Field Manual (United States Army)
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| Field Manual (United States Army) | |
|---|---|
| Name | Field Manual (United States Army) |
| Author | United States Army |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Subject | Doctrine, Tactics, Operations |
| Publisher | Department of the Army |
| Pub date | Ongoing |
| Media type | Print and digital |
Field Manual (United States Army) is the primary doctrinal publication series issued by the United States Army that codifies tactics, techniques, procedures, and operational concepts for United States formations, units, and personnel. The series intersects with publications from the Department of Defense, United States Congress, and allied militaries such as the British Army, Canadian Army, and Australian Army through joint doctrine, training exercises, and coalition operations like Operation Desert Storm and Operation Enduring Freedom. Field manuals have influenced doctrine in conflicts from the World War II campaigns to the Iraq War and remain referenced alongside materials from the National Defense University, United States Army War College, and Joint Chiefs of Staff.
History
The Field Manual series evolved from pre-20th-century Army handbooks and United States Military Academy instruction into a standardized body of doctrine during the World War I mobilization and later reforms after World War II and the Korean War. During the Cold War, doctrine aligned with strategies developed at Fort Leavenworth, Fort Benning, and the Armor School to counter the Soviet Union and Warsaw Pact. The post-Cold War era saw revisions tied to operations such as Operation Just Cause, Gulf War (1990–1991), and the Balkans conflict, and to institutional reforms following studies at the RAND Corporation, Center for Strategic and International Studies, and the Brookings Institution. Major doctrinal shifts were prompted by events including the Tet Offensive, the Iran–Contra affair debates, and lessons-learned analyses from Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn.
Organization and Publication
Publication is managed by the United States Army Publishing Directorate under the aegis of the Department of the Army and coordinated with the Office of the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff for joint doctrine. Manuals are produced with input from schools at Fort Sill, Fort Bragg, Fort Gordon, and Fort Huachuca, and reviewed by subject matter experts from institutions such as the Institute for Defense Analyses, National Defense University, and service-specific centers like the Maneuver Center of Excellence. Distribution channels include the Army Publishing Directorate, the Defense Technical Information Center, and military education centers at the United States Military Academy, Air University, and the Naval War College for interoperability. Publication schedules reflect requirements from the Goldwater–Nichols Act and congressional oversight by committees such as the House Armed Services Committee and the Senate Armed Services Committee.
Content and Structure
A Field Manual typically covers doctrine at tactical, operational, and thematic levels, addressing subjects like maneuver, fire support, intelligence, sustainment, and command and control. Content integrates concepts from the Army Doctrine Publication series, incorporates standards from the NATO Standardization Agreements, and references allied manuals from the British Army Doctrine Publication series and Canadian Defence Doctrine. Sections combine doctrine, tactics, techniques, procedures, diagrams, and case studies drawn from campaigns such as Normandy landings, Operation Market Garden, and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Manuals are organized with forward, purpose, scope, and application statements consistent with guidance from the Office of Management and Budget and the Inspector General of the Department of Defense.
Classification and Numbering System
The numbering and classification of manuals follow an established schema coordinating with the Department of Defense publication series and NATO cataloging. Numbers indicate functional areas—infantry, armor, aviation, logistics—with cross-references to related publications like Army Techniques Publication and Army Training Circulars. Security classification adheres to policy from the Director of National Intelligence and the National Security Agency for sensitive annexes, while unclassified doctrinal content is released for public consumption and archival in repositories such as the National Archives and Records Administration. The series has been renumbered and consolidated periodically in response to reorganization initiatives such as the Army Transformation and the establishment of United States Army Training and Doctrine Command.
Training and Doctrine Role
Field Manuals underpin curriculum at professional military education institutions including the Command and General Staff College, United States Army War College, and branch schools at Fort Leavenworth and Fort Benning. Manuals inform exercise planning for large-scale training events like Joint Readiness Training Center rotations, National Training Center rotations at Fort Irwin, and multinational exercises such as Bright Star and Exercise Saber Guardian. They are referenced in doctrine development efforts with partners including the Marine Corps Combat Development Command, United States Air Force service doctrine centers, and allied staffs from NATO, the European Union Military Staff, and the African Union stabilization missions.
Criticisms and Revisions
Critiques have targeted manuals for lagging behind operational realities observed in Vietnam War, Somalia intervention, and Iraq War campaigns, prompting revisions influenced by after-action reviews conducted by organizations such as the Government Accountability Office, Congressional Research Service, and independent think tanks like the Heritage Foundation and Council on Foreign Relations. Debates focus on adaptability, cultural awareness, rules of engagement, and civil-military integration, with revisions driven by lessons from counterinsurgency operations, cyber warfare developments involving the United States Cyber Command, and hybrid threats analyzed by the National Intelligence Council. Ongoing updates reflect feedback from combatant commands such as United States Central Command, United States European Command, and institutional learning via the Army Capabilities Integration Center.