text: Chapter 2
  INTEROPERABILITY WITH MULTINATIONAL FORCES
  2-6. A major operational consideration for the United States is the ability to operate with multinational forces.
  Historically, interoperability has been achieved through various technical solutions using trial and error
  during combined training exercises and operations. To avoid this trial-and-error approach to interoperability,
  the Army has emphasized the importance of interoperability through bilateral, multilateral, and multinational
  standardization programs. Participation in NATO, ABCANZ, and multinational exercises offers increased
  opportunities for understanding partner capabilities and developing interoperability approaches that use
  human, procedural, and technical dimensions.
  2-7. To increase interoperability, the DOD strives for maximum cooperation among the Services and DOD
  agencies for the most efficient use of research, development, and production resources. The DOD also agrees
  to adopt the broadest possible resources that use common or compatible procedures, criteria, corresponding
  organizational compatibility, sustainment, and logistics.
  STANDARDIZATION AGREEMENTS WITH MULTINATIONAL FORCES
  2-8. Implementation of NATO standardization agreements (STANAGs) or ABCANZ standards are
  transparent to U.S. units. In the case of doctrine, implementation occurs when doctrine proponents
  incorporate the content of the STANAG into U.S. doctrine and Army doctrine publications. Additionally,
  soldiers of each NATO or ABCANZ nation use their own national doctrine and tactics, techniques, and
  procedures. To them, the interoperability is also transparent. For example, NATO and ABCANZ nations
  agree to use the same military symbols. In this way, participating units passing graphic operational
  information such as overlays share a common understanding of the symbols. When operating within the
  NATO or ABCANZ construct, partners do not need to develop alternative symbology or terminology. (Refer
  to STANAG 2019 and FM 1-02.2 for military symbols.) Other international STANAGs prevent the need to
  develop ad hoc solutions. Some examples of standardized procedures include the five-paragraph operation
  order, close-air support procedures, and call-for-fire procedures.
  2-9. In a coalition, NATO STANAGs and ABCANZ standards provide a baseline for cooperation. They set
  the minimum guidance for cooperation. Additionally, in many parts of the world, bilateral interoperability
  agreements among potential coalition members exist before the nations form the coalition. Students who
  attend professional military development courses in other nations are additional sources for interoperability.
  However, in most ad hoc coalitions, not all participants are familiar with such agreements. The multinational
  commander relies on designated standard operating procedures (SOPs), good liaison officers, and clearly
  written, uncomplicated operation orders.
  PURPOSE OF UNITY OF EFFORT
  2-10. Unity of effort is critical in multinational operations.
  For the first time in NATO’s history, the
  UAPs achieve unified action when they synchronize,
  allies invoked Article 5—a pact of mutual
  coordinate, and integrate to achieve unity of effort, even if the
  assistance in case any NATO member is
  partners come from a different command, country, or
  attacked—after the 9/11 terrorist attacks
  organization. The principle of unity of command also applies against the United States.
  but is more difficult for commanders to attain. In stability
  tasks and Article 5 of The North Atlantic Treaty (Collective Defense), government agencies have the lead.
  2-11. Unified action demonstrates unity of effort over a lengthy time requiring military and civilian leaders
  to work together towards a unified goal. Every senior military commander in a multinational coalition reports
  to a civilian chief. Each commander integrates, coordinates, and synchronizes with civilian agencies and
  cooperates with intergovernmental organizations. Command arrangements do not involve a typical command
  authority due to national and host-nation interests. Commanders consider how to integrate, coordinate, and
  synchronize their actions with other instruments of national power that include diplomacy, information, and
  economy. The U.S. Army and joint forces conduct civil-military operations at each echelon. Due to the time
  required for unified action, military commanders consider how to apply their forces to support civilian and
  other organizations to best achieve unity of effort.
  2-12. An effective command relationship is vital for successful multinational operations. Military advice to
  national authorities is critical in early planning to determine the strategic end state, objectives, and
  composition of a multinational force. Dialogue, understanding, and agreement provide not only the basis for