JP 1, Doctrine for the Armed Forces of the United States - Defense ...

Executive Summary
conflict against an enemy.
It is “the how” of waging war.
The US military recognizes
two basic forms of warfare—
traditional and irregular.
Levels of Warfare
Campaigns and Operations
Task, Function, and Mission
military recognizes two basic forms of warfare—
traditional and irregular. The forms of warfare are
applied not in terms of an “either/or” choice, but in
various combinations to suit a combatant’s strategy and
capabilities.
A useful dichotomy for thinking about warfare is the
distinction between traditional and irregular warfare
(IW). Traditional warfare is characterized as a violent
struggle for domination between nation-states or
coalitions and alliances of nation-states. With the
increasingly rare case of formally declared war,
traditional warfare typically involves force-on-force
military operations in which adversaries employ a variety
of conventional forces and special operations forces
(SOF) against each other in all physical domains as well
as the information environment (which includes
cyberspace). IW is characterized as a violent struggle
among state and non-state actors for legitimacy and
influence over the relevant population(s). In IW, a less
powerful adversary seeks to disrupt or negate the military
capabilities and advantages of a more powerful military
force, which usually serves that nation’s established
government.
While the various forms and methods of warfare are
ultimately expressed in concrete military action, the three
levels of warfare—strategic, operational, and tactical—
link tactical actions to achievement of national
objectives. There are no finite limits or boundaries
between these levels, but they help commanders design
and synchronize operations, allocate resources, and
assign tasks to the appropriate command.
An operation is a sequence of tactical actions with a
common purpose or unifying theme. An operation may
entail the process of carrying on combat, including
movement, supply, attack, defense, and maneuvers
needed to achieve the objective of any battle or
campaign. A campaign is a series of related major
operations aimed at achieving strategic and operational
objectives within a given time and space.
A task is a clearly defined action or activity assigned to
an individual or organization. It is a specific assignment
that must be done as it is imposed by an appropriate
authority. A function is the broad, general, and enduring
x JP 1