This publication, Field Manual FM 3-16 The Army in Multinational Operations April 2014, ensures consideration by Army elements of a joint force and addresses the Army's roles and functions in a multinational operation. While North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the American, British, Canadian, Australian, and New Zealand (ABCA) Armies' Program have achieved some levels of standardization in certain areas, no comprehensive common doctrine exists between the armies. This manual does not fill this gap. It will help the multinational commander understand and develop solutions to create an effective fighting force. The principal audience for FM 3-16 is all members of the profession of arms. Commanders and staffs of Army headquarters serving as joint task force or multinational headquarters should also refer to applicable joint or multinational doctrine concerning the range of military operations and joint or multinational forces. Trainers and educators throughout the Army will also use this manual. Whenever commonality of interest exists, nations enter into political, economic, and/or military partnerships. These partnerships occur in regional and worldwide patterns as nations seek opportunities to promote their mutual national interests, ensure mutual security against real or perceived threats, gain international or bi-national influence, conduct foreign humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations, and engage in peace or war operations. Cultural, diplomatic, information, military, economic, religious, psychological, technological, and political factors all influence the formation and conduct of multinational operations. America's interests are global, but its focus is regional. Existing alliances and past coalitions reflect that focus. Alliance participants establish formal, standard agreements for operational objectives. As forces of these nations plan and train together, they develop mutual trust and respect. Alliance nations strive to field compatible military systems, structure common procedures, and develop contingency plans to meet potential threats. Multinational operations are conducted by forces of two or more nations, usually undertaken in the structure of a coalition or alliance. Other possible arrangements include supervision by an intergovernmental organization such as the UN or the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. Commonly used terms under the multinational rubric include allied, bilateral, coalition, multinational, combined/coalition or multilateral. However, within this manual the preferred term multinational will be the term used to describe these actions and has replaced the older terms of combined in almost all usages except NATO. This publication has undergone significant changes and improvements over the past two decades. It meets the growing and evolving multinational missions.