US Army Combined Arms Center

SOLDIERS AND LEADERS – OUR ASYMMETRIC ADVANTAGE

ADP/ADRP 3-0, Operations

Release of this information does not imply any commitment or intent on the part of the U.S. government to provide any
additional information on any topic presented herein. This briefing is provided with the understanding that the recipient
government will make similar information available to the U.S. government upon request. Further dissemination only as
directed by CAC/CADD or higher authority. This determination was made on 4 April 2017.

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 US Army Combined Arms Center
SOLDIERS AND LEADERS – OUR ASYMMETRIC ADVANTAGE ADP/ADRP 3-0
ADP/ADRP 3-0, Operations
• Developed through months of conferences, murder boards.
• Expands on how Army forces conduct operations.
• Incorporates those ideas in the Army Operating Concept that
were mature enough for doctrine.
• Clarifies numerous concepts in previous version that could
have caused confusion in the Army.
• Fixes flow issue from previous version.
• ADRP created first; ADP extracted from ADRP.

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US Army Combined Arms Center Enduring Themes
SOLDIERS AND LEADERS – OUR ASYMMETRIC ADVANTAGE

• Emphasis on Leadership and Soldiers

• Importance of Initiative
• Mission Command
• The Operational Environment
• Simultaneous Offense, Defense, Stability or DSCA
• Concept of Combat Power
• Warfighting Functions
• Operations Process
• Joint Interdependence
• Principles of Joint Operations
• Operational Art
• Unified Action

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 US Army Combined Arms Center Key Changes to ADP/ADRP 3-0
SOLDIERS AND LEADERS – OUR ASYMMETRIC ADVANTAGE

• Modifies tenets of unified land operations: simultaneity, depth,

synchronization, flexibility.

• Adds principles of unified land operations: mission command, develop

the situation through action, combined arms, adhere to law of war, establish
and maintain security, create multiple dilemmas for the enemy.

• Adds discussion of consolidating gains: the activities to make

permanent any temporary operational success and set the conditions
for a sustainable stable environment allowing for a transition of control
to legitimate civil authorities.

• Expands the traditional concept of combined arms: Includes the

integration of not only joint capabilities, but also the broad range of efforts
necessary to accomplish the mission.

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 US Army Combined Arms Center Key Changes to ADP/ADRP 3-0
SOLDIERS AND LEADERS – OUR ASYMMETRIC ADVANTAGE

• Adds discussion of multiple dilemmas:

Army forces present the enemy with multiple dilemmas because they
possess the simultaneity to overwhelm the enemy physically and
psychologically, the depth to prevent enemy forces from recovering, and the
endurance to sustain operations.

• Adds discussion of position of relative advantage: a location or the

establishment of a favorable condition within the area of operations that
provides the commander with temporary freedom of action to enhance
combat power over an enemy or influence the enemy to accept risk and
move to a position of disadvantage.

• Adds “Conduct security cooperation” as a sixth stability task.

• Adds “Plan and conduct space operations” as an additional mission

command task.

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 US Army Combined Arms Center Additional Changes to
SOLDIERS AND LEADERS – OUR ASYMMETRIC ADVANTAGE ADP/ADRP 3-0
• Discussion of core competencies now found in ADP 1, The Army.

• Changes title of the manual to “Operations”.

• Modifies definition of unified land operations: simultaneous offensive,

defensive, and stability or defense support of civil authorities tasks to seize, retain, and
exploit the initiative and consolidate gains to prevent conflict, shape the operational
environment, and win our Nation's wars as part of unified action.

• Modifies discussion of the operational framework for clarity.

• Updates discussion of the operational environment to include cyberspace

and violent extremist organizations.

• Adds a section on the importance of training for operations.

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US Army Combined Arms Center
SOLDIERS AND LEADERS – OUR ASYMMETRIC ADVANTAGE ADP/ADRP 3-0 Logic Chart

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US Army Combined Arms Center CH 1: The Operational Environment
SOLDIERS AND LEADERS – OUR ASYMMETRIC ADVANTAGE

A composite of the conditions, circumstances, and influences

that affect the employment of capabilities and bear on the
decisions of the commander (JP 1-02).
OPERATIONAL VARIABLES MISSION VARIABLES

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US Army Combined Arms Center CH 1: Unified Action
SOLDIERS AND LEADERS – OUR ASYMMETRIC ADVANTAGE

The synchronization, coordination, and/or integration of the

activities of governmental and nongovernmental entities with
military operations to achieve unity of effort. (JP 1)
• Cooperation with Civilian Organizations.
• Multinational Operations.
• Joint Operations.

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US Army Combined Arms Center CH 1: Land Operations
SOLDIERS AND LEADERS – OUR ASYMMETRIC ADVANTAGE

Army’s primary mission is to organize, train, and equip forces to conduct

prompt and sustained land combat operations and perform such other
duties, not otherwise assigned by law, as may be prescribed by the
President or the Secretary of Defense (as described in Title 10, United
States Code).
• Scope: Land operations can occur across the entire expanse of the land domain and across the
range of military operations.

• Duration: The duration of land combat operations contributes to the large number of interactions
between friendly and enemy forces, as well as between friendly forces and the civilian population.

• Terrain: Land operations take place in the densest of all media—the ground environment.

• Permanence: Land operations frequently require seizing or securing terrain.

• Civilian Presence: Land operations affect civilians by disrupting routine life patterns and potentially
placing civilians in harm’s way.

Through training and leader development, Soldiers, leaders, and units achieve the tactical
and technical competence that builds confidence and allows them to conduct successful
operations across the continuum of conflict. The Army trains its forces using training
doctrine that sustains their expeditionary and campaign excellence.

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 US Army Combined Arms Center CH 2: Operational Art
SOLDIERS AND LEADERS – OUR ASYMMETRIC ADVANTAGE

Operational art is cognitive approach by commanders and staffs—supported by their skill,

knowledge, experience, creativity, and judgment—to develop strategies, campaigns, and operations
to organize and employ military forces by integrating ends, ways, and means (JP 3-0).

Elements of Operational Art

End state and conditions Basing
Center of Gravity * Tempo
Decisive points * Phasing and transitions
Lines of Operations and Lines of Effort * Culmination *
Operational reach * Risk
(*Common to elements of operational design)

For Army forces, operational art:

• is the pursuit of strategic objectives through the arrangement of tactical actions in time, space, and
purpose.
• integrates ends, ways, and means, while accounting for risk, across the levels of war.
• links strategic direction to concrete tactical actions.

Army commanders plan and execute major operations, battles, engagements, and activities
to achieve military objectives in support of the joint force commander’s campaign plan.

The Army does not conduct campaigns.

Joint force headquarters plan and execute campaigns and major operations, while
Service…components of the joint force conduct subordinate supporting and supported
major operations, battles, and engagements, not independent campaigns (JP 5-0).

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 US Army Combined Arms Center CH 3: The Army’s Operational
SOLDIERS AND LEADERS – OUR ASYMMETRIC ADVANTAGE Concept
“The Army’s operating concept is the core of its doctrine. It must
be uniformly known and understood within the Service . . .”

Unified Land Operations

Simultaneous offensive, defensive, and stability or defense support of civil
authorities tasks to seize, retain, and exploit the initiative and consolidate gains to
prevent conflict, shape the operational environment, and win our Nation's wars as
part of unified action.

The Operational Concept :

• describes how Army forces adapt to meet the distinct requirements
of unified land operations.
• is broad enough to describe operations now and in the near future.
• is flexible enough to apply in any situation worldwide.

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 US Army Combined Arms Center CH 3: Unified Land Operations
SOLDIERS AND LEADERS – OUR ASYMMETRIC ADVANTAGE

Decisive Action: The simultaneous combinations of

offensive, defensive, and stability or defense support of
civil authorities tasks.
- Operations outside the U. S. and its territories simultaneously combine
the elements of offense, defense, and stability tasks.
- Operations within the U. S. and its territories simultaneously combine the
elements of defense support of civil authorities (DSCA) tasks and, as required,
offense and defense tasks to support homeland defense.

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US Army Combined Arms Center CH 3: Unified Land Operations
SOLDIERS AND LEADERS – OUR ASYMMETRIC ADVANTAGE

Example of combining the tasks of decisive action across the joint

phases

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The proportion of resources
devoted to offense, defense,
and stability vary:
• By echelon
• Over time within an echelon
• By area of operations
The higher the echelon, the
XXX
greater the probability that it
will be conducting all three
Stability simultaneously – but minimum
Defense Offense
essential stability tasks are
implied tasks in any AO

XX XX XX x

Stability Offense Stability Stability

Defense Offense Stability Defense Defense Offense Defense Offense

X X X X

Offense Offense Offense Defense

Defense Stability Defense Stability Defense Stability Stability Offense

II II II II

Offense Offense Stability Defense

Stability Defense Stability
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 US Army Combined Arms Center CH 3: Unified Land Operations
SOLDIERS AND LEADERS – OUR ASYMMETRIC ADVANTAGE

Seize, Retain, and Exploit the Initiative

Army forces seize, retain, and exploit the initiative by forcing the enemy to respond
to friendly action. By presenting the enemy multiple dilemmas, commanders force
the enemy to react continuously until the enemy is finally driven into untenable
positions. Seizing the initiative pressures enemy commanders into abandoning their
preferred options and making costly mistakes.

Consolidate Gains
Army forces provide the joint force commander the ability to capitalize on operational
success by consolidating gains. Consolidate gains is an integral part of winning
armed conflict and achieving success across the range of military operations; it is
essential to retaining the initiative over determined enemies and adversaries. To
consolidate gains, Army forces reinforce and integrate the efforts of all unified action
partners.

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 US Army Combined Arms Center CH 3: Army Primary Stability Tasks
SOLDIERS AND LEADERS – OUR ASYMMETRIC ADVANTAGE

Establish Civil Security

Establish Civil Control
Restore Essential Services
Support to Governance
Support to Economic and Infrastructure development
Conduct Security Cooperation
•Correspond to the stability sectors adopted by the Department of State. They provide a
mechanism for interagency tactical integration, linking the execution of discreet tasks among the
instruments of national power.

•They are not performed in isolation. They represent a cohesive effort to reestablish the
institutions that provide for the civil participation, livelihood, and well-being of citizens.

•At the operational level, they serve as lines of effort or simply as a guide to action, ensuring
broader unity of effort across the stability sectors.

•They are fundamental to unified land operations and conducted across the range of military
operations, from stable peace to general war. Each situation is unique. Assessment and analysis
support planning and execution to determine the ends, ways, and means appropriate to the
conditions of an operational environment.

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 US Army Combined Arms Center CH 3: Minimum Essential Stability
SOLDIERS AND LEADERS – OUR ASYMMETRIC ADVANTAGE Tasks

-Normally, the responsibility for providing for the basic needs of the people rests
with the host nation government or designated civil authorities, agencies, and
organizations.

-When local authorities cannot provide these basic needs, military forces must
provide minimum levels of civil security and restoration of essential services
(food, water, shelter, medical care, security) to the local populace until a civil
authority or the host nation is able.

-All operations, morally and legally, require forces to conduct minimal-essential

stability tasks to provide for the protection and well-being of the civilian populations.

- Commanders resource these minimum essential stability tasks. When demand for
resources exceeds an organization’s capability, commanders request additional
resources. Commanders at all levels assess resources available against the
mission to determine how best to conduct these minimum-essential stability tasks
and what risk they can accept.

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 US Army Combined Arms Center CH 3: Principles of Unified Land
SOLDIERS AND LEADERS – OUR ASYMMETRIC ADVANTAGE Operations
The principles of operations are comprehensive and fundamental rules or an
assumption of central importance that guides how an organization or function
approaches and thinks about the conduct of operations (ADP 1-01)

Mission Command: Commanders create and sustain shared understanding and purpose
through collaboration and dialogue within their organization and with unified action partners to
facilitate unity of effort.
Develop the Situation Through Action: Commanders fight for information to develop the
situation while in contact with the enemy and gain information through close association with the
population.
Combined Arms: Combined arms integrates leadership, information, and each of the
warfighting functions and their supporting systems, as well as joint weapon systems.
Adherence to Law of War: Soldiers consider five important principles that govern the law of
war when planning and executing operations: military necessity, humanity, distinction,
proportionality, and honor.
Establish and Maintain Security: Army forces conduct area security to ensure freedom of
movement and action and deny the enemy the ability to disrupt operations.
Create Multiple Dilemmas for the Enemy: Simultaneous operations in depth and across
multiple domains, supported by military deception, present the enemy with multiple dilemmas,
degrade enemy freedom of action, reduce enemy flexibility and endurance, and upset enemy
plans and coordination.

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 US Army Combined Arms Center CH 3: Tenets of Unified Land
SOLDIERS AND LEADERS – OUR ASYMMETRIC ADVANTAGE Operations
The tenets of operations are desirable attributes that should be built into all
plans and operations and are directly related to the Army’s operational concept.
(ADP 1-01)

Simultaneity: Operating simultaneously across the land, air, maritime, space, and cyberspace
domains allows Army forces to deliver multiple blows to the enemy while reassuring allies and
influencing neutrals.

Depth: The extension of operations in space, time, purpose, or resources.

Synchronization: Synchronization is the ability to execute multiple related and mutually

supporting tasks in different locations at the same time, producing greater effects than executing
each in isolation.

Flexibility: Commanders enable adaptive forces through flexibility, which facilitates collaborative
planning and decentralized execution

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 US Army Combined Arms Center CH 4: Operations Structure
SOLDIERS AND LEADERS – OUR ASYMMETRIC ADVANTAGE

• Operations Process: Consists of the major mission command activities

performed during operations: planning, preparing, executing, and continuously
assessing the operation.

• Warfighting functions: Combat power has eight elements: leadership,

information, mission command, movement and maneuver, intelligence,
fires, sustainment, and protection.

• Operational Framework: An operational framework establishes an area of

geographic and operational responsibility for the commander and provides
a way to visualize how the commander will employ forces against the enemy.

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 US Army Combined Arms Center CH 4: Operational Framework
SOLDIERS AND LEADERS – OUR ASYMMETRIC ADVANTAGE

Four components to Operational Framework.

Area of Operations: For land operations, an area of operations

includes subordinate areas of operations assigned by Army
commanders to their subordinate echelons as well.

Deep, Close, Support Areas: Describes the physical arrangement

of forces in time and space.

Decisive, Shaping, Sustaining Operations: A broad conceptual

orientation based on purpose.

Main and Supporting Efforts: Used to prioritize effort among

subordinate units during phased operations.

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US Army Combined Arms Center CH 4: Deep, Close, Support Areas
SOLDIERS AND LEADERS – OUR ASYMMETRIC ADVANTAGE

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 US Army Combined Arms Center CH 5: Elements of Combat Power
SOLDIERS AND LEADERS – OUR ASYMMETRIC ADVANTAGE

Combat power is the total means of destructive, constructive, and information capabilities
that a military unit or formation can apply at a given time. To an Army commander,
Army forces generate combat power by converting potential into effective action.

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US Army Combined Arms Center
SOLDIERS AND LEADERS – OUR ASYMMETRIC ADVANTAGE

Questions?

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