This publication has been prepared under the direction of the Chairman of the Joint 
Chiefs of Staff (CJCS). It sets forth joint doctrine to govern the activities and performance 
of the Armed Forces of the United States in joint operations, and it provides considerations 
for military interaction with governmental and nongovernmental agencies, multinational 
forces, and other interorganizational partners. It provides military guidance for the exercise 
of authority by combatant commanders and other joint force commanders (JFCs), and 
prescribes joint doctrine for operations and training. It provides military guidance for use 
by the Armed Forces of the United States in preparing and executing their plans and orders. 
It is not the intent of this publication to restrict the authority of the JFC from organizing 
the force and executing the mission in a manner the JFC deems most appropriate to ensure 
unity of effort in the accomplishment of objectives. 
3. Application 
a. Joint doctrine established in this publication applies to the Joint Staff, commanders 
of combatant commands, subordinate unified commands, joint task forces, subordinate 
components of these commands, the Services, the National Guard Bureau, and combat 
support agencies. 
b. This doctrine constitutes official advice concerning the enclosed subject matter; 
however, the judgment of the commander is paramount in all situations. 
c. If conflicts arise between the contents of this publication and the contents of Service 
publications, this publication will take precedence unless the CJCS, normally in 
coordination with the other members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has provided more current 
and specific guidance. Commanders of forces operating as part of a multinational (alliance 
 
ii JP 3-04 
or coalition) military command should follow multinational doctrine and procedures 
ratified by the United States. For doctrine and procedures not ratified by the US, 
commanders should evaluate and follow the multinational command’s doctrine and 
procedures, where applicable and consistent with US law, regulations, and doctrine. 翻译