsolescence, professionalism andtraining,recruiting, social change in the military,standing forces,military reserve forces, andconscriptions.
Military policy differs fromrules of engagement which determine when, where, and how military force is to be used by formations and units.
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