ADP 3-05 Army Special Operations (2019. 7. 31.)

Description

This publication supersedes ADP 3-05 and ADRP 3-05, both dated 29 January 2018.

Preface

ADP 3-05 provides a broad understanding of Army special operations. ADP 3-05 provides a foundation for how the Army meets the joint force commander’s needs to achieve unified action by appropriately integrating Army conventional and special operations forces.

The principal audience for ADP 3-05 is all members of the profession of arms. Commanders and staffs of Army headquarters serving as joint task force or multinational headquarters should also refer to applicable joint or multinational doctrine concerning the range of military operations and joint or multinational forces. Trainers and educators throughout the Army will also use this publication. Senior Army leaders can use this publication to describe the contributions of Army special operations across the range of military operations to other senior Service leaders and senior government civilian leaders.

Commanders, staffs, and subordinates ensure their decisions and actions comply with applicable U.S., international, and, in some cases, host-nation laws and regulations. Commanders at all levels ensure their Soldiers operate in accordance with the law of war and the rules of engagement.

Army special operations are doctrinally linked to ADP 3-0, Operations, and JP 3-05, Special Operations. Army special operations forces conduct special operations in three contexts; as an integrated line of operation supporting Army unified land operations, as a separate Army line of effort supporting combatant commander campaign plans, and as the main or sole operation as directed by national command authorities.

ADP 3-05 uses joint terms where applicable. Selected joint and Army terms and definitions appear in both the glossary and the text. Terms for which ADP 3-05 is the proponent publication (the authority) are marked with an asterisk (*) in the glossary. Terms and definitions for which ADP 3-05 is the proponent publication are boldfaced in the text. For other definitions shown in the text, the term is italicized and the number of the proponent publication follows the definition.

Army special operations forces are those Active and Reserve Component Army forces designated by the Secretary of Defense that are specifically organized, trained, and equipped to conduct and support special operations (JP 3-05). These forces include Civil Affairs, Psychological Operations, Rangers, Special Forces, Special Mission Units, and Army special operations aviation forces assigned to the United States Army Special Operations Command—all supported by the 528th Sustainment Brigade (Special Operations) (Airborne).

ADP 3-05 applies to the Active Army, the Army National Guard/Army National Guard of the United States, and the United States Army Reserve unless otherwise stated.

The proponent of ADP 3-05 is the U.S. Army Special Operations Center of Excellence. The preparing agency is the U.S. Army Special Operations Center of Excellence, U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School, Directorate of Training and Doctrine, Joint and Army Doctrine Integration Division.