The requirement to balance traditional offensive and defensive tasks and tactics against enduring lessons from recent operations made writing Marine Corps Warfighting Publication (MCWP) 3-01, Offensive and Defensive Tactics, imperative. This publication comprehensively addresses the philosophy of tactics in general and offensive and defensive tactics specifically, throughout the competition continuum. It does not specifically discuss stabilization doctrine or tasks; although it does contain guidance for simultaneously recognizing, executing, and transitioning between offense, defense, and stabilization activities.

MCWP 3-01 is the Marine Corps’ basic warfighting offensive and defensive tactics publication. It serves as a common starting point for leaders and units to address the specific tactical problems that face them in a globally contested environment, within multiple domains, across the competition continuum. This revision reflects that Marines employ a tactical system of single battle that integrates and synchronizes warfighting functions across all domains, focused on a thinking enemy, to offset disadvantage and create relative advantage through the use of multidomain combined arms.

MCWP 3-01 is a compendium of best practices and common terms, not a dictate that must be rigidly adhered to. Rather, it provides the basics of offensive and defensive tactics from the squad level to the Marine division and points the reader to additional references for further study. This publication is intended for the Marines, leaders, commanders, and staffs from the squad level to the Marine division as a foundational document to assist in preparing and executing offensive and defensive tactics in any given operational environment