FM 3-0

FM 3-0
Name	FM 3-0
Caption	U.S. Army field manual on operations
Type	Field manual
Author	United States Army
Published	2017 (current edition)
Subject	Operational doctrine
Language	English

FM 3-0

FM 3-0 is the United States Army field manual that codifies operational doctrine for large‑scale ground operations, integrating concepts for combined arms, joint integration, and multi-domain operations. The manual provides planners and leaders with principles, terminology, and frameworks to plan, prepare, and execute campaigns and major operations across diverse theaters such as Europe, the Indo‑Pacific, and the Middle East. It builds on historical lessons from campaigns involving entities like the United States Army, NATO, Soviet Union, People's Republic of China, United Kingdom, and Iraq War, while aligning with guidance from institutions including the Department of Defense and Joint Chiefs of Staff.

History

FM 3-0 traces its intellectual roots to earlier doctrinal publications such as the interwar writings of George S. Patton, studies from the Combined Arms Doctrine Center, and the post‑Cold War reformulations influenced by the Gulf War (1990–1991), Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Iraqi Freedom. The manual evolved from predecessors like older field manuals published by the United States Army Training and Doctrine Command and drew operational lessons from engagements involving the Red Army, Wehrmacht, Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, and coalition partners like Canada, Australia, and France. Doctrinal shifts followed analyses by commissions and institutions such as the Center for Strategic and International Studies, RAND Corporation, Brookings Institution, and reports to the Congress of the United States that emphasized joint interoperability with the United States Air Force, United States Navy, and United States Marine Corps.

Doctrinal Overview

FM 3-0 presents doctrine that synthesizes principles promulgated by leaders and theorists including Carl von Clausewitz, Antoine-Henri Jomini, and practitioners like Dwight D. Eisenhower and Omar Bradley. It frames operations around decisive action, combined arms maneuver, and the integration of capabilities from allies such as Germany, Japan, and South Korea. The manual prescribes planning frameworks influenced by the Joint Publication series and aligns with legal authorities such as directives from the President of the United States and statutory guidance from the United States Congress. It references operational art seen in campaigns like the Normandy landings, the Battle of Stalingrad, and the Battle of Mosul (2016–17), while incorporating advances in intelligence cooperation with agencies such as the Central Intelligence Agency and communications protocols used by North Atlantic Treaty Organization forces.

Organization and Concepts

FM 3-0 organizes force employment around echelon‑based headquarters comparable to corps and theater commands used by the United States Army Europe and U.S. Army Pacific. It articulates concepts such as mission command, tempo, and decisive points illustrated through historical operations like the Battle of the Bulge, the Tet Offensive, and the 100 Days Offensive. The manual integrates joint force functions common to the United States Special Operations Command, Air Mobility Command, and United States Cyber Command. It codifies coordination mechanisms with international entities including United Nations peace operations, European Union defense initiatives, and bilateral defense arrangements with Philippines and Israel.

Operational Art and Mission Command

FM 3-0 emphasizes operational art as practiced by planners and commanders such as those from the Combined Joint Task Force model, with fidelity to mission command principles championed by leaders like Ulysses S. Grant and modern advocates within Army Futures Command. It prescribes design methodologies used in campaign planning for scenarios involving the Baltic States, Taiwan Strait, and Persian Gulf, and stresses synchronization with fires provided by assets from the Marine Corps, Air Force Global Strike Command, and partner militaries including Poland and Ukraine. The manual prioritizes timely decision cycles and risk management consistent with analyses by the National Defense University and harmonizes civil‑military coordination with organizations such as United States Agency for International Development and International Committee of the Red Cross.

Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures

FM 3-0 outlines TTPs for combined arms maneuver, wide area security, stability operations, and high‑intensity conflict drawing on case studies from the Korean War, Vietnam War, Yom Kippur War, and recent contested urban operations in Syria. It catalogues procedures for intelligence collection with partners like the Defense Intelligence Agency, for logistics coordination akin to practices in Operation Desert Shield, and for electronic warfare and cyber operations in concert with National Security Agency guidance. The manual references use of armored formations similar to those employed by Royal Tank Regiment, airborne operations reminiscent of 101st Airborne Division, and sustainment concepts from historic campaigns led by figures such as Douglas MacArthur and Bernard Montgomery.

Updates and Revisions

Revisions to FM 3-0 have been informed by doctrine reviews conducted by U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, lessons from exercises like DEFENDER-Europe, Talisman Sabre, and Rim of the Pacific Exercise, and white papers from think tanks such as Heritage Foundation and Atlantic Council. Subsequent updates reflect technological integration involving systems from defense contractors and interoperability testing with partners including Sweden, Finland, and Norway. Ongoing amendments consider evolving threats posed by state and non‑state actors such as Russia, People's Liberation Army, and transnational networks analyzed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Category:United States Army doctrine