Joint Doctrine Overview

SUBJECT: Joint and Army Doctrine Overview 1.

PURPOSE. The purpose of this brief is to provide a concise overview of Joint and Army doctrine.

2. MAIN POINTS. Doctrine applies across the range of operations and the spectrum of conflict. Doctrine provides a common language that professionals use to communicate with one another. Terms with commonly understood definitions are a major component of that language. Symbols are its graphical representation. Establishing and using words and symbols of common military meaning enhances communication among military professionals, in all environments, and makes a common understanding of doctrine possible. (CADD Briefing dated 10 September 2008) 3. BACKGROUND. Doctrine is “fundamental principles by which the military forces or elements thereof guide their actions in support of national objectives. It is authoritative but requires judgment in application.” (JP 1-02, p.178). Joint and Army doctrine have historically provided a foundation for military operations and helped to increase efficiency. Doctrine provides ways to think rather than telling proponents what to think as it applies to training and operations. Army doctrine, for example, explains how Army forces operate independently and as a member of the joint force with the current force structure and available resources and equipment. Inherent to Joint and Army doctrine is the understanding that although it is an authoritarian framework for the conduct of military operations, it still allows freedom to adapt to the complexities of the contemporary operational environment (COE). 4. DISCUSSION. The modification of doctrine is a dynamic process that involves capturing and retaining lessons from previous experiences while incorporating current capabilities as well as unique aspects of the current operational environment. Joint and Army doctrine is constantly under revision to incorporate new intellectual and technological developments and is organized into “capstone” and “keystone” publications. The Joint and Army doctrine contained in Joint Publications (JPs) and Field Manuals (FMs) consists of principles, terms, and tactics, techniques and procedures (TTPs). Doctrine revision considers emerging concepts; lessons learned and best practices to refine the product. Army doctrine is a two-tiered system. The first encompasses capstone and keystone doctrinal publications. Capstone Joint doctrine links directly to Army capstone doctrine and incorporates the National Security Strategy and the National military Strategy. Nested within the constraints of Joint capstone doctrine, Army capstone doctrine provides the broad fundamentals and principles with which we frame keystone doctrine. JP 1-0 and 3-0 as well as FM 1-0 and FM 3-0 are examples of capstone documents. Keystone FMs at the Army level are the doctrinal foundation for a subsequent series of FMS or directly address the conduct of full spectrum operations. FM 4-0, FM 3-07 and FM 5-0 are all examples of keystone doctrinal publications nested with the broader concepts of Army capstone doctrine. Keystone FMs contain broadly applicable information and focus on coordinating the capabilities of Army forces, to accomplish missions. Tier 2 FMs are all FMs not designated as Tier 1. Tier 2 FMs are more focused than Tier 1 FMs, and address subjects in varying levels of detail, depending on the subject, type of force, and echelon. 5. RECOMMENDATION. Field Grade Officers in the Armed Forces must possess a clear understanding of their individual service and Joint doctrine in order to ensure the Armed Forces operate as designed. It is imperative that officers understand what exactly doctrine is, how it is designed and the procedures required to integrate emerging concepts and technological capabilities into revisions that further increase force capabilities. 6. REFERENCES. Combined Arms Doctrine Directorate PowerPoint Briefing Dated 10 September 2008 and JP 1-02, Dated 12 April 2001 (As amended through 17 March 2009). Prepared By:

MAJ Andrew J. Watson, USA AMSP Seminar VII