The National Security Strategy considers the enduring national interests of the United States to be “the security of the United States, its citizens, and allies and partners of the United States; a strong, innovative, and growing U.S. economy in an open international economic system that promotes opportunity and prosperity; respect for universal values ​​at home and in the world; an international order fostered by U.S. leadership that promotes peace, security, and opportunity through stronger cooperation to address global challenges.” The Defense Strategic Guidance, released in 2012, directs DOD to develop smaller, less expensive and creative ways to achieve national security by increasing advisory roles, rotational presence and exercises. Complementing both, the Quadrennial Defense Review, published in 2010, set two overarching goals: rebalancing U.S. forces to address current and future wars; and refine processes to support the U.S. military, purchase only needed weapons, and ensure responsible use of money. Finally, the National Military Strategy, published in 2011, explicitly states: “Let us not forget, the Nation remains at war abroad to defend itself and defeat threats to our homeland.” Echoes of lessons learned by the United States over the past 13 years of irregular warfare appear in each of these documents. This essay will discuss the current U.S. military approach to irregular challenges, the irregular challenges the United States will most likely face in the near term, and offer arguments for whether the U.S. government and military are focused on the most important with the right mix. of capacity. The current and near-term irregular challenges facing the U.S. Army require creative approaches that maximize people, resources and capabilities. The current US military...... middle of paper... a nice irregular challenge operation and faced a larger scale conventional operation at the same time, the United States takes on a huge risk. Furthermore, other fundamental aspects (defense of the homeland, defense of common goods, etc.) would suffer. This essay discusses the current U.S. military approach to irregular challenges, the irregular challenges the United States will most likely face in the near term, and offers arguments for whether the U.S. government and military are focused on the most important threats with the right mix of capabilities. Only time will tell whether the policies set out in the 2010 National Security Strategy, the 2012 Defense Strategic Guidance, the 2010 Quadrennial Defense Review and the 2011 National Military Strategy have hit the mark. The current and near-term irregular challenges facing the U.S. Army require creative approaches that maximize people, resources and capabilities.