Field Manual (United States Army) FM 3-0
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| Field Manual (United States Army) FM 3-0 | |
|---|---|
| Name | FM 3-0 |
| Subject | Operations |
| Service | United States Army |
| Published | 2017 |
| Preceded by | FM 3-0 (2008) |
| Succeeded by | FM 3-0 series (2020) |
Field Manual (United States Army) FM 3-0
Field Manual (United States Army) FM 3-0 is the United States Army's principal doctrine for unified land operations. It synthesizes operational concepts used by the United States Army Training and Doctrine Command, reflects lessons from the Iraq War, the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021), and aligns with allied practices from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence, and the Australian Defence Force. The manual influenced planning at headquarters such as United States Central Command, United States European Command, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Overview
FM 3-0 defines how the United States Army conducts operations in support of joint force commanders and interagency partners like the Department of Defense, the Department of State, and the United States Agency for International Development. It integrates concepts from historic campaigns including the Battle of Fallujah (2004), the Battle of Ramadi (2006), and counterinsurgency approaches influenced by theorists and practitioners tied to the Counterinsurgency Field Manual (FM 3-24), while coordinating with doctrines from the United States Marine Corps and the Air Force Doctrine Document 1. The document serves staff sections at echelons from the brigade combat team to combatant commanders in theaters such as CENTCOM and EUCOM.
Development and Publication History
Development of FM 3-0 drew on studies by organizations including the Rand Corporation, the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and the Brookings Institution, and incorporated after-action reports from formations like the 1st Cavalry Division, the 101st Airborne Division, and the 3rd Infantry Division. Publication cycles were coordinated by TRADOC doctrine developers and influenced by lessons from the Pentagon and congressional oversight from committees in the United States Congress. Earlier doctrinal predecessors referenced include the AirLand Battle concept, the 1993 FM 100-5 Operations, and doctrinal updates following the Goldwater-Nichols Act era of joint reform.
Key Concepts and Doctrine
FM 3-0 codifies core operational principles such as decisive action, mission command, and combined arms maneuver, linking them to historical examples like the Normandy landings and the Gulf War (1990–1991). It emphasizes integration with joint capabilities provided by services such as the United States Navy and the United States Air Force, synchronization with multinational partners like France, Germany, and NATO members, and coordination with interagency actors including the Federal Bureau of Investigation for complex environments. Concepts of tempo and decisive action echo analyses of campaigns such as Operation Desert Storm and counterinsurgency practices examined during the Iraq War.
Organization and Content Summary
The manual is organized to address operational variables, planning processes, and command relationships used by units from the brigade to theater headquarters. Chapters cover topics including operations design, risk management, targeting, sustainment planning with institutions like United States Army Materiel Command, and civil-military cooperation involving entities such as the United Nations and NATO. Illustrative vignettes reference operations by units like the 10th Mountain Division and coordination with commands such as USMC I Marine Expeditionary Force to demonstrate combined arms and joint integration.
Implementation and Training Use
FM 3-0 informed curricula at schools run by the United States Army War College, the United States Army Command and General Staff College, and Fort Leavenworth centers, and shaped professional military education for officers in battalion and brigade commands. It guided exercise design for multinational exercises like REFORGER, Operation Atlantic Resolve, and Saber Guardian, and was used to construct training scenarios at institutions such as the National Training Center and the Joint Readiness Training Center. Doctrine codified in FM 3-0 influenced procurement priorities discussed with organizations like the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and services coordinating through the Joint Requirements Oversight Council.
Revisions and Succession (FM 3-0 to FM 3-0 series)
Subsequent doctrinal evolution led the United States Army to replace the single FM 3-0 with a modular FM 3-0 series to address multi-domain operations, cyber effects involving United States Cyber Command, and space considerations tied to the United States Space Force. Revisions incorporated feedback from commanders in Operation Inherent Resolve and policy guidance emanating from the National Security Council, and aligned with joint doctrine updates from the Joint Chiefs of Staff publication series. The transition reflected a move toward specialized volumes addressing maneuver, sustainment, and information advantage in conjunction with allied doctrine from NATO and partner militaries.