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Updated April 19, 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 to address this threat, it must be able to operate in a
environment by providing flexible response options to
multi-domain (air, land, water, space, cyber, information)
the combatant commander”; and
environment, requiring new operational concepts,
technologies, weapons, and units. The Multi-Domain Task
• if conflict arises, to “neutralize adversary A2/AD
Force (MDTF) is the Army’s self-described “organizational
networks to enable joint freedom of action.”
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 described 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 Systems. (2)
While not explicitly stated, the first Military Intel igence (MI)
Company depicted is assumed to be terrestrial y focused, while the
MDTFs are designed to support freedom of action of U.S.
second Military Intel igence Company, based on its military symbol, is
forces. MDTFs are to be scalable from operational to
assumed to be space-focused. (3) Mid-Range Capabilities (MRC)
strategic level and can be modified to support the needs of
Battery is now known as the Strategic Mid-Range Fires (SMRF)
individual commanders. MDTFs also provide supported
Battery.
commanders the ability to plan, integrate, control, track,
and assess the effectiveness of joint counter-A2/AD
activities.
The Army notes each MDTF is to be tailored to Combatant
Commander requirements, so it is possible the notional
What Is the Purpose of MDTFs?
MDTF in Figure 1 may contain more, fewer, or other types
The 1st MDTF was created in 2017 as an experimental unit
of units depending on the requirements of its assigned
at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA, and participated in a
theater of operations.
variety of experiments and exercises to both test its
Army Plans for MDTFs
capabilities and develop requirements for equipment and
units included as part of the MDTF force design. According
The Army originally planned to build five MDTFs: two
to the Army, the MDTF’s purpose is
aligned to the Indo-Pacific region; one aligned to Europe;
one stationed in the Arctic region and oriented on multiple
threats; and a fifth MDTF aligned for global response. The
https://crsreports.congress.gov
The Army’s Multi-Domain Task Force (MDTF)
1st MDTF is headquartered at Joint Base Lewis-McChord,
reportedly plans to consolidate Mid-Range Capability and
WA and aligned to the U.S. Army Pacific.
Long-Range Hypersonic batteries under a Long-Range
Fires Battalion (LRFB) and complete programming of the
1st MDTF
remaining Indirect Fire Protection Capability (IFPC)
Since its 2017 activation, the 1st MDTF has participated in a
battalions over the next five years. The Army also plans to
variety of exercises. In February 2023, the 1st MDTF’s
convert all brigade support companies to battalions. In
long-range fires battalion, 5th Battalion, 3rd Field Artillery
terms of specific MDTFs:
Regiment, deployed a LRHW system over 3,100 miles from
• The 1st MDTF is to be fully established in FY2024 with
Joint Base Lewis-McChord to Cape Canaveral, FL, during
a Multidomain Effects battalion (MDEB), an IFPC
Thunderbolt Strike, a full rehearsal of expeditionary
battalion, a BSB, and a LRFB.
hypersonic launch capabilities.
• The 2nd MDTF is to be headquartered in Germany with
2nd MDTF
an MDEB and other elements stationed at Fort Drum,
On April 13, 2021, the Army announced it would station its
NY, with an IFPC battalion, a BSB and an LRFB. The
2nd MDTF in Germany. The Germany-based MDTF is to
2nd MDTF is to be fully operational in FY2025 with the
support U.S. Army Europe and Africa. On September 16,
addition of the LRFB in FY2026. The 2nd MDTF is to
2021, the Army activated the 2nd MDTF at Clay Kaserne in
focus on supporting the European theater.
Wiesbaden, initially consisting of a headquarters element;
•
an intelligence, cyberspace, electronic warfare, and space
The 3rd MDTF, headquartered in Hawaii with an
detachment; and a brigade support company.
MDEB, will have an IFPC battalion, a BSB and an
LRFB stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA, and
3rd MDTF
is to be fully operational by FY2026.
The Army activated the 3rd MDTF at Schofield Barracks,
• The 4th MDTF is to be stationed at Fort Carson, CO, but
Hawaii, in September 2022. The 3rd MDTF is to support the
focused on the Indo-Pacific theater, and is to be fully
U.S. Army Pacific as a component of U.S. Indo-Pacific
operational by FY2027.
Command (USINDOPACOM). The 3rd MDTF participated
•
in its first exercise May 4-19, 2023, as part of exercise
The 5th MDTF is to be stationed at Fort Liberty, NC,
Northern Edge 23-1.
and is to concentrate on regions as determined. The 5th
MDTF is to be fully operational by FY2028.
Split Stationing of the 2nd MDTF at Fort Drum, NY
Possible Oversight Issues for Congress
On December 13, 2023, Senator Charles Schumer and
Representative Elise Stefanik announced in 2025 Fort
Possible oversight issues for Congress include the
Drum, NY, would become the home of 1,495 soldiers and
following:
personnel from the 2nd MDTF’s Long-Range Fires
• In view of the Army’s 2024 Force Structure
Battalion, Brigade Support Battalion (BSB), and Air
Transformation announcement and April 2024 update, it
Defense Battalion. The 2nd MDTF’s Headquarters and
now appears the Army has changed its original MDTF
Effects battalions, activated in 2021, would remain in
alignment plans, which included an Arctic-focused
Germany.
MDTF and a CENTCOM-focused MDTF. Does the
2024 Army Force Structure
Army’s February 27, 2024, announcement and April
Transformation Initiative and MDTFs
2024 update now constitute the Army’s official MDTF
alignment plan? If so, how does the Army intend to
On February 27, 2024, the Army released a white paper,
address Arctic and CENTCOM-based MDTF
Army Force Structure Transformation, outlining plans to
capabilities requirements?
transform the force. The white paper noted the Army
intended to “complete the build out of the Army’s five
• According to the Army white paper, three MDTFs are to
MDTFSs” and that
be assigned to USARPAC, one to USAREUR-AF, and
the final under the control of the Army but “likely[to]
Three task forces will be assigned to U.S. Army
focus on the CENTCOM area of responsibility (AOR).”
Pacific (USARPAC); one will be assigned to U.S.
If this is the case, does the Army consider A2/AD in the
Army
Europe-Africa
(USAREUR-AF);
and
CENTCOM AOR less of an operational consideration
another will be service-retained with a likely focus
than other AORs? Is the CENTCOM commander
on the CENTCOM area of responsibility [AOR].
supportive of the Army’s apparent decision to not
One MDTF headquarters is already in Germany and
directly align a MDTF to the CENTCOM AOR?
another is stationed in Hawaii. As discussions with
allied countries progress over time, the Army will
• The Arctic region is the responsibility of three
likely forward station elements of the MDTFs
Combatant Commands: U.S. Northern Command, U.S.
permanently, such as the multi domain effects and
European Command, and U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.
long-range
fires
battalions,
to
strengthen
How does this shared responsibility affect the
deterrence.
alignment, command and control, and responsibilities of
the Army’s MDTFs?
April 2024 Update on MDTF Alignment
and Stationing
Andrew Feickert, Specialist in Military Ground Forces
According to an April 2024 Defense News article, the Army
has updated MDTF pre-decisional plans. The Army
IF11797
https://crsreports.congress.gov
The Army’s Multi-Domain Task Force (MDTF)
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