Field Manual 3-19

Field Manual 3-19
Name	Field Manual 3-19
Subject	Infantry operations and stability tasks
Country	United States
Publisher	United States Department of the Army
Pub date	2000s–2010s
Pages	variable

Field Manual 3-19 Field Manual 3-19 is a United States Army doctrinal manual addressing small unit operations, civil-military relations, and stability tasks. It synthesizes guidance from the Department of the Army, integrates lessons from campaigns such as the Iraq War, the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021), and references procedures used in operations tied to the Kosovo War, the Gulf War, and the post-2003 environment in Baghdad. The manual has influenced training at institutions including the United States Military Academy, the U.S. Army War College, and the National Defense University.

Background and Purpose

The manual was developed to standardize tactics and procedures across units deployed in complex environments influenced by the United States Central Command, the United States European Command, and the United States Africa Command. It aims to reconcile doctrine used in conventional campaigns such as the Battle of Fallujah and counterinsurgency campaigns like those undertaken by the 4th Infantry Division and the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). Its purpose aligns with strategic guidance from the Quadrennial Defense Review, the National Security Strategy (United States), and directives issued by the Secretary of Defense.

Organization and Scope

The manual is organized into sections addressing leadership, operations, intelligence, civil affairs, and logistics, reflecting input from organizations including the United States Army Forces Command, the United States Army Training and Doctrine Command, the Civil Affairs community, and the Army National Guard. It addresses joint activities with partners such as the United States Marine Corps, the United States Navy, the United States Air Force, and multinational coalitions like NATO and the Coalition Provisional Authority. The scope spans from platoon-level tactics to brigade coordination and interfaces with agencies such as the United States Agency for International Development and the Department of State.

Key Doctrinal Concepts

Doctrinal concepts emphasized include maneuver, integration of civil-military efforts, population-centric operations, and intelligence-driven targeting, drawing on principles observed in operations led by commanders influenced by leaders like David Petraeus, Stanley McChrystal, Raymond Odierno, and doctrine developers associated with TRADOC. Concepts reflect debates from works related to the Iraq Study Group, lessons cited in analyses by the Congressional Research Service, and discussions at venues such as the Brookings Institution and the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures

The manual prescribes patrol planning, checkpoints, cordon-and-search procedures, and civil engagement techniques used in operations in cities like Mosul, Tikrit, Kandahar, and Fallujah. It references coordination with specialized units including Civil Affairs Regiment elements, Military Police Corps, Special Forces, and engineering units such as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Techniques draw on case studies from operations against insurgent groups like Al-Qaeda in Iraq, Taliban, and networks disrupted in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Training and Implementation

Implementation occurs through collective training at centers such as the National Training Center (Fort Irwin), the Joint Readiness Training Center, and the Combat Training Center rotations, with curricula developed alongside the Army Training and Doctrine Command and instructors from the United States Army Combined Arms Center. Warfighting doctrine is integrated into simulations and exercises sponsored by entities like the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and multinational exercises with partners from United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada forces.

Legal and Ethical Considerations

Legal frameworks in the manual reference obligations under treaties and conventions such as the Geneva Conventions, obligations interfacing with the Uniform Code of Military Justice, and guidance from the Judge Advocate General's Corps on rules of engagement and detention operations exemplified in post-conflict settings like Guantanamo Bay Naval Base and detention reviews influenced by the Supreme Court of the United States decisions. Ethical guidance draws on principles debated in forums like the American Philosophical Association and policy oversight from the Congress of the United States.

History and Revisions

The manual evolved through editions influenced by operational lessons from units returning from deployments in theaters overseen by commanders connected to the Multinational Force in Iraq, the International Security Assistance Force, and coalition partners such as France and Germany. Revisions responded to after-action reports from the Pentagon, studies by the RAND Corporation, and doctrinal reviews prompted by incidents investigated by panels including the Senate Armed Services Committee. The manual continues to be revised to incorporate lessons from emerging conflicts and interagency collaboration involving entities such as the United Nations and the World Bank.

Category:United States Army manuals