FOUNDATIONS: How Doctrine is Connected

"Every profession develops a unique body of knowledge. For the Army Profession, this body of professional knowledge is doctrine. United States (U.S.) Army doctrine is about the conduct of operations by Army forces in the field (and to a limited extent the guidelines for training for operations). Doctrine is the body of professional knowledge that guides how Soldiers perform tasks related to the Army’s role: the employment of land power in a distinctly American context. Doctrine establishes the language of the profession. […] The lives of the men and women who make up the Army—not to mention the security of the Nation—rely on all leaders and Soldiers to be proficient in the Army’s body of professional knowledge: doctrine."

- ADP 1-01 (Army Doctrine Primer, Paragraph 1-1)

Army doctrine is contained in a vast labyrinth of regulations, field manuals, pamphlets. But, there is a very clear logic to the organization and terminology of the doctrine publications system. The more you know about the system, the easier it is to find the answers you’re looking for.

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 doctrine yourself to be exactly sure

The major takeaways:

How Doctrine Is Connected

• ADPs, FMs, and ATP are all related in the Army Doctrine Hierarchy:

• Army Doctrine Publications (ADPs) contain the overarching fundamental principles of how and why the Army operates.

• Field Manuals (FMs) contain tactics and procedures.

• Army Technique Publications (ATPs) contain, as the name implies, techniques for doing what we do, as directed by FMs within the guidance of ADPs.

• ADRPs (Army Doctrine Reference Publications) are being phased out and combined into ADPs to reduce redundancy.

ARMY DOCTRINE HIERARCHY

The doctrinal publication types form a doctrine hierarchy related to the conduct of operations (the hierarchy does not establish precedence for doctrine over other types of publications such as Army regulations and operator’s manuals).

Top of the Pyramid: The CAPSTONES!

• ADPs 1-0 (The Army) and 3-0 (Operations) are the capstone doctrine publications. Everything flows from them

Next: The KEYSTONES!

• There are 14 FMs and 14 other ADPs that combine to make the “keystone” publications of Army doctrine (and rank below the two “capstone” ADPs).

• Below FMs are ATPs, which cover the intricacies of techniques used in the field. Publications generally link by numbers. For instance. ADP 3-0 and FM 3-0 are both titled “Operations.” Publications dealing with specific types of operations are in the 3- series. For Example:

  • FM 3-07 (Stability)

  • ATP 3-07.5 (Stability Techniques)

  • ATP 3-07.6 (Protection of Civilians)

Diving deep in the doctrinal details:

What do key doctrine publications say about the US Army’s doctrinal foundations and structure.

PROFESSIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND DOCTRINE

1-1. Every profession develops a unique body of knowledge. For the Army Profession, this body of professional knowledge is doctrine. United States (U.S.) Army doctrine is about the conduct of operations by Army forces in the field (and to a limited extent the guidelines for training for operations). Doctrine is the body of professional knowledge that guides how Soldiers perform tasks related to the Army’s role: the employment of landpower in a distinctly American context. Doctrine establishes the language of the profession. Just as physicians must remain proficient and current regarding the body of medical knowledge, Army professionals must remain proficient and current in doctrine. The lives of the men and women who make up the Army—not to mention the security of the Nation—rely on all leaders and Soldiers to be proficient in the Army’s body of professional knowledge: doctrine.

1-2. Doctrine fits into a larger body of Army knowledge. Each organization develops specific ways to do things—policies about the conduct of its tasks. Large, complex organizations often require more than one body of knowledge to address the variety of tasks they perform. The Army is such an organization. Some policies are prescriptive and include penalties for failure to follow a procedure while others are simply accepted, descriptive ways to do things. Some organizations call these operating procedures, rulebooks, or some other term for organizational guidelines. For the Army, this larger body of knowledge includes, but is not limited, to the following:

• Army regulations and pamphlets, which address the administration of the Army.

• Doctrine, which addresses the conduct of operations.

• Training publications, which address specific training tasks and procedures.

• Technical manuals, which address specific equipment-related topics.

Go to the Army Publishing Directorate Website (https://armypubs.army.mil/) and click on the Publications link to access to this body of knowledge.

1-3. The Army approaches solutions to problems through changes to broad categories of doctrine, organization, training, materiel, leadership and education, personnel, and facilities (DOTMLPF). Doctrine is usually the first approach taken as it is often the easiest and quickest to change and can dramatically impact the conduct of operations. In some cases, the impact of changes in the other factors cannot be fully realized without a significant change in doctrine. Doctrine can also serve as the basis for changes in the other DOTMLPF categories.

TYPES OF ARMY DOCTRINE AND THEIR HIERARCHY

2-18. From 1939 to 1999, all Army doctrine was contained in field manuals. Before that, Army doctrine was published in drill manuals and field service regulations (FSRs). For a short time in the 2000s, the Army also used field manuals interim (known as FMIs) and Army tactics, techniques, and procedures (known as ATTPs). Currently all Army doctrine fits into three types of publications, each with a different purpose:

• Army doctrine publications.

• Field manuals.

• Army techniques publications.

2-19. Army doctrine publications (known as ADPs) contain the fundamental principles. Operating forces and elements of the institutional force that directly support operations use these publications to guide their actions in support of national objectives. An Army doctrine publication provides the intellectual underpinnings of how the Army operates as a force.

2-20. Field manuals (known as FMs) contain principles, tactics, procedures, and other doctrinal information. Army forces use these publications to understand how the Army and its organizations conduct and train for operations. Field manuals describe how the Army executes operations described in the Army doctrine publications. They fully integrate and comply with the doctrine in the Army doctrine publications.

2-21. Army techniques publications (known as ATPs) contain techniques. Army forces use these publications to accomplish missions, complete functions, and perform specific tasks. Army techniques publications provide Soldiers with ways or methods to accomplish or complete a mission, task, or function. The technique publications provide Soldiers with the flexibility to accomplish or complete a mission, task, or function without prescribing to them on what they must do. These publications fully integrate, nest, and comply with the doctrine contained in Army doctrine publications and field manuals.

2-22. These publication types form a doctrine hierarchy related to the conduct of operations (the hierarchy does not establish precedence for doctrine over other types of publications such as Army regulations and operator’s manuals). Two capstone publications—ADP 1, The Army, and ADP 3-0, Operations—sit at the top of the doctrine hierarchy. Below these capstone publications are the remaining Army doctrine publications. The next levels down are the field manuals followed by Army techniques publications. The hierarchy establishes which publication Soldiers reference when a conflict exists between publications. In short, Army doctrine publications take precedence over field manuals, which take precedence over Army techniques publications. This precedence only comes into play if a conflict arises between or among publications in different categories.

Want more than this Daily Dose of Doctrine?Take A Doctrine Deep Dive on doctrine hierarchy and structure at the CADD website’s “US Army Comprehensive Doctrine Guide”: