General Orders (United States Army)

General Orders (United States Army)
Name	General Orders
Issuer	President of the United States (via United States Department of the Army)
Established	19th century (formalized in 20th century)
Applicability	United States Army personnel
Type	standing order

General Orders (United States Army) are the formal standing directives that prescribe duties, responsibilities, and conduct for members of the United States Army. Originating from practices developed during the American Revolutionary War and refined through the Mexican–American War, American Civil War, and World War I, these orders have been codified and adapted alongside statutes such as the Uniform Code of Military Justice and regulatory instruments from the Department of Defense and United States Department of the Army. They intersect with doctrines promulgated by institutions like the United States Military Academy and the United States Army War College.

History

General Orders trace their lineage to 18th- and 19th-century Continental and federal forces, informed by precedents from the British Army and lessons of commanders like George Washington and Winfield Scott. During the American Civil War, commanders such as Ulysses S. Grant and William T. Sherman issued theater-wide directives that influenced later codification. The reforms after World War I and World War II—shaped by leaders including John J. Pershing and institutional changes following the National Security Act of 1947—led to standardized Army regulations administered through entities like the Adjutant General's Corps and the Army Regulations (AR). Later interactions with legal frameworks such as decisions by the United States Supreme Court and policies from the Secretary of Defense further refined authority and scope.

Purpose and Scope

General Orders serve to set enduring standards for discipline, duty, and conduct across units from Fort Bragg to Fort Hood and international commands such as United States Army Europe. They operate alongside directives from the President of the United States, the Secretary of the Army, and combatant commands including United States Central Command, providing uniform expectations for enlisted soldiers, officers commissioned by the United States Senate, and Reserve components like the Army National Guard. The scope covers routine matters addressed by the Inspector General of the Army, force protection policies tied to Homeland Security, and operational restrictions that coordinate with multinational partners such as NATO.

Text and Variations

The canonical wording of many General Orders appears in Army regulations (e.g., Army Regulation 600-20), field manuals produced by United States Army Combined Arms Center, and historic printed orders archived at institutions like the National Archives and Records Administration. Variations exist between standing General Orders, temporary operational orders issued under the Law of Armed Conflict, and unit-level orders from commanders in contexts like Operation Desert Storm or Operation Enduring Freedom. The text can be terse—directives about guard duty, custody, and rules of engagement—or expansive, as with force protection guidance during crises such as the Iran Hostage Crisis or policy shifts after incidents investigated by the Judge Advocate General's Corps.

Implementation and Enforcement

Commanders at echelon—from company commanders influenced by Fort Bragg training doctrine to theater commanders coordinating with United States European Command—implement General Orders through orders, briefings, and memoranda. Enforcement mechanisms draw on the Uniform Code of Military Justice, nonjudicial punishment under Article 15, administrative actions overseen by the Adjutant General's Corps, and oversight by the Inspector General of the Army. High-profile enforcement has involved coordination with civilian institutions such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation and testimony before committees of the United States Congress when alleged violations implicate policy or law.

Notable Orders and Incidents

Several General Orders and their application have been prominent in incidents and legal controversies: enforcement of guard duties highlighted after the My Lai Massacre led to doctrinal revisions; procedures for detainee operations were scrutinized following Abu Ghraib; and rules governing conduct at checkpoints drew attention during Iraq War operations. Historical orders from leaders like William T. Sherman shaped conduct during the March to the Sea, while procedural orders during the Spanish–American War and reforms after the Pentagon Papers era influenced transparency and oversight. Litigation and congressional inquiries involving the Judge Advocate General's Corps and United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces have clarified limits and applications.

Training and Education

Training on General Orders occurs in schools such as the United States Military Academy, United States Army Command and General Staff College, and enlisted centers like the United States Army Training and Doctrine Command. Curricula integrate instruction from field manuals, case law from the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces and Supreme Court of the United States, and experiential scenarios drawn from operations like Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. Professional military education emphasizes compliance, ethical leadership reflected in programs endorsed by the Secretary of the Army, and assessment through evaluations administered by the Adjutant General's Corps and inspected by the Inspector General of the Army.

Category:United States Army