NEW! OPFOR SMARTbook 4 – Iran & the Middle East
The greatest single day-to-day threat to Middle East regional security and stability remains Iran, which challenges the U.S. and its allies by pursuing regional hegemony, breaching its JCPOA commitments, and posing a conventional threat to partner nations...
NEW! OPFOR SMARTbook 1 – Chinese Military
For over two thousand years, China has been surrounded by enemies, adversaries, and other competitors. Invasion, occupation, raids, and other incursions into Chinese territory were commonplace. ..
NEW! OPFOR SMARTbook 2 – North Korean Military
North Korea is one of the most militarized countries in the world and remains a critical security challenge for the United States, our Northeast Asian allies, and the international community...
NEW! OPFOR SMARTbook 5 – Irregular & Hybrid Threat
A hybrid threat is the diverse and dynamic combination of regular forces, irregular forces, and/or criminal elements all unified to achieve mutually benefitting effects. Irregular forces are armed individuals or groups who are not members of the regular armed forces, police, or other internal security forces...
PODCAST: SMARTbooks in the News!
Listen to SMARTbook Author and Publisher Norman M. Wade talk with host Dr. Thomas Withington about the CYBER1 SMARTbook and other military reference SMARTbooks as a guest on the Armada Analysis's Electronic Warfare Podcast...
NEW! INFO1: The Information Operations & Capabilities SMARTbook
Over the past two decades, information operations (IO) has gone through a number of doctrinal evolutions, explained, in part, by the rapidly changing nature of information, its flow, processing, dissemination, impact and, in particular, its military employment...
Leveraging Information (in Military Operations)
All military activities produce information. The joint force commander (JFC) leverages informational aspects of military activities to gain an advantage; failing to leverage those aspects may cede this advantage to others. Leveraging the informational aspects of military activities ultimately affects strategic outcomes...
Information (as a Joint Function)
All military activities produce information. The JFC leverages informational aspects of military activities to gain an advantage; failing to leverage those aspects may cede this advantage to others. Leveraging the informational aspects of military activities ultimately affects strategic outcomes...
Information (as an Element of Combat Power)
Information is a resource. As a resource, it must be obtained, developed, refined, distributed, and protected. IO, along with knowledge management and information management, are the ways that units harness this resource and ensure its availability, as well as operationalize and optimize it...
Information-Related Capabilities (IRCs)
An information-related capability (IRC) is a tool, technique, or activity employed within a dimension of the information environment that can be used to create effects and operationally desirable conditions (JP 1-02). Information Operations (IO) brings together information-related capabilities (IRCs) at a specific time and in a coherent fashion to create effects in and through the information environment that advance the ability to deliver operational advantage to the commander...
Information Environment
The information environment is the aggregate of individuals, organizations, and systems that collect, process, disseminate, or act on information. This environment consists of three interrelated dimensions which continuously interact with individuals, organizations, and systems. These dimensions are the physical, informational, and cognitive...
Information Advantage & Decision Dominance
Gaining the “information advantage” to achieve “decision dominance” is an emerging doctrinal concept with regard to operations in the information environment. While not currently defined in joint or service doctrine, components of the concept are similar to those found in FM 3-0’s discussion of “position of relative advantage”...
Information Operations (IO) – Defined & Described
Information Operations (IO) is the integrated employment, during military operations, of information-related capabilities in concert with other lines of operation to influence, disrupt, corrupt, or usurp the decision-making of adversaries and potential adversaries while protecting our own (JP 3-13)...
NEW! SMFLS5: The Sustainment & Multifunctional Logistics SMARTbook, 5th Ed.
SMFLS5:The Sustainment & Multifunctional Logistics SMARTbook, 5th Ed. has been completely updated for 2021. At 368 pages, SMFLS5 topics and references include...
Elements of Sustainment
The sustainment warfighting function consists of four elements: logistics, financial management, personnel services and health service support as shown in the sustainment warfighting function logic chart.
NEW! TLS6: The Leader’s SMARTbook, 6th Ed.
TLS6 is the sixth edition of The Leader’s SMARTbook, completely updated for 2021. Jam-packed at 392 pages, TLS6 incorporates the full scope of new material from...
Marine Corps Planning Process (MCPP)
The Marine Corps Planning Process (MCPP) is a six-step process to understand the situation and mission, develop a COA, and produce an plan...
R2P2 – Rapid Response Planning Process
The Rapid Response Planning Process (R2P2) is an accelerated execution of MCPP geared to Crisis Action Planning. R2P2 allows the MEU/PHIBRON...
Intelligence Preparation of the Battlespace (IPB)
Intelligence Preparation of the Battlespace is the Marine Corps-specific version of IPB related to the Marine Corps Planning Process (MCPP), with Marine Corps terminology and phrasing, whereas "Intelligence Preparation of the Battlefield" is the U.S. Army version...
NEW! The MAGTF Operations & Planning SMARTbook
The MAGTF Operations & Planning SMARTbook by Andrew Milburn and Norman M. Wade topics and chapters include Marine Corps roles & forces, the Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF), expeditionary operations, Marine Corps operations...
NEW! MEU3: The Marine Expeditionary Unit SMARTbook, 3rd Ed.
The Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) SMARTbook is designed to be a reference for MEU and PHIBRON Commanders, MEU and PHIBRON staffs and the commanders and staffs of the Major Subordinate Elements (MSE) and Naval Support Elements (NSE) of the ARG-MEU team...
NEW! BSS6: The Battle Staff SMARTbook, 6th Ed.
BSS6 is the sixth edition of The Battle Staff SMARTbook, completely updated for 2020. Updated material includes the full scope of new material...
NEW! AODS6-1: The Army Operations & Doctrine SMARTbook, 6th Ed. (w/SMARTupdate 1)
AODS6-1: The Army Operations & Doctrine SMARTbook (w/SMARTupdate 1) is the new sixth edition of our Army SMARTbook. In addition to operations (ADP 3-0) and large-scale combat operations (FM 3-0), the 400-pg AODS6 includes...
NEW! The Small Unit Tactics SMARTbook, 3rd Ed. (SUTS3)
SUTS3: The Small Unit Tactics SMARTbook, 3rd Ed. is the third revised edition of The Small Unit Tactics SMARTbook, completely updated for 2019 to include ADP 3-90 Offense and Defense (Aug ‘18), FM 3-0 Operations (Oct ‘17), FMs 3-90-1 & -2 (May ‘13), ATP 3-21.8 Infantry Platoon and Squad (Apr ‘16), ATP 3-21.10 Infantry Rifle Company (May ‘18), TC 3-21-76 The Ranger Handbook (Apr ‘17), and the latest versions of more than 20 additional references.
Electronic Warfare (EW) Operations
Electronic warfare refers to military action involving the use of electromagnetic and directed energy to control the electromagnetic spectrum or to attack the enemy (JP 3-13.1).
Cyberspace Operations
Cyberspace Operations (CO) are the employment of cyberspace capabilities where the primary purpose is to achieve objectives in or through cyberspace. CO comprise the military, national intelligence, and ordinary business operations of DOD in and through cyberspace. CCDRs and Services use CO to create effects in and through cyberspace in support of military objectives.
Electromagnetic Spectrum (EMS)
The electromagnetic spectrum (EMS) is the range of frequencies of electromagnetic radiation from zero to infinity. It is divided into 26 alphabetically designated bands. Military operations are complicated by increasingly complex demands on the EMS.
Cyberspace
Cyberspace is a global domain within the information environment consisting of the interdependent networks of information technology infrastructures and resident data, including the Internet, telecommunications networks, computer systems, and embedded processors and controllers.
NEW! CYBER1: The Cyberspace Operations & Electronic Warfare SMARTbook
United States armed forces operate in an increasingly network-based world. The proliferation of information technologies is changing the way humans interact with each other and their environment, including interactions during military operations.
Russian Military Principles & Foundations
To the Soviets, war was a manifestation of the class struggle. It was an expression of the conflict between the “progressive forces of socialism” and the “reactionary forces of imperialistic capitalism"...
FM 100-2 Series – Opposing Forces and the Historical Soviet Threat Model
The Soviet threat was described in great detail in the 80s with the FM 100-2 series. The three-volume set was the definitive source of unclassifed information on Soviet ground forces and the Soviet model of combined arms warfare. The series is now out-of-print and largely unavailable...
NEW 2nd Edition! OPFOR SMARTbook 3 – Red Team Army (OPFOR3-2)
In today’s complicated and uncertain world, it is impossible to predict the exact nature of future conflict that might involve U.S. forces...
National Incident Management System (NIMS)
NIMS guides all levels of government, nongovernmental organizations (NGO), and the private sector to work together to prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to, and recover from incidents. NIMS provides stakeholders across the whole community with the shared vocabulary, systems, and processes to successfully deliver the capabilities described in the National Preparedness System.
New! Disaster Response SMARTbook 1 – Federal/National Disaster Response
As a Nation we must maintain a state of readiness to respond to both natural disasters and man-made threats. At the National level, these efforts reflect consideration of both disaster response and national security requirements.
Joint Intelligence Preparation of the Operational Environment (JIPOE)
Joint Intelligence Preparation of the Operational Environment (JIPOE) is the analytical process used by joint intelligence organizations to produce intelligence assessments, estimates, and other intelligence products in support of the commander’s decision-making process.
Joint Planning Process (JPP)
The Joint Planning Process (JPP) is an orderly, analytical process, which consists of a set of logical steps to examine a mission; develop, analyze, and compare alternative COAs; select the best COA; and produce a plan or order...
Global Force Management (GFM)
Global Force Management (GFM) directs the Services to provide sufficient ready and available forces to execute the National Defense Strategy...
NEW! JIA1-2: Joint/Interagency SMARTbook 1 (2nd Ed.)
JIA1-2 is the new second edition of our Joint/Interagency SMARTbook 1: Joint Strategic & Operational Planning (Planning for Planners), completely reorganized and updated with the latest joint publications for 2019...
Joint Operation Planning Process for Air (JOPPA)
The JFACC is responsible for planning joint air operations and uses the joint operation planning process for air (JOPPA) to develop a JAOP that guides employment of the air capabilities and forces made available to accomplish missions assigned by the JFC.
Joint Air Operations Planning
The JFACC’s role is to plan joint air operations. In doing so, the JFACC provides focus and guidance to the JAOC staff. The JFACC uses the entire staff during planning to explore the full range of adversary and friendly COAs...
NEW! AFOPS2: The Air Force Operations & Planning SMARTbook, 2nd Ed.
AFOPS2: The Air Force Operations & Planning SMARTbook, 2nd Ed. (Guide to Curtis E. LeMay Center & Joint Air Operations Doctrine) is the second edition...
Large-Scale Combat Operations
Large-scale combat operations are intense, lethal, and brutal. Their conditions include complexity, chaos, fear, violence, fatigue, and uncertainty. Future battlefields will include noncombatants, and they will be crowded in and around large cities.
Conflict Continuum
Threats to US and allied interests throughout the world can sometimes only be countered by US forces able to respond to a wide variety of challenges along a conflict continuum that spans from peace to war...
Range of Military Operations
The range of military operations is a fundamental construct that helps relate military activities and operations in scope and purpose. The potential range of military activities and operations extends from military engagement, security cooperation, and deterrence in times of relative peace up through large-scale combat operations.
Close Combat
Close combat is indispensable and unique to land operations. Only on land do combatants routinely and in large numbers come face-to-face with one another. When other means fail to drive enemy forces from their positions, Army forces close with and destroy or capture them. The outcome of battles and engagements depends on Army forces’ ability to prevail in close combat...
Joint Planning
Joint planning consists of planning activities associated with joint military operations by combatant commanders (CCDRs) and their subordinate joint force commanders (JFCs) in response to contingencies and crises. It transforms national strategic objectives into...
NEW! JFODS5: The Joint Forces Operations & Doctrine SMARTbook, 5th Ed.
Achieving national strategic objectives requires effective unified action resulting in unity of effort -- to include interagency, intergovernmental, nongovernmental and multinational partners....
NEW! TLS5: The Leader’s SMARTbook, 5th Ed.
Announcing the new fifth revised edition of The Leader’s SMARTbook (TLS5), incorporating the full scope of new material from FM 7-0 Train to Win in a Complex World, FM 6-22...
Small Unit Tactics
Tactics is the employment and ordered arrangement of forces in relation to each other. Through tactics, commanders use combat power to accomplish missions. The tactical-level commander uses combat power in battles, engagements, and small-unit actions...
The Operations Process
The Army’s framework for exercising mission command is the operations process--the major mission command activities performed during operations: planning, preparing, executing, and continuously assessing the operation. Commanders, supported by their staffs, use the operations process to...
Joint Operations
The primary way the Department of Defense (DOD) employs two or more Services (from at least two Military Departments) in a single operation is through joint operations. Joint operations are military actions conducted by joint forces and those Service forces employed in specified command relationships with each other, which of themselves do not establish joint forces...
Maneuver Enhancement Brigade (MEB)
The Maneuver Enhancement Brigade (MEB) is a unique, multifunctional, mission command headquarters that is organized to perform support area operations for the echelon that it supports...
Military Deception
Military deception is both a process and a capability. As a process, military deception is a methodical, information-based strategy that systematically, deliberately, and cognitively targets individual decisionmakers.
Mission Command
Mission command is the Army’s approach to command and control that empowers subordinate decision making and decentralized execution appropriate to the situation. Mission command supports the Army’s operational concept of unified land operations and its emphasis on seizing, retaining, and exploiting the initiative.
Critical Infrastructure Protection
Critical infrastructure protection (CIP) is a concept that relates to the preparedness and response to serious incidents that involve the critical infrastructure of a region or nation...
Train, Advise and Assist
The recent announcement of “Advisory Brigades” by Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Milley focuses on the need for specialized units to train and advise foreign forces. Called train, advise and assist brigades, the units would deploy to different combatant command areas to help train allies and partners, similar to what units have been doing in Iraq and Afghanistan...
NEW! TAA2: The Military Engagement, Security Cooperation & Stability SMARTbook, 2nd Ed. (w/Change 1)
TAA2: The Military Engagement, Security Cooperation & Stability SMARTbook is the re-titled and re-focused second edition of The Stability, Peace & Counterinsurgency SMARTbook...
The Art and Science of Tactics
The tactician must understand and master the science and the art of tactics, two distinctly different yet inseparable concepts. Commanders and leaders at all echelons and supporting commissioned, warrant, and noncommissioned staff officers must be tacticians to lead their soldiers in the conduct of full spectrum operations...
Domestic Terrorism
Domestic terrorism involves groups or individuals who are based and operate entirely within the United States or its territories without foreign direction and whose acts are directed at elements of the U.S. Government or population.
Combating Terrorism Center at West Point
The Combating Terrorism Center is an independent, privately funded, research and educational institution situated at West Point that contributes to the academic body of knowledge and informs counterterrorism policy and strategy.
Sustainment Warfighting Function
The sustainment warfighting function is related tasks and systems that provide support and services to ensure freedom of action, extend operational reach, and prolong endurance (ADP 3-0).
Forms of Terrorism
Forms of terrorism threats range from non-state transnational networks with global reach capability such as al-Qaida, terrorist cells affiliated with regional or international aims, or individual self-radicalized and unaffiliated terrorists with single issue agendas.
NEW! CTS1: The Counterterrorism, WMD & Hybrid Threat SMARTbook
Terrorism has evolved as a preferred tactic for ideological extremists around the world, directly or indirectly affecting millions of people. Terrorists use many forms of unlawful violence or threats of violence...
NEW! MEU2: The Marine Expeditionary Unit SMARTbook, 2nd Ed.
The Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) SMARTbook is designed to be a reference for MEU and PHIBRON Commanders, MEU and PHIBRON staffs and...
Army Values
The list of Army Values are Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity, and Personal Courage, which comprise the acronym LDRSHIP.
Urban Operations
Urban areas present the most complex environment for military operations. Commanders conducting major urban operations use their ability to visualize how doctrine and military capabilities are applied within the context of the urban environment.
Elements of a Combat Patrol
There are three essential elements for a combat patrol: security; support; and assault. The size of each element is based on the situation and the analysis of METT-TC.
Unified Action
Unified action refers to the synchronization, coordination, and integration of the activities of governmental and nongovernmental entities to achieve unity of effort. Failure to achieve unity of effort can cost lives, create conditions that enhance instability, and jeopardize mission accomplishment.
Special Purpose Attacks
Special purpose attacks are ambush, spoiling attack, counterattack, raid, feint, and demonstration. The commander’s intent and the factors of METT-TC determine which of these forms of attack are employed.
NEW! The Sustainment & Multifunctional Logistics SMARTbook, 4th Ed. (SMFLS4)
The sustainment warfighting function is related tasks and systems that provide support and services to ensure freedom of action, extend operational reach, and prolong endurance...
Unit Training Plans (UTP)
The unit training plan (UTP) uses a crawl-walk-run approach that progressively and systematically builds on successful task performance before progressing to more complex tasks.
Intelligence Preparation of the Battlefield (IPB)
Intelligence Preparation of the Battlefield (IPB) is the systematic process of analyzing the mission variables of enemy, terrain, weather, and civil considerations in an area of interest to determine their effect on operations.
Adaptive Planning and Execution (APEX)
Joint operation planning occurs within Adaptive Planning and Execution (APEX), which is the department-level system of joint policies, processes, procedures, and reporting structures.
Raid
A raid is an operation to temporarily seize an area in order to secure information, confuse an adversary, capture personnel or equipment, or to destroy a capability culminating with a planned withdrawal.
Defense Support to Civil Authorities (DSCA)
Defense Support of Civil Authorities (DSCA) is support in response to a request for assistance from civil authorities for domestic emergencies...
Incident Command System Courses
The Incident Command System (ICS) SMARTbook provides a detailed explanation of ICS as outlined in FEMA Emergency Management courses 100, 200, 300, 400, 700, 703, and 800; including 2015 updates.
Ambush Categories
Ambushes are classified by category (deliberate or hasty), formation (linear or L-shaped), and type (point, area, or antiarmor). The leader determines the category of ambush through an analysis of the factors of METT-TC.
Incident Command System Training
The Incident Command System (ICS) SMARTbook provides an outline of FEMA Emergency Management courses 100, 200, 300, 400, 700, 703, and 800; including 2015 updates and provides a ready resource for reference and training.
About the Military Decisionmaking Process (MDMP)
The Military Decisionmaking Process (MDMP) consists of seven steps. Each step of the MDMP has various inputs, a method (step) to conduct, and outputs...
Joint Planning and Execution Community (JPEC)
The headquarters, commands, and agencies involved in joint operation planning or committed to a joint operation are collectively termed the Joint Planning and Execution Community (JPEC)...
Ambush
An ambush is an attack by fire or other destructive means from concealed positions on a moving or temporarily halted enemy. It may take the form of an assault to close with and destroy the enemy, or be an attack by fire only.
Homeland Defense (HD)
Homeland Defense (HD) is the protection of US sovereignty, territory, domestic population, & critical infrastructure against external threats & aggression...
Incident Command System (ICS)
Disaster can strike anytime, anywhere. The Incident Command System (ICS) helps ensure integration of our response efforts. ICS is a standardized, on-scene, all-hazards approach to incident management.
Joint Strategic Planning System (JSPS)
Joint Strategic Planning System (JSPS) is the primary system by which the JCS and the CCDRs conduct deliberate planning and provides military advice to the President and SecDef...
Far Ambush
The far ambush has only the purpose of injuring and/or delaying the target. This rarely ever calls for an assaulting force—since the patrol doesn’t seek the complete destruction of the enemy force there is no need to risk the loss of friendly troops. The far ambush simply intends to harass.
NEW! Disaster Response SMARTbook 2: Incident Command System (DRS2)
Disaster can strike anytime, anywhere. The Incident Command System (ICS) helps ensure integration of our response efforts. ICS is a standardized, on-scene...
Joint Interagency Coordination Group (JIACG)
A Joint Interagency Coordination Group (JIACG) is an interagency staff group that establishes regular, timely, and collaborative working relationships....
Battle Staff SMARTbook – NEW Fifth Edition (BSS5)!
Commanders, supported by their staffs, use the operations process to drive the conceptual and detailed planning necessary to understand, visualize, and describe their operational environment; make and articulate decisions; and direct, lead, and assess military operations...
Near Ambush
The near ambush has the expressed purpose of destroying the target. This often requires an assaulting force to literally overrun the target after the initial volley of fire has inflicted tremendous damage.
Joint Operation Planning
Joint operation planning consists of planning activities associated with joint military operations by combatant commanders (CCDRs) and...
About the Warfighting Functions
Commanders use the warfighting functions to help them exercise command and...
Military Decision Making Process (MDMP)
The Military Decision Making Process (MDMP) consists of seven steps. Each step of the MDMP has various inputs, a method (step) to conduct, and outputs...
NEW! The Battle Staff SMARTbook, 5th Ed. (BSS5)
Commanders, supported by their staffs, use the operations process to drive the conceptual and detailed planning necessary to understand, visualize, and describe their operational environment; make and articulate decisions; and direct, lead, and assess military operations...
Homeland Security
Homeland Security (HS) is a concerted national effort to prevent terrorist attacks within the US; reduce domestic vulnerability to terrorism, major disasters, and other emergencies...
Patrols & Patrolling
A patrol is sent out by a larger unit to conduct a specific combat, reconnaissance, or security mission. A patrol’s organization is temporary and specifically matched to the immediate task.
NEW! Cultural Guide SMARTbook 1: Afghanistan
Cultural awareness has become an increasingly important competency for leaders at all levels. Perceptive leaders learn how cultures affect operations...
Unit Training Management (UTM)
Unit Training Management (UTM) provides the key how-to details of the US Army’s training processes that bridge the doctrine and the dynamic tools (ATN/CATS/DTMS/HQ DA Standardized METL) to make planning, preparing, executing and assessing unit training possible.
Joint Interagency Task Force (JIATF)
A Joint Interagency Task Force (JIATF) may be formed when the mission requires close integration of two or more USG agencies...
NEW! The Homeland Defense & DSCA SMARTbook (HDS1)
Homeland Defense is the protection of US sovereignty, territory, domestic population, critical infrastructure or other threats as directed by the President...
About the Elements of Combat Power
To execute operations, commanders conceptualize capabilities in terms of combat power...
NEW! Disaster Response SMARTbook 3: Disaster Preparedness (DRS3)
Surviving Disasters on Your Own Terms. Sometimes things go badly and all our hopes and plans fail us. Our illusions are shattered, our expectations are beyond anyone’s capacity to fulfill, and our demands go unanswered...
SMARTleaders at the University of Virginia ROTC!
ROTC Cadets at the University of Virginia with their SMARTleader book donations from The Lightning Press...
Patrol Organization
A patrol is organized to perform specific tasks. It must be prepared to secure itself, navigate accurately, identify and cross danger areas, and reconnoiter the patrol objective.
About the Elements of Decisive Action
Army forces demonstrate the Army’s core competencies through decisive action—the continuous, simultaneous...
Understanding the Instruments of National Power
National power is defined as the sum of all resources available to a nation in the pursuit of national objectives. The phrase instruments of national power refers to the tools a country uses to influence other countries or international organizations or even non-state actors....
