How is "military doctrine" defined?

Military doctrine is defined as a fundamental set of principles guiding military operations. This definition emphasizes the role of doctrine in providing a framework for how military forces operate in various contexts and environments. It serves as a guiding philosophy for planning, conducting, and assessing military operations, ensuring that actions taken in the field are coherent and aligned with the broader objectives of the military organization.

Doctrines encompass various aspects such as tactics, techniques, and procedures that inform how commanders and units understand their capabilities and limitations, effectively communicating the reasoning behind military strategies. By establishing widely accepted principles, military doctrine facilitates unity of effort and coordination among different branches of the armed forces.

In contrast, the other options do not capture the essence of what military doctrine represents. Military secrets are confidential and do not provide the guidance necessary for operations. Rules for engagement in civil matters pertain to civilian law and operations rather than military conduct. A historical account of past military strategies focuses on documenting events rather than outlining current operational principles or strategies that inform how different scenarios should be approached today.