MCDP 1 Warfighting.pdf

DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY

Headquarters United States Marine Corps

Washington, D.C. 20380-1775

20 June 1997

FOREWORD

Since Fleet Marine Force Manual 1, Warfighting , was first

published in 1989, it has had a significant impact both inside

and outside the Marine Corps. That manual has changed the

way Marines think about warfare. It has caused energetic

debate and has been translated into several foreign languages,

issued by foreign militaries, and published commercially. It has

strongly influenced the development of doctrine by our sister

Services. Our current naval doctrine is based on the tenets of

maneuver warfare as described in that publication. Current

and emerging concepts such as operational maneuver from the

sea derive their doctrinal foundation from the philosophy

contained in Warfighting . Our philosophy of warfighting, as

described in the manual, is in consonance with joint doctrine,

contributing to our ability to operate harmoniously with the

other Services.

That said, I believe Warfighting can and should be improved.

Military doctrine cannot be allowed to stagnate, especially an

adaptive doctrine like maneuver warfare. Doctrine must

continue to evolve based on growing experience, advancements

in theory, and the changing face of war itself. It is in this spirit

that Warfighting has been revised, and this publication, Marine

Corps Doctrinal Publication 1, supersedes Fleet Marine Force

Manual 1. I have several goals for this revision. One goal is to

enhance the description of the nature of war—for example, to

emphasize war’s complexity and unpredictability and to widen

the definition of war to account for modern conflict’s

expanding forms. Another goal is to clarify the descriptions of

styles of warfare. A third goal is to clarify and refine important

maneuver warfare concepts such as commander’s intent, main

effort, and critical vulnerability. It is my intent to do this while

retaining the spirit, style, and essential message of the original.

Very simply, this publication describes the philosophy which

distinguishes the U.S. Marine Corps. The thoughts contained

here are not merely guidance for action in combat but a way of

thinking. This publication provides the authoritative basis for

how we fight and how we prepare to fight. This book contains

no specific techniques or procedures for conduct. Rather, it

provides broad guidance in the form of concepts and values. It

requires judgment in application.

Warfighting is not meant as a reference manual; it is designed

to be read from cover to cover. Its four chapters have a natural

progression. Chapter 1 describes our understanding of the

characteristics, problems, and demands of war. Chapter 2

derives a theory about war from that understanding. This

theory in turn provides the foundation for how we prepare for

war and how we wage war, chapters 3 and 4, respectively.

Experience has shown that the warfighting philosophy

described on these pages applies far beyond the officer corps. I

expect all Marines—enlisted and commissioned—to read this

book, understand it, and act upon it. As General A. M. Gray

stated in his foreword to the original in 1989, this publication

describes a philosophy for action that, in war, in crisis, and in

peace, dictates our approach to duty.

C. C. KRULAK

General, U.S. Marine Corps

Commandant of the Marine Corps

DISTRIBUTION: 142 000006 00

Throughout this publication, masculine nouns and pronouns

are used for the sake of simplicity. Except where otherwise

noted, these nouns and pronouns apply to either gender.

PREFACE

Eight years ago the Marine Corps published the first

edition of Warfighting . Our intent was to describe my

philosophy on warfighting, establish it as Marine Corps

doctrine, and present it in an easy-to-read format. In the

foreword to that manual, I charged every officer to read

and reread the text, to understand it, and to take its

message to heart. We have succeeded. Warfighting has

stimulated discussion and debate from classrooms to

wardrooms, training areas to combat zones. The

philosophy contained in this publication has influenced

our approach to every task we have undertaken.

Fleet Marine Force Manual 1 stated, “War is both

timeless and ever changing. While the basic nature of war

is constant, the means and methods we use evolve

continuously.” Like war itself, our approach to

warfighting must evolve. If we cease to refine, expand,

and improve our profession, we risk becoming outdated,

stagnant, and defeated. Marine Corps Doctrinal

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