Army war strategy says winning first battle requires forward forces

Its new blueprint for fighting major wars emphasizes the importance of keeping combat forces positioned near potential adversaries, even as the Pentagon considers further reductions to its presence in Europe.

The U.S. Army’s new blueprint for fighting major wars emphasizes the importance of keeping combat forces positioned near potential adversaries. Soldiers with the 4th Infantry Division fire an M777 howitzer during training at Fort Carson, Colo., Oct. 7, 2026. The Army released new operational warfighting guidance, called “How the Army Fights,” that lays out how it will use land power at the operational level in a large-scale conflict. (Charlyn Abuyo/U.S. Army) The Army’s new blueprint for fighting major wars emphasizes the importance of keeping combat forces positioned near potential adversaries, even as the Pentagon considers further reductions to its presence in Europe. The strategy, released Wednesday, says forward-deployed soldiers and weapons are essential to deterring aggression and responding quickly to threats.

It is titled “How the Army Fights.” “The Army must win the first battle forward, often within the enemy’s geographic backyard, so our strategic mass can arrive,” according to the 46-page document. “Positioning Close Battle capabilities forward in high-threat theaters is vital to deterring aggression and enabling rapid response,” it adds. The strategy, signed by Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Christopher LaNeve, does not specify troop levels in Europe. But it envisions a lesser American role on the Continent. “In Europe, the Army will retain relevant posture and provide the critical, but limited capabilities necessary to support NATO-led