102. National Security Study Memorandum 2461
TO
- The Secretary of State
- The Secretary of Defense
- The Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs
- The Director, Office of Management and Budget
- The Director, Arms Control and Disarmament Agency
- The Director of Central Intelligence
SUBJECT
- National Defense Policy and Military Posture
I would like a thorough review and analysis of our national defense policy and military posture. This review should consider in detail the security and foreign policy impact of a range of alternative strategies for our strategic and general purpose forces.
The review should address but not necessarily be limited to the following:
—The current and projected threat to the United States, its Allies and U.S. security interest throughout the world.
—Foreign policy objectives and definable trends which influence these objectives.
—The overall defense posture necessary to assure U.S. security and foreign policy interests, including the desired balance between strategic and general purpose forces, manpower objectives, and preparedness.
—Arms control considerations and implications.
—Budgetary considerations and implications.
The study should be conducted under the aegis of the NSC Defense Review Panel. The study group should be composed of representatives of the recipients of this memorandum and chaired by a representative of the Chairman of the NSC Defense Review Panel.
An interim report should be submitted for my consideration not later than November 15, 1976, and a final report not later than December 1, 1976.
- Source: Ford Library, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box 47, NSSM 246 (2 of 2) (1). Secret. Copies were sent to the Chairman of the JCS, the Director of the Selective Service System, and the Administrator of the GSA.↩