JP 3-0, page 37

Fundamentals of Joint Operations I-13 b. Strategic Level. In the context of military operations, strategy develops an idea or set of ideas for employing the instruments of national power in a synchronized and integrated fashion to achieve theater, national, and/or multinational objectives. Through development of strategy (such as the NSS and National Military Strategy), a nation’s leader, often as a committee member with other nations’ leaders, determines national or multinational strategic objectives and guidance to develop and use national resources to achieve these objectives. The President, aided by the National Security Staff, establishes policy and national strategic objectives. SecDef translates these into strategic military objectives that facilitate theater strategic planning. CCDRs usually participate in strategic discussions with the President and SecDef through the CJCS and with allies and multinational members. Thus the CCDR’s strategy is an element that relates to both US national strategy and operational-level activities within the theater. Military strategy, derived from national policy and strategy and informed by doctrine, provides a framework for conducting operations. c. Operational Level (1) The operational level links the tactical employment of forces to national and military strategic objectives. The focus at this level is on the design, planning, and execution of operations using operational art: the application of creative imagination by commanders and staffs—supported by their skill, knowledge, and experience—to design strategies, campaigns, and major operations and organize and employ military forces. JFCs and component commanders use operational art to determine how, when, where, and for Figure I-5. Relationship Between Strategy and Operational Art Relationship Between Strategy and Operational Art Operational art links tactical action to strategic purpose. Operational art governs the deployment of forces and the arrangement of operations to achieve operational and strategic objectives. Unified Action National Strategic Objectives Strategy Operational Art Theater Strategic Objectives Operational-Level Objectives Tactical Objectives President National Security Staff Agency Heads Chief of Mission Combatant Commander Chief of Mission Operational-Level Joint Force Commander Department and Agency Representatives Tactical Commander