Doctrine is written to be _____.

Doctrine serves as a foundational framework that guides operations, decision-making, and strategic planning within military contexts. When stating that doctrine is written to be authoritative, it emphasizes the necessity for adherence to the principles and guidelines established within it. This authoritative nature ensures a unified approach to training, operations, and overall military effectiveness.

The requirement for doctrine to be authoritative underscores its role in creating a consistent understanding and execution of military operations among personnel. It also reinforces the importance of following established protocols and procedures to guarantee operational success and to maintain a standard across all levels of command.

Other options, while potentially relevant in certain contexts, do not capture the primary intent of doctrine. For example, flexibility could suggest a lack of rigidity, which might lead to varied interpretations or implementations that could hinder operational coherence. Similarly, describing doctrine as optional would undermine its purpose, as it is intended to be a definitive set of guidelines rather than discretionary. Descriptive implies merely outlining practices rather than imposing a standard that must be followed, which diminishes the critical authority that doctrine holds in military operations.