1-9. An operational environment is a composite of the conditions, circumstances, and influences that affect the employment of capabilities and bear on the decisions of the commander (JP 3-0). Army forces assist in shaping an operational environment by providing trained and ready forces to geographic combatant commanders in support of their combatant commander’s campaign plans. Shaping activities include security cooperation, military engagement, and forward presence to promote U.S. interests and assure allies. The theater army and subordinate Army forces assist the geographic combatant commander in building partner capacity and capability and promoting stability across an area of responsibility. Army operations to shape are continuous throughout a geographic combatant commander’s area of responsibility and occur before, during, and after a specific joint operation. If operations to shape are successful, they may prevent conflict and negate the requirement to conduct large-scale ground combat operations.