The U.S. Army released a 46-page doctrine Wednesday that distills modern warfare into four core missions: disrupt enemy command systems, strike targets with overwhelming firepower, assault positions with ground forces, and maintain operations despite enemy counterattacks. The guide, titled “How The Army Fights,” marks the service’s first comprehensive update to operational strategy in years as military planners prepare for potential conflicts with China and Russia.
The document focuses on how tactical actions can improve operational outcomes across large-scale combat operations. Army leaders say the framework addresses hard lessons from Ukraine, where command disruption and resilience under fire have determined battlefield success more than raw troop numbers.
Four Pillars for Large-Scale Combat
The “disrupt” pillar emphasizes attacking enemy command and control networks before kinetic operations begin. Modern warfare increasingly depends on degrading an adversary’s ability to coordinate forces and respond to rapidly changing conditions on the battlefield.
The “strike” component calls for massing fires—artillery, missiles, and air support—to destroy enemy formations and infrastructure before ground troops advance. The “assault” phase then commits infantry and armor to seize terrain and eliminate remaining resistance.
The fourth pillar, “endure,” addresses a vulnerability American forces haven’t faced in decades: operating while under sustained attack. Unlike counterinsurgency operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, peer adversaries can strike U.S. command posts, supply lines, and communications networks. The Army must now train units to function through disruption that would have halted operations in previous conflicts.
Implications for Force Structure and Readiness
The doctrine’s release comes as Congress debates Army modernization funding and force structure. The service has requested billions for long-range precision fires and integrated air defense systems—capabilities that support the strike and endure missions.
Army officials noted the guidance targets operational and strategic planning levels, providing senior commanders a framework for employing forces across multiple theaters simultaneously. That matters if the U.S. faces crises in Europe and the Indo-Pacific at the same time, a scenario war-gamers say is increasingly plausible.
The document does not specify troop levels or equipment requirements, leaving those decisions to theater commanders and Pentagon planners. Its focus remains on concepts rather than prescribed solutions.
Key Points
- Army’s new doctrine centers on disrupting enemy command, massing fires, assaulting with ground troops, and enduring counterattacks
- Guide addresses lessons from Ukraine where resilience under fire determines battlefield success
- Framework assumes future conflicts where U.S. forces operate while under sustained enemy attack
https://www.defensenews.com/news/your-military/2026/10/14/disrupt-strike-assault-and-endure-the-4-pillars-of-the-us-armys-new-warfare-guidance/ – October 14, 2026
