Army Techniques Publication

Army Techniques Publication
Name	Army Techniques Publication
Type	Doctrine publication
Published	United States Army
Country	United States
Language	English

Army Techniques Publication

Army Techniques Publication are a series of United States Army doctrinal manuals that describe techniques for executing tasks, operations, and functions across a range of United States Army branches and specialties. They serve as subordinate doctrinal material to higher echelon publications used by organizations such as United States Department of Defense, United States Army Training and Doctrine Command, United States Army Forces Command, and component commands including United States Army Europe, United States Army Pacific, Eighth United States Army. The publications inform tactics, procedures, and staff processes applied by units from brigade combat teams to specialized formations like United States Army Special Operations Command and United States Army Cyber Command.

Overview

Army Techniques Publication documents provide detailed procedural guidance that complements doctrinal frameworks established in higher-level manuals produced by United States Army Training and Doctrine Command and joint doctrine from United States Joint Chiefs of Staff. They typically translate strategic guidance issued by entities such as the Secretary of Defense, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and headquarters such as United States Central Command into actionable methods for formations including 1st Infantry Division, 82nd Airborne Division, 10th Mountain Division, and sustainment organizations like Army Materiel Command. The publications intersect with professional education at institutions including the United States Army War College, Command and General Staff College, and United States Military Academy.

History and Development

Development of technique-focused publications traces to doctrinal evolution following conflicts involving the United States, notably post-World War II reforms influenced by lessons from the Korean War, Vietnam War, and the Global War on Terrorism. Organizational reforms under Department of Defense secretaries such as Caspar Weinberger and Robert Gates and doctrinal initiatives from leaders at United States Army Training and Doctrine Command reshaped how the Army codified tactics and procedures. Major events that prompted revisions include operations by III Corps in Operation Desert Storm, sustainment challenges in Operation Enduring Freedom, signaling changes after Operation Iraqi Freedom, and emerging domains influenced by incidents involving Cyber Command and alliances like North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

Structure and Content

Each publication typically contains sections on purpose, applicability, planning considerations, techniques, and recommended procedures tailored to functional areas such as maneuver, fires, intelligence, sustainment, and signal. They are authored and reviewed by panels that include representatives from branch schools such as the Infantry School, Armor School, Field Artillery School, Signal School, Ordnance School, and doctrine developers at Combined Arms Center. Content cross-references standards set by organizations like Federal Aviation Administration when aviation topics intersect, and coordination with agencies including National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and Defense Intelligence Agency informs technical annexes. The format aligns with doctrinal hierarchies referenced in publications from United States Joint Chiefs of Staff and manuals used by institutions such as Marine Corps University and Naval War College when interoperability is relevant.

Publication and Distribution

Production and revision cycles are managed by offices within United States Army Training and Doctrine Command and disseminated through channels that include Army publications repositories, professional military education libraries at Combined Arms Center, unit doctrine centers in formations such as III Corps and XVIII Airborne Corps, and digital distribution to commands like United States Army Cyber Command. Distribution often coordinates with partner organizations including NATO Allied Command Transformation, the Joint Staff, and allied militaries such as the British Army and Canadian Armed Forces for interoperability. Publication updates reflect requirements from congressional oversight committees in the United States Congress and funding authorizations under statutes administered by the Office of the Secretary of Defense.

Role in Doctrine and Training

Techniques publications are integrated into curricula at professional education institutions such as United States Army Command and General Staff College and inform training at centers like the National Training Center and Joint Readiness Training Center. They guide leaders from company to division level in planning and execution, influencing collective training events run by organizations including Forces Command and Army National Guard headquarters. They also support joint and combined exercises conducted with partners like United States Marine Corps, United States Navy, Air Force formations such as Air Combat Command, and multinational corps participating under NATO commands during exercises like Saber Strike and Operation Atlantic Resolve.

International and Multiservice Use

Although produced by the United States Army, techniques publications are often referenced by other services and allied forces for interoperability. Multiservice organizations such as United States Joint Forces Command historically coordinated joint doctrine harmonization, while multinational staffs from nations including Germany, France, Poland, and Japan review Army techniques when developing combined operational procedures. Liaison with entities like North Atlantic Treaty Organization standardization bodies and exchange with institutions such as the Australian Defence Force and New Zealand Defence Force promotes alignment for coalition operations.

Criticisms and Revisions

Critiques of technique-oriented publications have centered on timeliness, applicability to irregular warfare contexts encountered in Afghanistan and Iraq, integration with emerging domains like cyber and space involving organizations such as United States Space Command and United States Cyber Command, and the balance between prescriptive procedures and mission command principles emphasized by leaders such as General Martin Dempsey. Revision cycles respond to after-action reviews from corps and divisions, studies by think tanks such as RAND Corporation and Center for Strategic and International Studies, and recommendations from panels that include stakeholders from Defense Innovation Unit and service academies. Continuous updates reflect lessons from exercises, operations, and technological advances involving partners such as Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and Raytheon Technologies.

Category:United States Army doctrine