text: Foundations of Operations
  direction address long-term, emerging, and anticipatory issues or concerns that may quickly evolve due to
  rapidly changing circumstances. Strategic direction is always evolving and adapting.
  1-57. The theater strategic level of warfare is the level of warfare at which combatant commanders
  synchronize with unified action partners and employ all elements of national power to fulfill policy
  aims within the assigned theater in support of the national strategy. Based on strategic guidance, CCDRs
  with assigned areas of responsibility and staffs—with input from subordinate commands, including theater
  armies and supporting commands and agencies—update their strategic estimates and develop theater
  strategies. A theater strategy is an overarching construct outlining a combatant commander’s vision for
  integrating and synchronizing military activities and operations with the other instruments of national power
  to achieve national strategic objectives. The theater strategy prioritizes the ends, ways, and means within the
  limitations established by the budget, global force management processes, and strategic guidance. The theater
  strategy serves as the basis for development of the combatant command campaign plan (CCP).
  Operational Level of Warfare
  1-58. The operational level of warfare is the level of warfare in which campaigns and operations are planned,
  conducted, and sustained to achieve operational objectives to support achievement of strategic objectives
  (JP 3-0). The operational level links the employment of tactical forces to the achievement of strategic
  objectives.
  1-59. The operational level of warfare generally is the realm of combatant commands and their Service or
  functional components and subordinate joint task force (JTF) headquarters and their Service or functional
  components. This includes the theater army headquarters as the Army Service component to a combatant
  command and any other echelon operating as an ARFOR, JTF headquarters, or land component command.
  The focus at this level is on operational art—the design of campaigns and operations by integrating ends,
  ways, and means, while accounting for risk. (See ADP 3-0 for more information on operational art.)
  1-60. Actions at the operational level of warfare usually involve broader aspects of time and space than
  tactical actions. The theater army’s activities continuously support the CCDR in shaping the operational and
  strategic situation. Operational-level commanders need to understand the complexities of the operational
  environment and look beyond the immediate situation. Operational-level commanders seek to create the most
  favorable conditions possible for subordinate commanders by preparing for future events.
  1-61. The operational level of warfare demands leaders with a unique set of skills. Because the operational
  level is fundamentally about linking tactical action to strategic objectives, leaders must understand both
  strategy and tactics. They must have some expertise in the capabilities and operations of all Services and
  components and those of allies and partners. Leaders at the operational level must be able to assess large,
  complex operational environments and be expert planners. They must understand the application of
  warfighting functions on a large scale and how this application differs from application at the tactical level.
  The elements of operational art help operational leaders understand, visualize, and describe their campaigns
  and major operations. (See ADP 3-0 for details on the elements of operational art.)
  Tactical Level of Warfare
  1-62. The tactical level of warfare is the level of warfare at which forces plan and execute battles and
  engagements to achieve military objectives (JP 3-0). Activities at this level focus on tactics—the
  employment, ordered arrangement, and directed actions of forces in relation to each other (ADP 3-90).
  Operational-level headquarters determine objectives and provide resources for tactical operations.
  Tactical-level commanders plan and execute operations to include battles, engagements, and small-unit
  actions.
  1-63. Tactical-level combat operations rise to the level of battles or engagements. A battle is a set of related
  engagements that lasts longer and involves larger forces than an engagement (ADP 3-90). Battles can affect
  the course of a campaign or major operation, and they are typically conducted by corps and divisions over
  the course of days or months. An engagement is a tactical conflict, usually between opposing lower echelon
  maneuver forces (JP 3-0). Engagements are typically conducted at brigade echelons and below. They are
  usually short, executed in minutes or hours.