Winning the First Fight


Modernizing Armor and Cavalry Doctrine


MCOE Directorate of Collective Training and Doctrine (DCTD)


As the Army continues its path towards the most holistic modernization effort in recent history, the Maneuver Center of Excellence (MCOE) is aggressively up- dating doctrine and training products to ensure our formations can see, under- stand, and act faster than any peer ad- versary. A key tenet of this effort is the recognition that doctrine must be ground- ed in reality. While modernization efforts look toward the next decade, the DCTD remains focused on providing the tactics and techniques required for the Army of today to win with the equipment currently available in the arms room.


Cavalry Squadron: Reframing the Purpose


The revision of army techniques publica- tion (ATP) 3-20.96, Cavalry Squadron, marks a significant shift in how we employ the eyes and ears of the brigade combat team (BCT). Moving away from the 2018 vers- ion, the new doctrine clarifies that recon- naissance and security are methods, not the sole purpose.


The Reframed Purpose: The squadron exists to inform, protect, and fight for the main body. This distinction empowers com- manders to employ the squadron across a broader range of missions, emphasiz- ing its role in supporting commanders at echelon.


Reintroducing the Offense and Defense: After two decades of focus on stability operations, we have reintroduced spe-


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cific techniques for the squadron to con- duct offensive and defensive tasks. The manual now details the unique planning and execution considerations for these missions in a high-intensity, multi-domain environment.


Dominating the EMS and Airspace: Lessons from global conflicts have made it clear that a squadron cannot survive without mastering the electromagnetic spectrum (EMS) and small unmanned air- craft systems (sUAS). The draft addresses:


• sUAS employment at echelon to en- able combined arms maneuver in a contested environment.


• Counter-UAS (C-UAS) and electronic warfare (EW) terminology and pro- tection.


• Integration of electromagnetic support and attack capabilities.


• Command and cont rol (C2) integration, sustainment, and airspace manage- ment for highdensity sUAS environments.


Aerial Overmatch: ATP 3-90.51 (sUAS) To address the reality of persistent ob- servation, DCTD is developing ATP 3-90.51, Employment of Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS). This manual is not a futu- ristic concept; it is a practical guide for integrating the sUAS platforms currently assigned to our formations.


Recent observations from combat train- ing centers (CTCs) and operational envir- onments reinforce that the formation that sees first, understands first, and acts first


maintains the advantage. ATP 3-90.51 supports maneuver battle positions by providing standardized tactics, techni- ques, and procedures (TTPs) that inte- grate aerial reconnaissance directly into platoon, company, and squadron oper- ations. By extending the “eyes” of the formation beyond the line of sight, sUAS allows maneuver leaders to confirm ob- stacle effects and detect enemy recon- naissance before physical contact is made. This preserves combat power and ensures the formation maintains the initiative dur- ing complex transitions like relief in place or passage of lines.


The Future Force: Armored Strike and TiC 2.0


Along with previously mentioned doctrine, the modernization of ATP 3-20.98, Scout Platoon, and ATP 3-90.5,Combined Arms Battalion, is being informed by real-world data. We are incorporating Transforma- tion in Contact (TiC) 2.0 lessons learned from 1st Cavalry Division’s NTC 26-02 and will observe the 3rd Infantry Division’s NTC 26-08 as it further informs Army sen- ior leader decisions on the structure of armored brigade combat teams (ABCTs) in the summer of 2026.


Looking further ahead, ATP 3-90.55, Armored Strike Platoon, will serve as the blueprint for robotic integration and human-machine teaming (HMT) Follow- ing the force design update (FDU), this publication will focus on enhancing secu- rity operations to provide maneuver com- manders decision time and space while economizing manned combat power to be placed critical points of friction.


CAVALRY & ARMOR JOURNAL Spring 2026


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