FM 1, The Army: A Primer to Our Profession of Arms

From the Army’s Randi Stenson, MCCoE Public Affairs:

FORT LEAVENWORTH, Kan. — On May 13, 2025, the U.S. Army Combined Arms Center released a one-of-a-kind publication — a new Field Manual about what it means to be a member of the profession of arms and the obligations Soldiers have to each other, to civilian leadership and to fellow citizens. The manual, FM 1, The Army: A Primer to Our Profession of Arms, is available for download from the Army Publishing Directorate.

In the foreword, Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. Randy George writes, “This book is written for our Army. It explains our profession, our purpose, and what it means to be an American Soldier. You will notice this book is not written like other military doctrine; it touches on values and concepts through stories and in non-prescriptive terms. It requires judgment in application.”

Read Randi Stenson’s full article to explore this field manual’s utility, as well as how it differs from other field manuals in tone and style.

Foreword

This book is written for our Army. It explains our profession, our purpose, and what it means to be an American Soldier. You will notice this book is not written like other military doctrine; it touches on values and concepts through stories and in non-prescriptive terms. It requires judgment in application. The book is intended to be read from cover to cover. It progresses through three sections—what it means to be an American Soldier, what the Army does, and how the Army serves and supports our country. While the stories may be of past battles and heroic actions, it also reflects the increasingly challenging times we live in. It offers the reader a serious, solemn, and sober perspective of the Army’s tasks ahead. FM 1 is relevant to every Soldier, for we share common responsibilities and a common commitment to each other. As we each move through our Army journey, we should all pick this text up from time to time to refresh our understanding of our priorities and our sense of purpose. This book should be informative, too, for our joint teammates, aspiring Soldiers, and fellow citizens not in uniform. After all, our Army belongs to the country— we serve the American people.

This We’ll Defend!

RANDY A. GEORGE GENERAL

UNITED STATES ARMY CHIEF OF STAFF