Doctrinal Guide to Military Decision Making & Tactical Operations

The Battle Staff SMARTbook, 2nd Ed. (2005) has been superseded by a newer sixth edition BSS6 (Aug '20), but copies are still available here for readers looking for this specific edition or as required material for a specific course or class requirement.

Or upgrade/update to the NEW edition! Click "HERE" to browse the new BSS6 edition!

BSS6 is the sixth edition of The Battle Staff SMARTbook, completely updated for 2020. Updated material includes the full scope of new material from ADP 5-0, The Operations Process (Jul ‘19); ADP 6-0, Mission Command (Jul ‘19); FM 3-0 (w/Change 1), Operations (Dec ‘17); FM 6-0 (w/change 2), Commander and Staff Organization and Operations (Apr ‘16); ATP 2-01.3, Intelligence Preparation of the Battlefield (Mar ‘19); ADP 3-19, Fires (Jul ‘19); ATP 3-60, Targeting (May ‘15); ATP 5-19 (w/change 1), Risk Management (Apr ‘14); and ADP 1-02, Terms and Military Symbols (Aug ‘19); and more. BSS6 also features a return of our premium GBC plastic-comb binding for a true open-flat reference experience!

The Battle Staff SMARTbook covers the operations process (ADP 5-0); commander’s activities; Army planning methodologies; the military decisionmaking process and troop leading procedures (FM 6-0 w/Chg 2: MDMP & TLP); integrating processes (IPB, information collection, targeting, risk management, and knowledge management); plans and orders (WARNORDs/FRAGORDs/OPORDs); mission command, C2 warfighting function tasks, command posts, liaison (ADP 6-0); rehearsals & after action reviews; and operational terms and military symbols (ADP 1-02).

Always check our website for the most current and up-to-date SMARTbook edition! The Lightning Press is committed to providing the best and most relevant doctrinal material to our readers and are vigilant in reviewing new publications, anticipating upcoming doctrinal releases, and incorporating the updated material into our SMARTbook series!

Plan, Prepare, Execute, & Assess Military Operations

BSS6 is the sixth edition of The Battle Staff SMARTbook, completely updated for 2020. Updated material includes the full scope of new material from ADP 5-0, The Operations Process (Jul ‘19); ADP 6-0, Mission Command (Jul ‘19); FM 3-0 (w/Change 1), Operations (Dec ‘17); FM 6-0 (w/change 2), Commander and Staff Organization and Operations (Apr ‘16); ATP 2-01.3, Intelligence Preparation of the Battlefield (Mar ‘19); ADP 3-19, Fires (Jul ‘19); ATP 3-60, Targeting (May ‘15); ATP 5-19 (w/change 1), Risk Management (Apr ‘14); and ADP 1-02, Terms and Military Symbols (Aug ‘19); and more. BSS6 also features a return of our premium GBC plastic-comb binding for a true open-flat reference experience!

The Battle Staff SMARTbook covers the operations process (ADP 5-0); commander’s activities; Army planning methodologies; the military decisionmaking process and troop leading procedures (FM 6-0 w/Chg 2: MDMP & TLP); integrating processes (IPB, information collection, targeting, risk management, and knowledge management); plans and orders (WARNORDs/FRAGORDs/OPORDs); mission command, C2 warfighting function tasks, command posts, liaison (ADP 6-0); rehearsals & after action reviews; and operational terms and military symbols (ADP 1-02).

The Army’s framework for organizing and putting command and control into action is the operations process—the major command and control activities performed during operations: planning, preparing, executing, and continuously assessing the operation. Commanders use the operations process to drive the conceptual and detailed planning necessary to understand their operational environment (OE); visualize and describe the operation’s end state and operational approach; make and articulate decisions; and direct, lead, and assess operations.

Planning is the art and science of understanding a situation, envisioning a desired future, and laying out effective ways of bringing that future about. Preparation consists of those activities performed by units and Soldiers to improve their ability to execute an operation. Execution is the act of putting a plan into action by applying combat power to accomplish the mission and adjusting operations based on changes in the situation. Assessment is a continuous activity that supports decision making by ascertaining progress of the operation for the purpose of developing and refining plans and for making operations more effective.

Guide to FM/ADP 3-0 Operations & the Elements of Combat Power

AODS6-1: The Army Operations & Doctrine SMARTbook (w/SMARTupdate 1*) is the new sixth edition of our Army SMARTbook. Completely updated with the July 2019 ADPs, the 400-pg AODS6-1 includes operations (ADP 3-0), large-scale combat operations (FM 3-0 w/Chg 1), and refocused chapters on the elements of combat power: command & control (ADP 6-0), movement and maneuver (ADPs 3-90, 3-07, 3-28, 3-05), intelligence (ADP 2-0), fires (ADP 3-19), sustainment (ADP 4-0), & protection (ADP 3-37).

*SMARTupdate 1 to AODS6 (July 2019 ADPs) updates/replaces material in the first printing of the AODS6 SMARTbook with new material from the Army’s July 2019 ADPs, along with “pen-and-ink” reference citation and terminology changes. (Readers of the original/base AODS6 can obtain SMARTupdate 1 at www.thelightningpress.com/smartupdates/)

An operation is a sequence of tactical actions with a common purpose or unifying theme. Army forces, with unified action partners, conduct land operations to shape security environments, prevent conflict, prevail in ground combat, and consolidate gains. Army forces provide multiple options for responding to and resolving crises. Army forces defeat enemy forces, control terrain, secure populations, and preserve joint force freedom of action.

While the U.S. Army must be manned, equipped, and trained to operate across the range of military operations, large-scale ground combat against a peer threat represents the most significant readiness requirement. FM 3-0 expands on ADP 3-0 by providing tactics describing how theater armies, corps, divisions, and brigades work together and with unified action partners to successfully prosecute operations short of conflict, prevail in large-scale combat operations, and consolidate gains to win.

Decisive action is the continuous, simultaneous combinations of offensive, defensive, and stability or defense support of civil authorities tasks. Army forces conduct multi-domain battle, as part of a joint force, to seize, retain, and exploit control over enemy forces.

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. Combat power has eight elements: leadership, information, mission command, movement and maneuver, intelligence, fires, sustainment, and protection. The Army collectively describes the last six elements as the warfighting functions.

Guide to Joint, Multinational & Interorganizational Operations

JFODS5-1 is Change 1 to our fifth revised edition of The Joint Forces Operations & Doctrine SMARTbook. In addition to new/updated material from the latest editions of JP 3-0 Joint Operations (w/Change 1, Oct ‘18), JP 4-0 Joint Logistics (Feb ‘19), JP 3-33 Joint Task Force Headquarters (Jan ‘18), and JP 3-16 Multinational Operations (Mar ‘19), JFODS5-1 features a completely new chapter on Joint Air, Land, Maritime and Special Operations (JPs 3-30, 3-31, 3-32 & 3-05). Additional topics and references include JP 1 Doctrine for the Armed Forces of the United States (w/Change 1, Jul ‘17), JP 5-0 Joint Planning (Jun ’17), and JP 3-08 Interorganizational Cooperation (val. Oct ‘17).

The nature of the challenges to the United States and its interests demand that the Armed Forces operate as a fully integrated joint team across the conflict continuum.

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. The potential range of military activities and operations extends from military engagement, security cooperation, and deterrence in times of relative peace up through major operations and campaigns that typically involve large-scale combat.

Joint planning is the deliberate process of determining how (the ways) to use military capabilities (the means) in time and space to achieve objectives (the ends) while considering the associated risks.

Joint logistics is the coordinated use, synchronization, and sharing of two or more Military Departments’ logistics resources to support the joint force. Sustainment provides the joint force commanders freedom of action, endurance, and the ability to extend operational reach.

A joint task force (JTF) is established when the scope, complexity, or other factors of the contingency or crisis require capabilities of Services from at least two Military Departments operating under a single joint force commander.

Achieving national strategic objectives requires effective unified action resulting in unity of effort -- to include interagency, intergovernmental, nongovernmental and multinational partners. This is accomplished by interorganizational cooperation, synchronization, and coordination in the use of the diplomatic, informational, military, and economic instruments of national power.

Guide to Logistics, Personnel Services & Health Services Support

SMFLS4: The Sustainment & Multifunctional Logistics SMARTbook, 4th Ed. (w/Change 1*) is the fourth revised edition of The Sustainment & Multifunctional Logistics SMARTbook. In addition to the most current versions of ADP/ADRP 4-0 Sustainment (Jul ‘12), SMFLS4 incorporates the full scope of new material from ATP 4-94 Theater Sustainment Command (Jun ‘13), ATP 4-93 Sustainment Brigade (Apr ‘16), ATP 4-90 Brigade Support Battalion (Aug ‘14), Sustainment Planning, JP 4-0 Joint Logistics (Oct ‘13), ATP 3-35 Army Deployment and Redeployment (Mar ‘15), and more than a dozen new/updated Army sustainment references to include ATP 4-33, ATP 4-42, ATP 4-16, ATP 4-0.1, ATP 4-34.40, ATP 4-92, FM 1-0, FM 1-04, FM 1-05, FM 1-06, FM 4-01, FM 4-02, and FM 4-30! * Change 1 to SMFLS4 (Mar 2018) incorporates new material from ATP 4-93 Sustainment Brigade (Apr ‘16) and minor text edits from ADRP 3-0 (Nov ‘16). An asterisk marks changed pages. 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. The sustainment warfighting function consists of three major elements: logistics, personnel services, & health service support. Unified land operations acknowledges that strategic success requires fully integrating U.S. military operations with the efforts of interagency and multinational partners. The sustainment of unified land operations requires a continuous link between the strategic, operational, and tactical levels. It also requires close coordination and collaboration with other Services, allies, host nation, and other governmental organizations. Decisive action is the continuous, simultaneous combinations of offensive, defensive, and stability or defense support of civil authorities tasks. Commanders seek to seize, retain, and exploit the initiative while synchronizing their actions. Sustainment, through mission command, enables decisive action. Sustainment provides the operational commander with operational reach, freedom of action and endurance.

Update/Upgrade your first-printing copy of AODS6!

Change 1 (July 2019 APDs) SMARTupdate to AODS6 updates/replaces key material in the first printing of the AODS6: The Army Operations & Doctrine SMARTbook (ISBN 978-1-935886-74-7) with new material from the Army’s July 2019 Army Doctrinal Publications (ADPs), along with critical “pen-and-ink” reference citation and terminology changes.

As the July 2019 ADPs primarily represented a publication restructuring to combine/rewrite the previous ADPs/ADRPs back into single-document ADPs (instead of two separate publications), there was very little substantive change to the core doctrine (i.e., principles, fundamentals, and terminology) as previously presented in AODS6. In many cases, the only real change was to update the reference citation/source and/or page numbers. With this in mind, Change 1 (July 2019 ADPs) SMARTupdate to AODS6 provides change pages focusing primarily on substantive doctrinal differences from the first printing, and not the exhaustive list of content, pen-and-ink edits and reference citation changes caused by the consolidation of the ADPs.

To get the full scope of new material from the July 2019 ADPs, along with complete and comprehensive reference citation, terminology, and material changes fully incorporated, we recommend readers upgrade to the NEW AODS6-1: The Army Operations & Doctrine SMARTbook (w/SMARTupdate 1 built-in)!

Chose one of the following options to get your Update!

SMARTupdates are intended and valid only for pre-existing copies of the original edition. This is a one-for-one upgrade offer; book owners are allowed one upgrade/update per existing original edition copy. Verification of book ownership/purchase may be required.

	1. Download a FREE PDF Copy! Download the FREE PDF update file by clicking "See a Sample" under the cover image above. Follow the step-by-step instructions for printing, trimming, hole-punching, and inserting into your existing SMARTbook.
	2. Download into Adobe Digital Editions! Download the update for use in Adobe Digital Editions and view/print along with the rest of your Digital SMARTbooks library! (The nominal fee facilitates the download link into your account and license for AdobeID.) *Already have the full Digital SMARTbook version of AODS6? Read our note below to get your updated eBook!
	3. Purchase Printed, Tabbed, and Hole-Punched Copy! Let us do the work for you. Select the "Paperback Edition" of the SMARTupdate above to purchase the update fully printed, collated, tabbed and hole-punched ready to insert directly into your book.
	4. UPGRADE to the Full NEW AODS6-1 at a DISCOUNT! To get the full scope of new material from the July 2019 ADPs, along with complete and comprehensive reference citation, terminology, and material changes incorporated throughout, we recommend readers upgrade to the NEW AODS6-1 (w/SMARTupdate 1 built-in). Use your SMARTnews member-only discount (email list details below) or email us proof-of-purchase for a 20% discount!

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Planning & Conducting Tactical Operations

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 (Jul ‘19), FM 3-0 Operations w/Change 1 (Dec ‘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. SUTS3 also features a return of our premium GBC plastic-comb binding for a true open-flat reference experience!

At 344-pages, chapters and topics include tactical mission fundamentals, the offense, the defense, stability and counterinsurgency operations, tactical enabling tasks (security, reconnaissance, relief in place, passage of lines, encirclement, and troop movement), special purpose attacks (ambush and raid), urban and regional environments (urban, fortified areas, desert, cold region, mountain, and jungle operations), patrols and patrolling.

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 nature of close combat in land operations is unique. Combatants routinely come face-to-face with one another in large numbers in a wide variety of operational environments comprising all types of terrain. When other means fail to drive enemy forces from their positions, forces close with and destroy or capture them.

Offensive actions are combat operations conducted to defeat and destroy enemy forces and seize terrain, resources, and population centers. They impose the commander’s will on the enemy. A commander may also conduct offensive actions to deprive the enemy of resources, seize decisive terrain, deceive or divert the enemy, develop intelligence, or hold an enemy in position. The four primary offensive tasks are movement to contact, attack, exploitation, and pursuit.

A defensive task is a task conducted to defeat an enemy attack, gain time, economize forces, and develop conditions favorable for offensive or stability tasks. Although on the defense, the commander remains alert for opportunities to attack the enemy. A defending force does not wait passively to be attacked, aggressively seeking ways of attriting and weakening enemy forces before close combat begins. There are three basic defensive tasks—area defense, mobile defense, and retrograde.

The Small Unit Tactics SMARTbook translates and bridges operational-level doctrine into tactical application -- in the form of tactics, techniques and procedures -- and provides the “how to” at the small-unit level as a ready reference at the battalion, company, platoon, squad and fire team level.