Future Force

The U.S. Army's "New Black Book outlines Future Force operational concept, with the "first distribution to be at Association of the United States Army conference."

FORT MONROE, Va. (Oct. 6, 2003) - U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command's (TRADOC) Deputy Chief of Staff for Doctrine, Concepts and Strategy recently released its new Black Book that outlines the Army's Future Force operational concept.

The printed booklet's first widespread distribution will be at the Association of the United States Army's (AUSA) conference Oct. 6-8 at the Washington Convention Center, Washington, D.C. The booklet will also be available in electronic form after the conference - including a Portable Document Format (pdf) version available on TRADOC's Website.

Entitled The Army Future Force: Decisive 21st Century Landpower, the Black Book (latest in a series published by Headquarters TRADOC) summarizes the Future Force concept and 'is written primarily to inform militarily-literate readers who are external to the Army,' said Brig. Gen. David A. Fastabend, TRADOC's chief of concepts, development and experimentation. 'But the pamphlet is also releasable within Army organizations and commands.'

'As the commanding general's introduction states, the Black Book is intended as a primer, with particular emphasis on providing a vivid picture of how the Future Force will conduct land operations in the future within the rapidly evolving Joint framework,' Fastabend said. 'It is also useful as a one-voice reference for discussions throughout the Army regarding the Future Force.'

'The ideas presented (in the Black Book) have emerged as a result of years of research, wargaming, experimentation and operational lessons-learned by the Army, our sister services and the Joint community,' Gen. Kevin P. Byrnes, TRADOC's commander, wrote in the Black Book's introduction. 'At each stage of Future Force development, the Army has worked hard to ensure compatibility with emerging Joint concepts and the strategic mandates that are driving Joint transformation.'

'Consistent with those mandates, the Army is actively seeking ways and means to incorporate Future Force qualities and capabilities identified through this process into current force structures as rapidly as possible,' Byrnes said.

The booklet describes Future Force operational themes and principles and solicits feedback. 'We welcome comments and collaboration from all readers,' Byrnes said.

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