FOUNDATIONS: A Way Or THE Way

From basic training on, Soldiers hear “doctrine is a way, not theee way.” Of course sometimes that’s not true. Disregarding graphic control measures during a night movement to contact is an extremely bad idea. So, what’s the difference and when can you know? ADP 1-01 (Doctrine Primer) devotes several paragraphs to that exact question.

As always, italics added for our emphasis, and […] indicates we cut out stuff we thought was fluff. And, as always: you’re smarter reading the publications yourself to be exactly sure

The major takeaways:

DESCRIPTIVE VERSUS PRESCRIPTIVE

• Doctrine clearly distinguishes between descriptive and prescriptive information.

• Most doctrine is descriptive; it must be applied with judgment and adjusted to the circumstances of an operational environment.

• Techniques and procedures have a clear distinction.

• Techniques are non-prescriptive ways to complete tasks

• Procedures are prescriptive ways to complete tasks.

(Remember: Bounding overwatch is a technique; 9-line MEDEVAC is a procedure).

Examples of prescriptive doctrine:

• Adherence to the Army Ethic, laws of war, national law, the Uniform Code of Military Justice, and often Army regulations.

• Precisely use terms, symbols, and the language of the profession to ensure a common understanding.

• Adhere to control measures to ensure coordination, ensure synchronization, and prevent fratricide.

• Use report, message, and order formats to ensure information is reported rapidly, accurately, and in a commonly understood manner.

Using the same approach or the same set of tools consistently often makes operations predictable, providing an enemy with valuable insights into methods to defeat a particular approach.

• Doctrine is much more about knowing how to think about the conduct of operations than it is about what to think.

• Doctrine is a starting point for determining how to accomplish missions and how to adjust and react to changing circumstances.

Diving deep in the doctrinal details:

Here is a detailed look at ADP 1-01 Chapter 2’s thoughts on the “a way” of doctrine.

DESCRIPTIVE VERSUS PRESCRIPTIVE

2-8. Doctrine clearly distinguishes between descriptive and prescriptive information. Most doctrine is descriptive; it must be applied with judgment. It is not dogma to be applied blindly. It must be adjusted to the circumstances of an operational environment. Techniques and procedures have a clear distinction. Whereas techniques are non-prescriptive ways to complete tasks, procedures are prescriptive ways to complete tasks. In other words, while techniques allow for deviation and adjustment based on circumstance, procedures are to be followed exactly as laid out with no deviation.

2-9. Sometimes Army forces must apply some aspects of doctrine prescriptively — done without deviation. Prescriptive doctrine derives from the need to

Adhere to the Army Ethic, laws of war, national law, the Uniform Code of Military Justice, and often Army regulations.

Precisely use terms, symbols, and the language of the profession to ensure a common understanding.

Adhere to control measures to ensure coordination, ensure synchronization, and prevent fratricide.

Use report, message, and order formats to ensure information is reported rapidly, accurately, and in a commonly understood manner.

2-10. The five types of information in Army doctrine represent a set of guidelines or tools that can be combined in an almost infinite set of combinations to accomplish missions. Using the same approach or the same set of tools consistently often makes operations predictable, providing an enemy with valuable insights into methods to defeat a particular approach. The application of doctrine requires creative thinking. Doctrine is much more about knowing how to think about the conduct of operations than it is about what to think. Doctrine is a starting point for determining how to accomplish missions and how to adjust and react to changing circumstances. Applied blindly, it becomes a straightjacket. Applied with judgment, it allows commanders and staffs to take advantage of the collected wisdom of the profession.

Learning doctrinal doctrine isn’t just a way – it’s theee way! Take A Doctrine Deep Dive on doctrine selements at in ADP 1-01.1 “Army Doctrine Primer.”