In a conference call with bloggers this morning, the Army outlined the newest version of its Field Manual (FM 3–0 Army Operations), the first revision of Army doctrine since 2001. According to LTG William Caldwell IV, Commander of the Combined Arms Center, the manual has finally taken the step of elevating stabilization operations to the level of offensive and defensive ops.
An Executive Summary was passed out beforehand that outlines the chapters of the manual, which goes like this:
– Chapter 1 establishes the context of land operations in terms of a global environment of persistent conflict, the operational environment, and unified action. It discusses the Army’s expeditionary and campaign capabilities while emphasizing that it is soldiers who accomplish missions.
– Chapter 2 describes a spectrum of conflict extending from stable peace to general war. From that spectrum, it establishes five operational themes into which various joint operations fit. Borrowing heavily from emerging NATO doctrine, this chapter helps Army leaders to understand where diverse operations such as peacekeeping and counterinsurgency fit and shape supporting doctrine.
– Chapter 3 is the most important chapter in the book; describing the Army’s operational concept — full spectrum operations. Full spectrum operations seize, retain, and exploit the initiative through combinations of four elements: offense, defense, and stability or civil support operations. Mission command is the preferred method of exercising battle command.
– Chapter 4 addresses combat power, the means by which Army forces conduct full spectrum operations. It replaces the older battlefield operating systems (“BOS”) and elements of combat power with six warfighting functions tied together by leadership and employing information. Combined arms and mutual support are the payoff.
– Chapter 5 reviews the principles of command and control and how they affect the operations process — plan, prepare, execute, and assess. The emphasis is on commanders and the central role that they have in battle command. Commanders understand, visualize, describe, direct, lead, and continually assess.
– Chapter 6 discusses operational art, offering Army commanders a bridge between military theory and practice.
– Chapter 7 is about information superiority, particularly information operations. Information operations divide into five Army information tasks, with particular emphasis on information engagement.
– Chapter 8 addresses the significance of strategic and operational reach to the force, articulating how the Army capitalizes on unique expeditionary and campaign qualities to promptly deploy forces into any operational environment worldwide, even the most austere regions…
Read more on this and other defense insider news from our friends at Aviation Week on Military.com.
– Christian
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
Bloggers?
I’m glad that bloggers are helping shape our military’s operations. In other news, Congress, in a teleconference with bloggers finally answer the question “Who is hotter and way more dreamy? Hillary or Barack?”
Brought to us by Lingospot.com?
About Time.
Not all bloggers live in their parent’s basements… Go Black Knights!
Appears we have a bit of a spam problem here.
YOU GOT WRONG SON, GOD MADE MEN. WE WIN BECOUSE OF GOD!!!
MIGHT may not make RIGHT …
… but it does make it RELEVANT.
If it were even POSSIBLE that the Devil could defeat God, it would change everything.
THE WAR AGINST EVIL;[ HARKEN UP;]
EVER SINCE TIME BEGAIN MAN KIND HAS BEEN DEVELOPPING; SAYTEN IS OUT THER INSLAVES;SAYEN IS
A INSLAVER OF HUMMAN KIND;BARBARIC; TO GOD; GOD
SECERITE WAR IS CLEARLY DECLEARED IN THE BOOK OF LIFE; WHICH IS TO SAVE LIFE; AS ITS PURPUSS;NOT
SACTFISE IT; THE SECERITE WAR CONTINUES FEW UNSTAND IT; AND SATENS BARBOURISAM WILL BE CALL
TO ACCOUNT AND AT THE DOOR OF HEVEN CAST OUT;
GORDON MACMILLAN;
Garbage…all of you are straight garbage USA all the way America is RUFF RUGGED RAW and we refuse to loose thats why we fight the worlds fights and create our own. It’s the american spirit of competition.