Army Concept Framework builds on Capstone Concept, provides strategic guidance

By TRADOC Public AffairsNovember 23, 2010

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FORT MONROE, Va. - The Army Concept Framework provides the conceptual foundation for the development of capabilities for the future force in the 2016 to 2028 timeframe. This family of concepts examines the projected operational environment and provide strategic guidance to develop the capabilities required in support of Army modernization.

Published as a series of Training and Doctrine Command pamphlets, they "refocus our modernization efforts conceptually and provide the basis for developing new capabilities for the Army for the future," according to Lieutenant Colonel Mark Elfendahl, chief of the Joint and Army Concepts Division at the Army Capabilities Integration Center.

The foundation of the Army Concept Framework is the Army Capstone Concept, or ACC. "The Army Capstone Concept, was really a landmark; a kind of a watershed document that made a number of important points with regards to how we should approach both the future of our operational environment and how we should prepare for and respond to emerging threats and other trends around the world," said Elfendahl. Published as TRADOC PAM 525-3-0 on December 21, 2009 it can be downloaded <a href="http://www.tradoc.army.mil/tpubs/pams/tp525-3-0.pdf" target="_blank">here</a> and you can watch the Army Capstone Concept video <a href="http://vimeo.com/7066453" target="_blank">here</a>.

The Army Operating Concept, or AOC, expands upon the ACC to describe the employment of Army forces in the context of joint operations and describes the capabilities they will require to meet future challenges. Published as TRADOC PAM 525-3-1 on August 19, 2010 it can be downloaded <a href="http://www.tradoc.army.mil/tpubs/pams/tp525-3-1.pdf" target="_blank">here</a> and you can watch the Army Operating Concept video <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/usarmytradoc'feature=mhum#p/a/u/1/MWMym8yNT9Y" target="_blank">here</a>.

In addition to the ACC and AOC, there are six functional and three supporting concepts.

The first set of six concepts are grouped together as Army Functional Concepts, or AFC, and are organized by warfighting functions. These concepts, published on October 13, 2010 are: mission command, intelligence, movement and maneuver, fires, protection, and sustainment. They detail how the Army will conduct future operations and give specific direction for future force capability development.

The U.S. Army Functional Concept for Mission, Command, TRADOC Pam 525-3-3, discusses the exercise of authority and direction by commanders, supported by their staffs, that fosters mutual trust, encourages initiative, and empowers subordinate leaders to develop the situation, adapt, and act decisively within the commander's intent. TRADOC Pam 525-3-3 can be downloaded <a href="http://www.tradoc.army.mil/tpubs/pams/tp525-3-3.pdf" target="_blank">here</a>.

The U.S. Army Functional Concept for Intelligence, TRADOC Pam 525-2-1, discusses how the Army will create versatile and interoperable intelligence organizations capable of conducting synchronized, proactive intelligence operations. It can be downloaded <a href="http://www.tradoc.army.mil/tpubs/pams/tp525-2-1.pdf" target="_blank">here</a>.

The U.S. Army Functional Concept for Movement and Maneuver, TRADOC Pam 525-3-6, describes how future Army forces will conduct combined arms maneuver (CAM) and wide area security (WAS) operations under the mission command of division and corps in the conduct of full spectrum operations. It can be downloaded <a href="http://www.tradoc.army.mil/tpubs/pams/tp525-3-6.pdf" target="_blank">here</a>.

The U.S. Army Functional Concept for Fires, TRADOC Pam 525-3-4, describes how operationally adaptable fires match a wide range of targets with the right sensor and the right effects to achieve timely, effective, and efficient fires in a wide variety of environmental and operational conditions, including homeland defense. TRADOC Pam 525-3-4 can be downloaded <a href="http://www.tradoc.army.mil/tpubs/pams/tp525-3-4.pdf" target="_blank">here</a>.

The U.S. Army Functional Concept for Protection, TRADOC Pam 525-3-5, describes how synchronized and integrated protection capabilities, enable Army forces to identify, prevent, and mitigate threats and hazards while maintaining combat power and freedom of action. It can be downloaded <a href="http://www.tradoc.army.mil/tpubs/pams/tp525-3-5.pdf" target="_blank">here</a>.

The U.S. Army Functional Concept for Sustainment, TRADOC Pam 525-4-1, details how the Army will deploy, sustain, provide logistics, personnel services, and health services support to Army, joint, intergovernmental, interagency, and multinational elements that enable decisive action during full spectrum operations. TRADOC Pam 525-4-1 can be downloaded <a href="http://www.tradoc.army.mil/tpubs/pams/tp525-4-1.pdf" target="_blank">here</a>.

Three additional concepts focus on development of the future Army Soldiers, leaders, and organizations. These are the Human Dimension Concept, Army Learning Concept, and Army Training Concept.

The Human Dimension Concept, TRADOC Pam 525-3-7, describes the importance of developing the cognitive, physical, and moral aspects of Soldiers and leaders. It can be downloaded <a href="http://www.tradoc.army.mil/tpubs/pams/p525-3-7.pdf" target="_blank">here</a> and a video discussing the Human Dimension can be found <a href="http://vimeo.com/15636923" target="_blank">here</a>.

The Army Learning Concept describes the learning model the future Army will use to develop its Soldiers and leaders. It emphasizes a career-long continuum of learning that involves a combination of self-development, institutional instruction, and operational experience. A video discussing the Army Leaning Concept can be found <a href="http://vimeo.com/15637290" target="_blank">here</a>.

The Army Training Concept describes how the Army will build on the individual Soldier and leader skills taught in the institutional learning environment. Through complex and challenging collective unit training opportunities, this concept will describe how to transform individual skills into adaptive collective skills and enhanced unit readiness.

Related Links:

TRADOC Pam 525-3-7: The Human Dimension Concept (.pdf)

TRADOC Pam 525-2-1: U.S. Army Functional Concept for Intelligence (.pdf)

TRADOC Pam 525-3-0: The Army Capstone Concept (.pdf)

TRADOC Pam 525-3-1: The Army Operating Concept (.pdf)

TRADOC Pam 525-3-3: U.S. Army Functional Concept for Mission, Command (.pdf)

TRADOC Pam 525-3-4: U.S. Army Functional Concept for Fires (.pdf)

TRADOC Pam 525-3-5: U.S. Army Functional Concept for Protection (.pdf)

TRADOC Pam 525-3-6: U.S. Army Functional Concept for Movement and Maneuver (.pdf)

TRADOC Pam 525-4-1: U.S. Army Functional Concept for Sustainment (.pdf)

Video: Gen. Martin Dempsey on the Army Operating Concept