1-11. Offensive, defensive, and stability tasks will take place simultaneously throughout the land component’s area of operations (AO), although subordinate elements, particularly those at brigade and lower echelons, will generally focus on one type of task at a time. Units engaged in close operations will generally focus on offensive or defensive tasks first, although they will consider long-term stability considerations while executing those tasks. Avoiding civilian casualties and unnecessary destruction of infrastructure are examples of stability considerations that all units account for during planning.