1. Military Doctrine Development
Colonel Bob Lowth
Assistant Director
Joint Doctrine

2. Military Doctrine Development
What it is and why we have it
What it does and for whom
How we do it
What we have learned

3. What doctrine is Concise Oxford English Dictionary:
…a set of beliefs or principles held and taught by a Church, political party or other group.
L. doctrina ‘teaching, learning’
Historically, the Church and political parties have arguably attracted the tag ‘dogma’. Defence is one of the ‘other groups’ and still tarred by the same brush when the uninformed claim that military doctrine is dogma.
The most point of this definition is the emphasis on the Latin root, which emphasises teaching and learning. This is exactly what we use it for, hence the military definition...

4. What doctrine is
Fundamental principles by which military forces guide their actions in support of objectives. It is authoritative, but requires judgement in application.
The added emphasis on ‘guide’ and ‘judgement’ softens the perception of dogma.

5. Policy, Concepts, Capabilities and Doctrine
Force Development
Future
Strategic
Context
Concepts
Capability
Requirements
Analysis
Assessment
& Validation
Inform
Guidance &
Direction
Current
Defence Objectives
(Ends)
Capabilities
(Means)
Doctrine
(Ways)
Application
Employment
Inform
Assimilation
& Adoption
Selection
& Acquisition
Thresholds of:
political &
military utility,
feasibility,
affordability,
legality etc
Defence Policy
(Strategic Guidance)
18/02/2019
Delivery of Defence

6. What it does Level Scope Effect Education High-level (Strategic)
Guidance
Catalyst for
initiative
High-level
(Strategic)
what to think about
philosophy
&
how to think
principles, framework
Theatre-level
(Operational)
prescribe what to do
practice
&
how to do it
procedures
The added emphasis on ‘guide’ and ‘judgement’ softens the perception of dogma. Doctrine is anything but…
Principal users are our Joint Staff College and PJHQ.
Most people claim never to have read doctrine, ignoring (or being ignorant of the fact) that most of what they have been taught in their military careers has been underpinned by military doctrine.
Conformity?
Low-level
(Tactical)

7. Doctrine for whom? Strategic Defence Academy Operational Tactical
UK Ministry
of Defence
Strategic
Permanent
Joint
Headquarters
Operational
Joint Task Force
Headquarters
Who for
Predominantly PJHQ and JTFHQs
Joint Staff course – main source of staff training in UK (small has a quality all of its own)
Components
Tactical

8. Doctrine triumvirate Teachers Writers Practitioners
Principal users are our Joint Staff College and PJHQ.
Most people claim never to have read doctrine, ignoring (or being ignorant of the fact) that most of what they have been taught in their military careers has been underpinned by military doctrine.
Practitioners

9. Direction & management
Joint Doctrine and Concepts Board
(Strategic Guidance)
Joint Doctrine Steering Committee
(Oversight and Direction)
Joint Doctrine Working Committee
(Detailed Execution)

10. British Defence Doctrine
How it works
British Defence Doctrine
JDP 01
Joint Operations
JDP 03
Security
JDP 02
Operations in the UK
JDP 1-00
Personnel
JDP 2-00
Intelligence
JDP 3-00
Execution
JDP 4-00
Logistics
JDP 5-00
Planning
JDP 6-00
Comms
Some examples.
BDD crucial; the capstone document that underpins all others.
Currently with the JDCB
Introduces new thinking, e.g. the CA (more to follow)

11. Our lessons Relationships - with other direction & guidance
Doctrine - answers to problems
Role - education & training
Dynamic development - process & product
Interoperability?
Format
Process & resourcing

12. Concise Oxford English Dictionary:
…a set of beliefs or principles held and taught by a Church, political party or other group.
L. doctrina ‘teaching, learning’
Historically, the Church and political parties have arguably attracted the tag ‘dogma’. Defence is one of the ‘other groups’ and still tarred by the same brush when the uninformed claim that military doctrine is dogma.
The most point of this definition is the emphasis on the Latin root, which emphasises teaching and learning. This is exactly what we use it for, hence the military definition...

13. “The British write the best manuals in the World.
Thank God they don’t read them!”
(Field Marshal Rommel)
“Doctrine is not what is taught, or what is published, but is what is believed.”
(Professor Richard Holmes)

14. Colonel Bob Lowth dcdc-adjointdoc@defence.mod.uk
Firstly it is a more comprehensive view of the global environment.
Colonel Bob Lowth

15. Firstly it is a more comprehensive view of the global environment.