(Pam) 525-3-0, The Army Capstone Concept - Federation of ...

TRADOC Pam 525-3-0
interoperable protection capabilities. During operations, Army forces must integrate those
capabilities into area security operations that emphasize continuous reconnaissance to identify
and preempt threats while orienting defensive systems on protecting vital assets in accordance
with joint force commanders’ priorities.
(2) While developing the ability to protect against emerging threats, the Army must
continue to refine its ability to secure its forces, partners, and populations against threats from
weapons and munitions that are readily available or easily manufactured such as improvised
explosive devices, car bombs, and rockets. Continuing to develop persistent and wide area
surveillance, technical intelligence collection and detection technologies, and integrating those
technologies into area security operations will prove critical to protecting the force and
preserving freedom of action.
g. Distributed support and sustainment
(1) Operational adaptability will depend, in large measure, on ensuring that Army forces
retain freedom of movement and action across wide areas. Successful distributed support and
sustainment must deliver continuous and uninterrupted flow of personnel, supplies, equipment,
and units into and throughout the theater of operations. It is important that joint forces achieve
this logistics support without an excessive concentration of supplies or an unnecessary build-up
of forces presenting a lucrative target to enemy forces. Continuous support and sustainment to
deployed joint and Army forces is critical to avoiding missed opportunities and minimizing risks
associated with operational pauses. Uncertain conditions under which Army forces operate are
likely to demand decentralization of logistical support to ensure that forces have what is
necessary to seize upon unexpected opportunities or protect against unanticipated dangers.
(2) Effective sustainment can have far-reaching and significant direct and indirect
impacts on the entire campaign, especially in terms of cost, Soldier health, diplomatic relations,
reconstruction activities, and the ultimate success of the mission. Effective sustainment is likely
to demand Army logistics and medical capacity sufficient to support partners as well as to fulfill
the Army’s role in supporting the joint force. While the Army must continue to use contract
support to enhance sustainment, forces must retain the capability to sustain operations in
unsecure, austere environments.
h. Network enabled mission command
(1) U.S. Army combat experience since 2001 and the anticipated demands of future
armed conflict highlight the need to decentralize command as a critical element of operational
adaptability. The uniqueness of local conditions and uncertainty associated with the interaction
of Army forces with the enemy and complex environments will confound efforts to develop an
aggregated common operational picture as a basis for centralized decision making or control of
forces. Future operations, therefore, must remain grounded in the Army’s long-standing concept
of mission command, defined as the conduct of military operations through decentralized
execution based upon mission orders for effective mission accomplishment. Successful mission
command results from subordinate leaders at all echelons exercising disciplined initiative with
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