Strategic National and Theater Defense involves establishing national and multinational military objectives; sequencing initiatives; defining limits and assess risks for the use of military and other instruments of national power; developing global plans or theater war plans to achieve these objectives; and providing military forces and other capabilities in accordance with strategic plans.

Operational Defense involves linking tactics and strategy by establishing operational objectives needed to accomplish the strategic objectives, sequencing events to achieve the operational objectives, initiating actions, and applying resources to bring about and sustain these events.

Tactical Defense involves focusing on the ordered arrangement and maneuver of combat elements in relation to each other and to the enemy to achieve combat objectives.