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

Chapter I
(3) Major Operations and Campaigns. When required to achieve national
strategic objectives or protect national interests, the US national leadership may decide to
conduct a major operation or campaign involving large-scale combat. In such cases, the
general goal is to prevail against the enemy as quickly as possible, conclude hostilities, and
establish conditions favorable to the US and its interorganizational partners. Major
operations and campaigns feature a balance among offensive, defensive, and stability
operations through six phases: shape, deter, seize initiative, dominate, stabilize, and enable
civil authority. The immediate goal of stability operations often is to provide the local
populace with security, restore essential services, and meet humanitarian needs. The longterm
goal may be to develop the following: indigenous capacity for securing essential
services, a viable market economy, rule of law, democratic institutions, and a robust civil
society. Major operations and campaigns typically are composed of multiple phases.
10. Joint Operations
a. In the context of the military instrument of national power, operations are military
actions or the carrying out of a strategic, operational, tactical, service, training, or
administrative military missions. Operations include combat when necessary to achieve
objectives at all levels of war. Although individual Services may plan and conduct
operations to accomplish tasks and missions in support of DOD objectives, the primary way
DOD employs two or more Services (from two Military Departments) in a single operation,
particularly in combat, is through joint operations.
b. Joint operations is the general term to describe military actions conducted by joint
forces and those Service forces in specified command relationships with each other. A joint
force is one composed of significant elements, assigned or attached, of two or more Military
Departments operating under a single JFC.
c. The extensive capabilities available to forces in joint operations enable them to
accomplish tasks and missions across the conflict continuum in operations that can range
from routine military engagement commonly associated with peacetime to large-scale
combat required to fight and win our Nation’s wars. In conjunction with these two extremes,
military forces can provide security in a wide variety of circumstances and can help other
partners restore essential civil services through relief and reconstruction in the wake of
combat, breakdown of civil order, or natural disaster. These four broad areas, often
integrated and adapted to the commander’s requirements in a joint operation, represent the
military instrument’s contribution to meeting our Nation’s challenges in the strategic security
environment.
(1) The scope and nature of military engagement activities can vary, reflecting
differing strategic relationships between the US and partner nations. Engagement includes
stability operations and other missions, tasks, and actions that improve the capabilities of, or
cooperation with, allies and other partners. It is the primary military contribution to the
national challenge of establishing cooperative security. Military engagement may be
conducted complementary to broader diplomatic or economic activities, to aid a
government’s own security activities, and even during war itself. However, commanders
and staff must be aware of myriad laws and regulations governing everything from limits on
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