Where does each DoD component submit programs to?

The correct answer is that each DoD component submits programs to the service-level POM, which stands for Program Objective Memorandum. The POM is a critical step in the Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution (PPBE) process used by the Department of Defense. In this context, the service-level POM consists of the proposed budget and program requirements that a DoD component submits for evaluation and prioritization. This is how individual military branches and defense agencies articulate their needs for resources over the budget cycle, aligning their strategic objectives with available funding.

Submitting programs through the service-level POM ensures that each component's requirements are considered in the broader strategic framework of the DoD, facilitating discussions about resource allocation and program prioritization. This makes the service-level POM a fundamental mechanism for supporting the overarching defense strategy and ensuring that each component can advocate for its specific requirements.

The other options are related to the larger budget and planning processes but serve different purposes. The PPBS (Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution System) encompasses the whole framework in which the POM fits, while the FYDP (Future Years Defense Program) is a projection of defense programs over several years based on the approved POMs. The DPG (