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The problems with DoD's capabilities for joint analysis are substantial, strong differences of opinion exist, and the root problems run deep

• OSD and the Joint Staff no longer have much internal ability to conduct detailed model-based walk-throughs of joint operations and combat in planning scenarios at the campaign level. This degraded capability hampered development of the most recent Quadrennial Defense Review in 2014.
• The preexisting campaign-modeling capability, however, also had serious problems. The SSA process and its particular use of models has undercut the intent of successive defense Secretaries to seek broad and adaptive capabilities to address the range of potential needs, rather than planning for specific cases as though we could foresee their details.
• The level of strategic analysis has been too detailed, precluding more far-reaching analysis addressing uncertainty and, at the same time, overly specifying operational details that should be addressed contextually by the military. Whereas strategic planning generates rich scenario challenges, the process narrows to much more specific cases, dependent on myriad assumptions.
• Also, in effect, the SSA process uncritically accepts the services' programs of record and traditional concepts and operations, rather than encouraging innovations seen as essential by DoD leadership because of numerous adverse military trends over the past decade.
• DoD should rethink its needs and replace SSA rather than attempt to patch it on the margins.