The Army in Military Competition: Chief of Staff Paper #2

Military competition encompasses the range of activities and operations employed to achieve political objectives and to deny adversaries the ability to achieve objectives prejudicial to the United States. Armed conflict is one element of what is termed the competition continuum in joint doctrine. The focus of this publication is the set of activities that occur outside of armed conflict. These might be taken to directly achieve objectives without fighting or they might be part of preparations for armed conflict meant to both deter adversaries and to ensure the Joint Force begins a conflict on the most favorable terms. In all instances, the Joint Force competes as part of a national strategy that integrates all instruments of power to accomplish U.S. objectives. The Army contributes to military competition by building and employing land force capability and capacity to support a broad range of policy choices. -Military activities during competition support other instruments of national power as part of a coordinated strategic approach to achieve policy aims. -Military activities during competition can be either defensive or offensive; lethal or nonlethal; unilateral or multilateral; employ conventional, irregular, and special operations forces from each of the military services in multiple domains. -Military activities during competition preserve and expand friendly (U.S., allies, and partners) advantages while limiting or eroding adversary options, imposing costs, and increasing adversary doubts. They can establish deterrence and set the conditions for military success when deterrence fails. Services contribute to military competition by resourcing capabilities and presence, as well as by fostering and maintaining relationships that yield access and influence. Combatant Commands compete through the employment of forces in engagement, exercises, security cooperation, and other activities to achieve desired outcomes in competition and create favorable conditions.