Contracted support is an integral component of the total force in conducting operations. OCS is the ability to orchestrate and synchronize the provision of integrated contract support and management of contractor personnel providing support to the joint force within a designated operational area. OCS is a core defense capability that must be matured to ensure that DoW is poised to integrate and take full advantage of commercial capabilities that increase the joint forces’ freedom of action and employment options effectively and efficiently.
In recent years, the military has increasingly relied on contractor personnel. In some operational areas, contractor personnel significantly outnumber military personnel. These contractors are considered part of the total force and so military plans and operations must take them into consideration for both maximum efficiency and safety.
The Commercial Support to Operations Directorate, through a series of targeted initiatives, is promoting the integration of OCS capability and capacity across the DoW enterprise. The Directorate is responsible for maintaining the OCS policy framework, including the development and improvement of DoW policy, federal regulations, and execution support for OCS and contractor planning and management. The Directorate is also responsible for enabling and supporting the Department’s OCS community of interest with the ability to find, access, and integrate OCS data in support of planning and managing OCS activities.
Supporting priorities and lines of effort include:
- Fully integrating contracted support in defense strategy, future force planning, operations and contingency planning, and analytic products to support force sizing, shaping, and capability development
- Institutionalizing OCS education and training
- Leveraging existing information systems, data, and tools
- Establishing OCS structures and manpower across the enterprise
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