Joint Publication

Combating weapons of mass destruction (CWMD) and their means of delivery is one of the greatest challenges the United States (US) faces. Weapons of mass destruction (WMD) have the potential to severely disrupt and damage the United States, its forces, allies, multinational partners, and other friendly nations. It is important for commanders and their staffs to keep the perspective that WMD is not an adversary, but a capability an adversary can use. Adversaries may use WMD as a tool to inflict casualties on civilian populations, degrade the instruments of our national power, or to counter US military superiority. CWMD is a global mission crossing geographic areas of responsibility (AORs) boundaries, requires an integrated and synchronized effort, and requires numerous interagency and multinational partners for effective mission accomplishment. Rather than a discrete, specialized mission, CWMD requires a continuous campaign conducted and supported by the entire United States Government (USG). CWMD actions are conducted across the range of military operations and DOD will often be acting in support of another lead agency, or even supporting a multinational effort. The National Security Strategy (NSS) of the United States of America identifies as an essential task to prevent our enemies from threatening us, our allies, and our friends with weapons of mass destruction for ensuring national security. The United States advances this strategy through strengthened alliances, the establishment of new partnerships, proactive counterproliferation (CP) efforts, modern technologies, and increased emphasis on intelligence collection and analysis. The National Strategy to Combat Weapons of Mass Destruction (NS-CWMD) provides additional guidance concerning CWMD: nonproliferation (NP), CP, and WMD consequence management (CM), as highlighted in the NSS, and introduces the construct of the three pillars which provides a common framework for the interagency conduct of CWMD activities. The National Military Strategy to Combat Weapons of Mass Destruction (NMS-CWMD) provides Department of Defense (DOD) components with guidance and a strategic framework for CWMD. The NMS-CWMD uses an ends, ways, and means approach to planning, executing, resourcing, and emphasizes those CWMD missions in which the military plays a prominent role. It defines strategic end states, strategic enablers, military strategic objectives, and eight military mission areas (MMAs) the Armed Forces of the United States may be called upon to perform.