Department of Defense
DIRECTIVE
NUMBER 3000.07
August 28, 2014
USD(P)
SUBJECT: Irregular Warfare (IW)
References: See Enclosure 1
1. PURPOSE. This directive:
a. Reissues DoD Directive (DoDD) 3000.07 (Reference (a)) to establish policy and assign
responsibilities for DoD conduct of IW and development of capabilities to address irregular
challenges or threats to national security in accordance with DoDD 5100.01 (Reference (b)).
b. Requires that any conflicting issuances be identified to the Under Secretary of Defense for
Policy (USD(P)) and the Director of Administration.
2. APPLICABILITY. This directive applies to OSD, the Military Departments, the Office of
the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS) and the Joint Staff, the Combatant Commands,
the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Defense, the Defense Agencies, the
DoD Field Activities, and all other organizational entities within the DoD (referred to
collectively in this directive as the “DoD Components”).
3. POLICY. It is DoD policy that:
a. IW is as strategically important as traditional warfare and DoD must be equally capable in
both. Many of the capabilities and skills required for IW are applicable to traditional warfare,
but their role in IW can be proportionally greater.
b. DoD will be proficient in IW.
c. IW is conducted independently of, or in combination with, traditional warfare.
(1) IW can include any relevant DoD activity and operation such as counterterrorism;
unconventional warfare; foreign internal defense; counterinsurgency; and stability operations
that, in the context of IW, involve establishing or re-establishing order in a fragile state or
territory.
