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1 [1] (January 2, 2024)

handle is hein.crs/govenwf0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Congressional Research Service Informing the legislative debate since 1914 0 Updated January 2, 2024 Defense Primer: Army Multi-Domain Operations (MDO) As an operational concept, Multi-Domain Operations (MDO) influence what types of weapon systems and equipment the Army procures, what types and numbers of soldiers are needed, the organizational structure of the Army, and what type of training is required-all significant congressional oversight concerns. WhatAreMulti-Domain Operations According to the Army's Field Manual (FM) Operations dated October 1, 2022 Multi-Domain Operations are the combined arms employment of joint and Army capabilities to create and exploit relative advantages that achieve objectives, defeat enemy forces, and consolidate gains on behalf of joint force commanders. Employing Army and joint capabilities makes use of all available combat power from each domain to accomplish missions at least cost. Multi-Domain Operations are the Army's contribution to joint campaigns, spanning the competition continuum. Below the threshold of armed conflict, multi-domain operations are how Army forces accrue advantages and demonstrate readiness for conflict, deterring adversaries while assuring allies and partners. During conflict, they are how Army forces close with and destroy the enemy, defeat enemy formations, seize critical terrain, and control populations and resources to deliver sustainable political outcomes. Why Did the Armny Adopt M DO? MDO is described in a December 2018 Army publication, The U.S. Army in Multi-Domain Operations 2028. The Army developed MDO in response to the 2018 National Defense Strategy which shifted the previous focus of U.S. national security from countering violent extremists worldwide to confronting revisionist powers-primarily Russia and China-that are said to want to shape a world consistent with their authoritarian model-gaining veto authority over other nations' economic, diplomatic, and security decisions. According to The U.S. Army in Multi- Domain Operations 2028 China and Russia exploit the conditions of the operational environment to achieve their objectives without resorting to armed conflict by fracturing the U.S.'s alliances, partnerships, and resolve. They attempt to create stand-off through the integration of diplomatic and economic actions, unconventional and information warfare (social media, false narratives, cyber-attacks), and the actual or threatened employment of conventional forces. By creating instability within countries and alliances, China and Russia create political separation that results in strategic ambiguity reducing the speed of friendly recognition, decision, and reaction. Through these competitive actions, China and Russia believe they can achieve objectives below the threshold of armed conflict. How the Army Intends to Compete Arguably, competition is a critical aspect of MDO because if conducted successfully, conflict might be avoided. According to U.S. Army Chief of Staff Paper #2, The Army in Military Competition, dated March 1, 2021, the Army competes in three ways Narrative competition is reflected in the rise and fall of a country's reputation based on general perceptions of its strength, reliability, and resolve. The Army contributes by being a lethal, competent, credible force and being recognized as such by allies, partners, and adversaries. Direct competition encompasses the full range of competitive activities, from the lowest intensity competition below armed conflict through general state conflict. In direct competition, the objective is to create leverage for the United States and to deny leverage to adversaries. Indirect competition's objective is to gain advantage (or deny it to the adversary). This objective is in contrast to the more forceful concept of leverage in direct competition. The Army contributes by offering a range of credible options for policymakers. Some of these options include overseas exercises, security cooperation, security force assistance, military-to-military exchanges, overseas basing, intelligence sharing, and disaster relief. In this regard, indirect competition is not a new operational concept but instead a re-designation of traditional activities short of armed conflict. Army leadership believes if the Army and the other Services prevail in these competitions, U.S. national security objectives should be achieved. How MDO Is intended to Work The Army's central idea is to prevail by competing successfully in all domains short of conflict, thereby deterring a potential enemy. If deterrence fails, Army and Joint forces are to Penetrate enemy anti-access and area denial (A2/AD) systems (layered and integrated long-range precision-strike systems, littoral anti-ship capabilities, air defenses, and long-range artillery and rocket systems) to enable strategic and operational maneuver of U.S. forces. Dis-integrate-disrupt, degrade, or destroy A2/AD systems to enable operational and tactical maneuver of U.S. forces.