Release of FM 5-0, The Operations Process
What is it'
Field Manual (FM) 5-0, The Operations Process, is the Army's keystone doctrine on the exercise of command and control in full spectrum operations. No longer devoted exclusively to planning and orders production, FM 5-0 provides doctrine on how commanders and staff conduct all the activities of the operations process-planning, preparing, executing and assessing. This manual focuses on how commanders drive the operations process using battle command.
Additionally, FM 5-0 provides a methodology to assist commanders, staffs, and others in understanding complex, ill-structured problems and ways to develop approaches to solve or manage those problems. Collectively this approach is referred to as design. As such, FM 5-0 provides a guide for cultivating adaptive and creative leadership and approaches to solving problems in ever-changing operational environments.
What had the Army done'
Lessons learned from ongoing operations, the transformation to the modular force and recent revisions to capstone and keystone joint and Army doctrine all required major revisions to the current FM 5-0. Of the many lessons learned since 2001, a critical need to improve our ability to exercise the cognitive aspects of command and control (understanding and visualizing) stood out. Additionally, leaders identified a need to better describe how commanders, staffs and others interact during operations. As such, the Army began revamping FM 5-0 in 2007. As part of the development strategy, the manual was staffed to military and civilian organizations to stimulate debate and gain consensus concerning the Army's direction for its doctrine on the exercise of command and control.
What efforts does the Army plan to continue in the future'
A significant effort is underway to educate the Army concerning the new FM 5-0. The FM 5-0 writing team will conduct education seminars with various schools, centers and operational units. In addition, an interactive study guide will be available on FM 5-0. The Army is currently revising FM 6-0 that will expand many concepts addressed in the new FM 5-0.
Why is this important to the Army'
Army forces conduct full-spectrum operations within a complex and ever-changing operational environment characterized by growing uncertainty and the need for greater decentralization. FM 5-0 describes how commanders, supported by their staffs, subordinate commanders and civilian partners effectively exercise command and control.
Resources:
<a href="http://usacac.army.mil/cac2/" target="_blank">U.S. Army Combined Arms Center Web site</a>
AKO log in required: <a href="https://www.us.army.mil/suite/doc/21578752" target="_blank">FM 5-0, The Operations Process</a>
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