1-34. Use of Army special operations capabilities in military engagement, security cooperation, and deterrence activities support combatant commander campaign objectives to effect the operational environment; maintain U.S. influence, access, and interoperability with and to designated actors; and maintain or achieve stability in a region. Many of the missions associated with limited contingencies, such as logistics support, foreign humanitarian assistance, and defense support of civil authorities, do not require combat. However, some such operations can rapidly escalate to combat operations and require a significant effort to protect U.S. forces while accomplishing the mission. Individual, major operations often contribute to a larger, long-term effort—for example, those that are part of global operations. The nature of the strategic environment is such that special operations forces are often engaged in several types of joint operations simultaneously. Army special operations forces are specifically organized, manned, trained, and equipped to execute specified core activities. These activities are conducted across the range of military operations as supporting or primary activities, either singly or in combination. These core activities help provide a bridge across the range of operations, helping to create stable security environments and—when the environment degrades due to crisis or armed conflict—providing a foundation from which positions of relative advantage are obtainable.