scope:

PREFACE

The successful execution of operations in any campaign theme requires a clearly understood and widely accepted doctrine. This is especially important when operations are conducted by allied, multinational or coalition forces. The primary objective of Allied Tactical Publication (ATP) - 3.2.1.1 is to provide guidance for the planning and execution of stability activities and tasks that can occur within the framework of any operation within any campaign theme. Although ATP-3.2.1.1 is intended primarily for use by NATO forces, this described guidance is equally applicable to operations conducted by a coalition of NATO and non-NATO nations.

The publication is intended for use primarily by commanders at the tactical level¹. This publication, however, can be used at any level as a reference. Many of the described activities and tasks will be applicable at the operational and strategic level as well. A clear distinction between the various levels is unnecessary and frequently undistinguishable. The publication has a strong relation with AJP-3.4 'Non-Article 5 Crisis Response Operations, and AJP-3.4.1 'Peace Support Operations'. There is also a strong functional relationship between this publication and AJP-3.2 'Allied Joint Doctrine for Land Operations' and ATP-3.2.1 'Allied Land Tactics'. All referenced documents have the AJP-01 'Allied Joint Doctrine' and AJP-3 'Allied Joint Operations' as keystone documents. The relationship with the AJP-3.2 'Allied Joint Doctrine for Land Operations' and ATP-3.2.1 'Allied Land Tactics' is more important as these two publications describe the new fundamental doctrinal principles: such as the campaign themes, operations are operations and the range of military tactical activities. However, when keystone and functional related publications change over time, new approaches and details will be subsumed and added to this publication. 0003. It is not the intention of ATP-3.2.1.1 to restrict the authority of a commander. A commander is expected to plan and execute activities in a manner he deems appropriate to ensure unity of effort in the accomplishment of his mission. However, the exceptions are the tasks described in chapter 3 (Security and Control related), which have a prescriptive character.

In this era of rapidly changing situations, a publication containing only ratified doctrine would be out of date before it was published. To include newly emerging doctrine would be equally unsatisfactory. Especially as the amount and content of underlying stability tasks is still under discussion and development.

The structure of the publication is as follows:

a. Chapter 1 summarises relevant, substantial issues that create the operational framework within which the stability activities take place. The core of this chapter focuses on the explanation of those issues that shape the understanding of stability activities and tasks.

b. Chapter 2 describes the operating environment and the actors that are present in that environment.

c. Chapter 3 and 4 describe in greater detail all tactical stability tasks.

(a) Chapter 3 deals with the activity types of Security and Control and Support to Security Sector Reform.

(b) Chapter 4 describes the types of Support to Initial Restoration of Services and Initial Governance.

d. Chapter 5 describes planning and execution of stability activities.

¹ Tactical level with a focus on brigade / task force / battlegroup and below.