Upgrade/update to the NEW 5th Edition w/Change 1 (JFODS5-1)!

JFODS5: The Joint Forces Operations & Doctrine SMARTbook, 5th Ed. (Jan 2018) has been superseded by a newer fifth edition JFODS5 w/Change 1 (Apr 2020), but copies are still available here for readers looking for this specific edition or as required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 JFODS5-1 edition!

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.

Upgrade/update to the NEW 6th Edition (BSS6)!

The Battle Staff SMARTbook, 4th Ed. (May 2010) has been superseded by a newer sixth edition BSS6 (Aug '20).

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!

Upgrade/update to the NEW 5th Edition w/Chg 1 (JFODS5-1)!

JFODS4: The Joint Forces Operations & Doctrine SMARTbook, 4th Ed. (Jul 2015) has been superseded by a newer fifth edition w/change 1 JFODS5-1 (Apr '20).

JFODS5 is the fifth revised edition of The Joint Forces Operations & Doctrine SMARTbook, incorporating the full scope of new material from the latest editions of JP 3-0 Joint Operations (Jan ‘17), JP 5-0 Joint Planning (Jun ’17), JP 1 Doctrine for the Armed Forces of the United States (Change 1, Jul ‘17), and JP 3-08 Interorganizational Cooperation (Oct ‘16). Additional chapters and topics include Joint Task Force Headquarters (Jun ‘12), JP 4-0 Joint Logistics (Oct ‘13), JDN 2-13 Commander’s Communication Synchronization (Dec ‘13), JP 3-13 Information Operations (Nov ‘14), and JP 3-16 Multinational Operations (Jul ‘13).

Upgrade/update to the NEW 6th Edition (BSS6)!

BSS5: The Battle Staff SMARTbook, 5th Ed. (Jul 2015) has been superseded by a newer sixth edition BSS6 (Aug '20).

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!

Upgrade/update to the NEW 2nd Edition (TAA2)!

The Stability, Peace & Counterinsurgency SMARTbook (Jan '10) is out of date has been superseded by a newer second edition TAA2 (Jan '18).

TAA2: The Military Engagement, Security Cooperation & Stability SMARTbook (with Change 1*) is the re-titled and re-focused second edition of The Stability, Peace & Counterinsurgency SMARTbook. Topics and references include the Range of Military Operations (JP 3-0); Train, Advise & Assist (SFA/FID/IDAD/HN/FSF); Stability Operations (JP & ADRP 3-07); Peace Operations (JP & FM 3-07.3); Counterinsurgency Operations (JP & FM 3-24); Civil-Military Operations (JP 3-57); Multinational Operations (JP 3-16); and Interorganizational Cooperation (JP 3-08).

* Change 1 to TAA2 (Sept 2017) incorporates new material and text edits from JP 3-0 (Jan 2017), JP 3-07 (Aug 2016), JP 3-20 (May 2017), JDN 1-3 (Apr 2013), and JP 3-08 (Oct 2016). An asterisk marks changed pages.

In the complex, dynamic operational environments of the 21st century, significant challenges to sustainable peace and security exist. Sources of instability that push parties toward violence include religious fanaticism, global competition for resources, climate change, residual territorial claims, ideology, ethnic tension, elitism, greed, and the desire for power. These factors create belts of state fragility and instability that threaten U.S. national security.

Throughout U.S. history, U.S. forces have learned that military force alone cannot secure sustainable peace. U.S. forces can only achieve sustainable peace through a comprehensive approach in which military objectives nest in a larger cooperative effort of the departments and agencies of the U.S. Government, intergovernmental and nongovernmental organizations, multinational partners, the private sector, and the host nation.

Military engagement, security cooperation, and stability missions, tasks, and actions encompass a wide range of actions where the military instrument of national power is tasked to support OGAs and cooperate with IGOs (e.g., UN, NATO) and other countries to protect and enhance national security interests, deter conflict, and set conditions for future contingency operations.

Use of joint capabilities in these and related activities such as Security Force Assistance and Foreign Internal Defense helps shape the operational environment and keep the day-to-day tensions between nations or groups below the threshold of armed conflict while maintaining US global influence.

Stability operations are various military missions, tasks, and activities conducted outside the US in coordination with other instruments of national power to maintain or reestablish a safe and secure environment, provide essential governmental services, emergency infrastructure reconstruction, and humanitarian relief.

Peace Operations are crisis response and limited contingency operations conducted by a combination of military forces and nonmilitary organizations to contain conflict, redress the peace, and shape the environment to support reconciliation and rebuilding and to facilitate the transition to legitimate governance.

A counterinsurgency campaign is a mix of offensive, defensive, and stability operations conducted along multiple lines of operations. It requires military forces to employ a mix of familiar combat tasks and skills more often associated with nonmilitary agencies and to be nation builders as well as warriors.

Civil-military operations are a primary military instrument to synchronize military and nonmilitary instruments of national power, particularly in support of stability, counterinsurgency and other operations dealing with asymmetric and irregular threats.

Upgrade/update to the NEW 3rd Edition (MEU3)!

MEU2: The Marine Expeditionary Unit SMARTbook, 2nd Ed. (Apr 2016) has been superseded by a newer third edition MEU3 (Dec '20).

MEU3 is the third edition of the MEU SMARTbook, updated for 2020 with 34 pages of updated/additional material and a return of the original GBC plastic-comb binding. 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.

The Marine Corps Planning Process (MCPP) is the basis for MEU staff planning. Planning is the art and science of envisioning a desired future and laying out effective ways of bringing it about. In war, planning can be essential to the ability to seize the initiative. In order to seize the initiative, we must be able to anticipate events and act purposefully and effectively before the enemy can. Planning mitigates crises by dealing with crisis situations before they reach crisis proportions.

The Rapid Response Planning Process (R2P2) is an accelerated execution of MCPP geared to Crisis Action Planning. The R2P2 process allows the MEU/PHIBRON to anticipate potential missions, create a set of standardized responses through analytical decision-making, and rehearse their responses to achieve full capability within six hours of receipt of a warning or execute order.

Rapid planning requires extensive training in the techniques and procedures associated with R2P2. It requires standardized, detailed, parallel, and concurrent command and staff actions using Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) that are understood by all members of the unit.

The Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) SMARTbook helps to generate tempo and staff synergy in time-compressed situations through the use of “playbooks” for rapid planning and templates for efficient briefings.

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.

Upgrade/update to the NEW 7th Edition (TLS7)!

TLS6: The Leader’s SMARTbook, 6th Ed. (Mar 2021) has been superseded by a new seventh edition TLS7 (Aug 2023), 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 TLS7 edition!

TLS6 is the sixth edition of The Leader’s SMARTbook, completely updated for 2021. TLS6 incorporates the full scope of new material from ADP 6-22 Army Leadership and the Profession (with Change 1), ADP 7-0 Training, and FM 7-0 Train to Win in a Complex World. Jam-packed at 392 pages, topics and chapters include military leadership (ADP 6-22); leader development (FM 6-22); coach, counsel, and mentor (ATP 6-22.1), team building; (ATP 6-22.6), military training (ADP 7-0), train to win in a complex world (FM 7-0); unit training plans, meetings, schedules, briefs; conducting training events and exercises; training assessments, evaluations and after action reviews.

Among professions, the Army Profession has unique characteristics because of the lethality of our operations. The Nation tasks the Army to do many things besides combat operations, but ultimately the primary reason the Army exists is to fight and win the Nation’s wars through prompt and sustained land combat, as part of the joint force. The Army must always be prepared to accomplish this mission through the application of lethal force.

Leadership is the process of influencing people by providing purpose, direction, and motivation to accomplish the mission and improve the organization. As an element of combat power, leadership unifies the other elements of combat power (information, mission command, movement and maneuver, intelligence, fires, sustainment and protection). Confident, competent, and informed leadership intensifies the effectiveness of the other elements of combat power.

The Army depends upon itself to develop adaptable leaders able to achieve mission accomplishment in dynamic, unstable, and complex environments. A robust, holistic leader development program is essential. Through a mix of education, training, and experience, Army leader development processes produce and sustain agile, adaptive, and innovative leaders who act with boldness and initiative in dynamic, complex situations to execute missions according to doctrine, orders, and training.

Leaders have three principal ways of developing others. They can provide knowledge and feedback through counseling, coaching, and mentoring. The military is a team of teams composed of numerous organizations with one overarching common mission: win the nation’s wars. The ability to build teams through mutual trust and maintain effective, cohesive teams throughout military operations is an essential skill for all commanders, staffs, and leaders.

The Army trains to win in a complex world. To fight and win in a chaotic, ambiguous, and complex environment, the Army trains to provide forces ready to conduct unified land operations. The Army does this by conducting tough, realistic, and challenging training. Training is the most important thing the Army does to prepare for operations. Training is the cornerstone of readiness. Readiness determines our Nation’s ability to fight and win in a complex global environment.

Upgrade/update to the NEW 3rd Edition (SUTS3)!

SUTS2: The Small Unit Tactics SMARTbook, 2nd Ed. w/Change 1 (May 2017) has been superseded by a new third edition SUTS3 (Feb 2020), 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 SUTS3 edition!

SUTS2: The Small Unit Tactics SMARTbook, 2nd Ed. (with Change 1*) is the second revised edition of The Small Unit Tactics SMARTbook, featuring the full scope of new material and Doctrine 2015 updates to include ADP/ADRP 3-90 Offense and Defense, ADP/ADRP 5-0 The Operations Process, ADP/ADRP 6-0 Mission Command and more than 20 additional references. 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.

* Change 1 to SUTS2 (Mar 2017) incorporates additional material from ADRP 3-0 (Nov 2016), FM 6-0 (Chg 2, Apr 2016) and Train, Advise, Assist (chap 4). An asterisk marks changed pages.

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.

Establishing a common frame of reference, doctrine provides a menu of practical options based on experience. It provides an authoritative guide for leaders and Soldiers but requires original applications that adapt it to circumstances.

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, providing a ready reference at the battalion, company, platoon, squad and fire team level.

Leading, Planning & Conducting Tactical Operations

SUTS2: The Small Unit Tactics SMARTbook, 2nd Ed. w/Change 1 (May 2017) has been superseded by a new third edition SUTS3 (Feb 2020), 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 SUTS3 edition!

We are pleased to announce the availability of a limited quantity of our SMARTbooks converted with premium GBC Plastic-Comb binding (instead of traditional "perfect" book binding). Get yours now while supplies last! (As these are manually-converted by hand, some binding inconsistencies may exist.)

SUTS2: The Small Unit Tactics SMARTbook, 2nd Ed. (with Change 1*) is the second revised edition of The Small Unit Tactics SMARTbook, featuring the full scope of new material and Doctrine 2015 updates to include ADP/ADRP 3-90 Offense and Defense, ADP/ADRP 5-0 The Operations Process, ADP/ADRP 6-0 Mission Command and more than 20 additional references. 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.

* Change 1 to SUTS2 (Mar 2017) incorporates additional material from ADRP 3-0 (Nov 2016), FM 6-0 (Chg 2, Apr 2016) and Train, Advise, Assist (chap 4). An asterisk marks changed pages.

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.

Establishing a common frame of reference, doctrine provides a menu of practical options based on experience. It provides an authoritative guide for leaders and Soldiers but requires original applications that adapt it to circumstances.

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, providing a ready reference at the battalion, company, platoon, squad and fire team level.