Joint Publication 3-24 T OF THE N A E W E' L L I S D E F E R H N D M T M T Y R • A P A E C D I U • R N E I T M E A D F S O TAT E S Counterinsurgency 25 April 2018 PREFACE 1. Scope This publication provides joint doctrine to plan, execute, and assess counterinsurgency operations. 2. Purpose 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 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, and combat support agencies. b. The guidance in this publication is authoritative; as such, this doctrine will be followed except when, in the judgment of the commander, exceptional circumstances dictate otherwise. 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 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. For the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff: KEVIN D. SCOTT Vice Admiral, USN Director, Joint Force Development i Preface Intentionally Blank ii JP 3-24 SUMMARY OF CHANGES REVISION OF JOINT PUBLICATION 3-24 DATED 22 NOVEMBER 2013 • Deleted the paragraphs that cover operational assessment model and operational assessment steps due to redundancy with Joint Publication 5-0, Joint Planning. • Replaced the term “generational engagement” with “generational approach” in order to better reflect long-term partnering as well as engagement. • Replaced the phrase “counterinsurgency environment” with “operational environment.” • Revised the term “violent extremist” to include “violent extremist organizations.” • Revised the phrase “root causes of the insurgency” to “roots of the insurgency.” • Updated paragraphs to delineate between information operations and military information support operations. • Added a discussion on the roles of women in an insurgency, such as combatants, members of the auxiliary, and suicide bombers. • Added more in-depth discussion on disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration and how it can be applied while an insurgency is ongoing and after an insurgency ends. • Added discussion on criminal networks within counterinsurgency operations. iii Summary of Changes Intentionally Blank iv JP 3-24 TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................................... ix CHAPTER I OVERVIEW Introduction ................................................................................................................ I-1 Approach to Counterinsurgency ................................................................................ I-3 Governance and Legitimacy ...................................................................................... I-6 Insurgency and Counterinsurgency Narratives .......................................................... I-8 CHAPTER II INSURGENCY Overview ...................................................................................................................II-1 Nature of Insurgency ................................................................................................II-2 Conditions for Insurgency ........................................................................................II-4 Insurgency Objectives and End State .....................................................................II-10 Insurgency Narrative and Strategy .........................................................................II-12 Insurgency Organization .........................................................................................II-16 Stages and Outcomes of Insurgency .......................................................................II-21 CHAPTER III COUNTERINSURGENCY Overview ................................................................................................................. III-1 Counterinsurgency Mindset .................................................................................... III-4 Tenets of Counterinsurgency .................................................................................. III-7 United States Government Activities ................................................................... III-16 Operational Approaches ....................................................................................... III-21 Roles and Responsibilities .................................................................................... III-22 Command and Organizational Relationships ....................................................... III-25 Employment Considerations ................................................................................. III-28 Conventional Forces Considerations .................................................................... III-30 Special Operations Considerations ....................................................................... III-31 Force Protection Considerations ........................................................................... III-32 Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration ............................................... III-33 Economic and Infrastructure Development .......................................................... III-35 CHAPTER IV THE OPERATIONAL ENVIRONMENT Introduction ............................................................................................................. IV-1 Operational Environment in Counterinsurgency .................................................... IV-2 Tools and Methods for Understanding the Operational Environment .................... IV-3 v Table of Contents Establish an Evolving Common Operational Picture ............................................. IV-9 Joint Intelligence Preparation of the Operational Environment for Counterinsurgency ................................................................................................ IV-10 CHAPTER V PLANNING General ..................................................................................................................... V-1 Additional Considerations for Counterinsurgency .................................................. V-5 Termination and Transitions .................................................................................. V-10 Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration Planning ................................. V-12 Assessment Planning ............................................................................................. V-14 CHAPTER VI ASSESSMENT Introduction to Assessing a Counterinsurgency Operation or Campaign .............. VI-1 Organizing for Assessment ..................................................................................... VI-4 The Assessment Process and Assessment Plan ...................................................... VI-4 Operation Assessment Methods ........................................................................... VI-11 CHAPTER VII COUNTERINSURGENCY OPERATIONS Section A. Execution .................................................................................................... VII-1 General ................................................................................................................... VII-1 Support the Counterinsurgency Narrative ............................................................. VII-2 Distributed Operations ........................................................................................... VII-2 Command and Control ........................................................................................... VII-2 Rules of Engagement ............................................................................................. VII-3 Operational Methods for Counterinsurgency ........................................................ VII-3 Generational Approach .......................................................................................... VII-4 Network Engagement Activities ............................................................................ VII-5 Shape, Clear, Hold, Build, and Transition ............................................................