WASHINGTON — The U.S. Army today released How the Army Fights, new operational warfighting guidance that provides a common framework for translating tactical success into campaign-level advantage for the Joint Force.

Developed by the Vice Chief of Staff of the Army, How the Army Fights builds on the Army’s multidomain operations doctrine by explaining how the force employs land power at the operational level of war. The guidance aligns how the Army organizes, trains, equips and sustains its formations for contested, high-intensity conflict.

“The challenge is on us as the leaders of the Army to make the decisions that are needed for the Army today,” said Acting Secretary of the Army Adam Telle. “This guidance provides a clear framework for focusing the Army’s efforts and ensuring the force is prepared to fight and win.”

The framework organizes Army land power through four interdependent operational elements:

• Convergence creates and exploits positions of advantage by synchronizing effects across domains.

• Strike degrades and destroys enemy systems through lethal and nonlethal fires at range.

• Close Battle closes with and defeats enemy forces, seizes key terrain and consolidates gains.

• Endurance postures, protects and projects combat power across time, distance and contested conditions.

Together, these elements enable operational maneuver and connect battlefield actions to campaign outcomes. Convergence and Endurance establish the conditions for success, while Strike and Close Battle deliver decisive effects.

How the Army Fights reinforces that the Army must maintain its technological edge while recognizing that war remains a human endeavor. The guidance addresses the integration of advanced capabilities, including uncrewed systems, artificial intelligence-enabled tools, resilient networks and precision fires, while underscoring the enduring importance of Soldier judgment, discipline and leadership.

“Technology will extend our reach and strengthen our combat power, but war remains a human contest of wills,” said Vice Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. Christopher C. LaNeve. “Our Soldiers remain our decisive advantage.”

The guidance directs the Army to prioritize operational readiness for the pacing threat, defend the homeland as a strategic base for power projection, and strengthen posture, interoperability and resilience with allies and partners. It also recognizes the need to sustain combat power across vast distances and under persistent adversary pressure.

How the Army Fights is unclassified and available for public download on Army.mil.

By U.S. Army Public Affairs

FORT KNOX, Ky. — The U.S. Army issued a policy today to promote sergeants to staff sergeants upon completion of the Drill Sergeant Course. Sergeants who are currently serving in drill sergeant positions and meet all requirements will also be promoted, with an effective date of Sept. 10, 2026.

This policy combines the new drill sergeant promotion authority with an existing authority to promote recruiters from sergeants to staff sergeants upon completion of the Army Recruiting Course. By promoting otherwise qualified noncommissioned officers to staff sergeant, the Army is continuing to recognize the critical role that these Soldiers serve in shaping the enlisted force.

“Drill sergeants are the backbone of the force and make a lasting impact on every enlisted Soldier’s career,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Joseph Wilson, U.S. Army Recruiting Command. “Many of us who served for 10, 15, or 20 years or more always remember the drill sergeants who helped us to become ready and lethal members of the U.S. Army.”

Drill sergeants have an immense responsibility requiring the utmost maturity and professionalism. The new policy ensures Army’s newest drill sergeants are expediently promoted to the grade and rank in which they serve, which incentivizes the best sergeants in the Army to volunteer for one of the service’s greatest and most rewarding leadership challenges.

By Army Public Affairs