The Army in Military Competition

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.