DOTMLPF is an acronym used by the United States Department of Defense

United States Department of Defense

The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...

. DOTMLPF is defined in the The Joint Capabilities Integration Development System, or JCIDS Process. The JCIDS process provides a solution space that considers solutions involving any combination of doctrine, organization, training, materiel, leadership and education, personnel and facilities (DOTMLPF). Since combatant commanders define requirements in consultation with the Office of the Secretary of Defense

Office of the Secretary of Defense

The Office of the Secretary of Defense is a headquarters-level staff of the Department of Defense of the United States of America. It is the principal civilian staff element of the Secretary of Defense, and it assists the Secretary in carrying out authority, direction and control of the Department...

 (OSD), they are able to consider gaps in the context of strategic direction for the total US military force and influence the direction of requirements earlier in the acquisition process.

It also serves as a mnemonic for staff planners to consider certain issues prior to undertaking a new effort.

• Doctrine
  Doctrine
  Doctrine is a codification of beliefs or a body of teachings or instructions, taught principles or positions, as the body of teachings in a branch of knowledge or belief system...
  
  
• Organization
  Organization
  An organization is a social group which distributes tasks for a collective goal. The word itself is derived from the Greek word organon, itself derived from the better-known word ergon - as we know `organ` - and it means a compartment for a particular job.There are a variety of legal types of...
  
  
• Training
  Training
  The term training refers to the acquisition of knowledge, skills, and competencies as a result of the teaching of vocational or practical skills and knowledge that relate to specific useful competencies. It forms the core of apprenticeships and provides the backbone of content at institutes of...
  
  
• Materiel
  Materiel
  Materiel is a term used in English to refer to the equipment and supplies in military and commercial supply chain management....
  
  
• Leadership
  Leadership
  Leadership has been described as the “process of social influence in which one person can enlist the aid and support of others in the accomplishment of a common task". Other in-depth definitions of leadership have also emerged.-Theories:...
  
  
• Personnel
• Facilities

Here is an example of how DOTMLPF would be interpreted in the military context:

• Doctrine: the way we fight, e.g., emphasizing maneuver warfare combined air-ground campaigns.

• Organization: how we organize to fight; divisions, air wings, Marine-Air Ground Task Forces (MAGTFs), etc.

• Training: how we prepare to fight tactically; basic training to advanced individual training, various types of unit training, joint exercises, etc.

• Materiel: all the “stuff” necessary to equip our forces, that is, weapons, spares, etc. so they can operate effectively.

• Leadership and education: how we prepare our leaders to lead the fight from squad leader to 4-star general/admiral; professional development.

• Personnel: availability of qualified people for peacetime, wartime, and various contingency operations

• Facilities: real property; installations and industrial facilities (e.g. government owned ammunition production facilities) that support our forces.

The idea is to fix the capability gap, and CJCSI 3170.01G – Joint Capabilities Integration and Development System, 1 March 2009, is the one governing instruction that encompasses both materiel (requiring new defense acquisition programs) and non-materiel (not requiring new defense acquisition program) solutions.