FM 1: The Army
Official US Army Field Manual in Acrobat PDF file format.
The Army is the primary Landpower arm of our Nation’s Armed Forces. It exists to serve
the American people, protect enduring national interests, and fulfill the Nation’s military
responsibilities. FM 1 is one of the Army’s two capstone field manuals. It contains our
vision for the Army. While the entire manual is important, I would direct your attention to
four particular items.
FM 1 establishes the fundamental principles for employing Landpower. The most important of these are the Army’s operational concept and the fundamentals that support it. They form the foundation for all Army doctrine. All Soldiers should understand and internalize them.
FM 1 describes the American profession of arms, the Army’s place in it, and what it means to be a professional Soldier. Central to this discussion are the Soldier’s Creed, Warrior Ethos, and Army Values. These three statements establish the guiding values and standards of the Army profession. To understand Soldiers, you must know about them. To be a Soldier, you must live them.
FM 1 discusses Army contributions to the joint force. As the Armed Forces achieve even
greater joint interdependence, the Army will depend more on the other Services and vice
versa. For this reason, the Army is currently transforming its units and institutions to enhance our campaign qualities for sustained operations and to achieve greater expeditionary and joint capabilities. It is important for Soldiers and all who support or are associated with the Army to understand these contributions and how the Army is transforming to better meet its obligations to the other Services.
Finally, FM 1 talks about Soldiers, the centerpiece of all Army organizations. Without Soldiers there is no Army. Soldiers of all components and the Army civilians who support
them render selfless service to the Nation daily. FM 1 begins and ends with Soldiers because the Army begins and ends with Soldiers. It is they who, together with their leaders, will keep the Army relevant and ready, today and tomorrow.
File download size: 3 MB
