Combined Arms

Combined arms is the summoning of and coordination of all military, kinetic means at a commander’s disposal to inflict damage and destruction on an enemy force in the field. Such close coordination of arms—which may include force applied from the air, land, and sea—provides maximum destructive effect at the time and place of a commander’s choosing. This combined arms effort is a tactical-level exercise of arms to achieve theater-level goals in pursuit of a national strategic endstate.

Combined arms can make a relatively light and small force more powerful than would shock and mass otherwise and does so by inflicting damage at points of enemy weakness. Such coordinated effects are a basis for maximizing the kinetic effects of warfare and serve as a foundation for battles ...