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Updated March 25, 2024
The Army’s Multi-Domain Task Force (MDTF)
The Significance of the Multi-Domain
• during competition, to “gain and maintain contact with
Task Force (MDTF)
our adversaries to support the rapid transition to crisis or
Congress has expressed concern about the threat to U.S.
conflict”;
national security posed by Russia and China. The Army
• during a crisis, to “deter adversaries and shape the
believes in order to address this threat, it must be able to
environment by providing flexible response options to
operate in a multi-domain (air, land, water, space, cyber,
the combatant commander”; and
information) environment, requiring new operational
concepts, technologies, weapons, and units. The Multi-
• if conflict arises, to “neutralize adversary A2/AD
Domain Task Force (MDTF) is the Army’s self-described
networks to enable joint freedom of action.”
“organizational centerpiece” of this effort.
MDTF Organization
What Is a Multi-Domain Task Force?
The diagram at Figure 1 depicts a notional generic MDTF.
In the Army’s Chief of Staff Paper #1: Army Multi-Domain
Transformation Ready to Win in Competition and Conflict
Figure 1. Notional Generic MDTF
dated March 16, 2021, the Army describes the Multi-
Domain Task Force (MDTF) as “theater-level maneuver
elements designed to synchronize precision effects and
precision fires in all domains against adversary anti-access/
area denial (A2/AD) networks in all domains, enabling joint
forces to execute their operational plan (OPLAN)-directed
roles.”
What Is Anti-Access/ Area Denial (A2/AD)?
Anti-Access is defined as any action, activity, or
capability, usually long-range, designed to prevent an
advancing military force from entering an operational
area. Area Denial is defined as action, activity, or
capability, usually short-range, designed to limit an
adversarial force’s freedom of action within an
operational area. In terms of weapon systems, threat
A2/AD defenses are envisioned of being composed of
layered and integrated long-range precision-strike
Source: Chief of Staff Paper #1 Army Multi-Domain Transformation
systems, littoral anti-ship capabilities, air defenses, and
Ready to Win in Competition and Conflict, March 16, 2021, p. 12.
long-range artillery and rocket systems.
Notes: (1) HIMARS: High-Mobility Artil ery Rocket System presently
in use by the U.S. Army and Marine Corps. (2) While not explicitly
stated, the first Military Intelligence (MI) Company depicted is
MDTFs are designed to support freedom of action of U.S.
assumed to be terrestrial y focused, while the second Military
forces. MDTFs are to be scalable from operational to
Intel igence Company, based on its military symbol, is assumed to be
strategic level and can be modified to support the needs of
space-focused. (3) Mid-Range Capabilities (MRC) Battery is now
individual commanders. MDTFs also provide supported
known as the Strategic Mid-Range Fires (SMRF) Battery.
commanders the ability to plan, integrate, control, track,
and assess the effectiveness of joint counter-A2/AD
activities. The Army intends for MDTFs to have an All-
Domain Operations Center (ADOC) to enable 24/7
monitoring of adversary activities in all domains.
What Is the Purpose of MDTFs?
The 1st MDTF was created in 2017 as an experimental unit
at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, and
participated in a variety of experiments and exercises to
both test its capabilities and develop requirements for
equipment and units included as part of the MDTF force
design. According to the Army, the MDTF’s purpose is
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link to page 1 link to page 1 The Army’s Multi-Domain Task Force (MDTF)
The Army notes each MDTF will be tailored to Combatant
on a permanent MDTF in Alaska, after directly stating it
Commander requirements, so it is possible the notional
wanted to do so in its strategy for the Arctic published in
MDTF in Figure 1 may contain more, fewer, or other types
2021.”
of units depending on the requirements of its assigned
theater of operations. The Strategic Mid-Range Fires
Split Stationing of the 2nd MDTF at Fort Drum, NY
(SMRF) Battery (formerly known as the Mid-Range
On December 13, 2023, Senator Charles Schumer and
Capabilities (MRC) Battery) and the Long-Range
Representative Elise Stefanik announced in 2025 Fort
Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW) Battery depicted in Figure 1
Drum would become the home of 1,495 soldiers and
are not, at present, fully established and equipped units.
personnel from the 2nd MDTF’s Long-Range Fires
Battalion, Brigade Support Battalion, and Air Defense
Army Plans for MDTFs
Battalion. The 2nd MDTF’s Headquarters and Effects
The Army originally planned to build five MDTFs: two
Battalions, activated in 2021, would remain in Germany.
aligned to the Indo-Pacific region; one aligned to Europe;
one stationed in the Arctic region and oriented on multiple
2024 Army Force Structure Transformation
threats; and a fifth MDTF aligned for global response. The
Initiative and MDTFs
1st MDTF is headquartered at Joint Base Lewis-McChord,
On February 27, 2024, the Army released a white paper,
WA, and aligned to the U.S. Army Pacific.
Army Force Structure Transformation, outlining plans to
transform the force. Regarding MDTFs, the white paper
1st MDTF
noted the army intended to “complete the build out of the
Since its 2017 activation, the 1st MDTF has participated in a
Army’s five MDTFSs” and that
variety of exercises. In February 2023, the 1st MDTF’s
Three task forces will be assigned to U.S. Army
long-range fires battalion, 5th Battalion, 3rd Field Artillery
Regiment, deployed a LRHW system over 3,100 miles from
Pacific (USARPAC); one will be assigned to U.S.
Joint Base Lewis-McChord to Cape Canaveral, FL, during
Army
Europe-Africa
(USAREUR-AF);
and
Thunderbolt Strike, a full rehearsal of expeditionary
another will be service-retained with a likely focus
hypersonic launch capabilities.
on the CENTCOM area of responsibility [AOR].
One MDTF headquarters is already in Germany and
2nd MDTF
another is stationed in Hawaii. As discussions with
On April 13, 2021, the Army announced it would station its
allied countries progress over time, the Army will
2nd MDTF in Germany. The Germany-based MDTF is to
likely forward station elements of the MDTFs
support U.S. Army Europe and Africa. On September 16,
permanently, such as the multi domain effects and
2021, the Army activated the 2nd MDTF at Clay Kaserne in
long-range
fires
battalions,
to
strengthen
Wiesbaden, initially consisting of a headquarters element;
deterrence.
an intelligence, cyberspace, electronic warfare, and space
detachment; and a brigade support company.
Possible Oversight Issues for Congress
Possible oversight issues for Congress include but are not
3rd MDTF
limited to the following:
The Army activated the 3rd MDTF at Schofield Barracks,
•
Hawaii, in September 2022. The 3rd MDTF is to support the
In view of the Army’s 2024 Force Structure
U.S. Army Pacific as a component of U.S. Indo-Pacific
Transformation announcement, it now appears the Army
Command (USINDOPACOM). The 3rd MDTF participated
has changed its original MDTF alignment plans, which
in its first exercise May 4-19, 2023, as part of exercise
included an Arctic-focused MDTF and a MDTF aligned
Northern Edge 23-1.
for global response. Does the Army’s February 27,
2024, announcement now constitute the Army’s official
A 3rd MDTF for the Indo-Pacific?
MDTF alignment plan? If so, how does the Army intend
According to a Defense News article, the Chief of Staff of
to address Arctic and contingency-based MDTF
the Army reportedly would “like to see three multidomain
capabilities requirements?
task force units in the Pacific region,” reportedly stating, “I
• According to the Army white paper, three MDTFs are to
can see three in the Pacific and then one other one. We have
be assigned to USARPAC, one to USAREUR-AF, and
one in Europe and then one probably in a contingency-type
the final under the control of the Army but “likely[to]
place where it can go wherever it needs. So, I think that’s
focus on the CENTCOM area of responsibility.” If this
how those five [MDTFs] are going to play out.” In June
is the case, does the Army consider A2/AD in the
2023, Japanese press reported the United States had started
CENTCOM AOR less of an operational consideration
discussions with Japan about hosting a 3rd MDTF
than other MDTF AORs? Is the CENTCOM
(presumably the 4th MDTF) in Japan.
commander supportive of the Army’s apparent decision
to not assign a MDTF to the CENTCOM AOR?
If three MDTFs are allocated to the Indo-Pacific and the
remaining MDTF (presumably 5th MDTF) is earmarked for
Andrew Feickert, Specialist in Military Ground Forces
global response, this suggests an Arctic-focused MDTF
might not be created. The Defense News article further
IF11797
noted, “In recent years, the Army has placed less emphasis
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The Army’s Multi-Domain Task Force (MDTF)
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