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.

1-65. During large-scale combat operations, Army forces focus on the defeat and destruction of enemy ground forces as part of the joint team. Army forces close with and destroy enemy forces in any terrain, exploit success, and break their opponent’s will to resist. Army forces attack, defend, conduct stability tasks, and consolidate gains to attain national objectives. Divisions and corps are the formations central to the conduct of large-scale combat operations, organized, trained and equipped to enable subordinate organizations. The ability to prevail in ground combat is a decisive factor in breaking an enemy’s will to continue a conflict. Conflict resolution requires the Army to conduct sustained operations with unified action partners as long as necessary to achieve national objectives. Conducting large-scale ground combat operations corresponds to seize the initiative and dominate phases of a joint operations. (Chapters 5, 6, and 7 describe how Army forces, as part of a joint force, conduct large-scale ground combat.)

8-75. BCTs conduct operations by seizing, retaining, and exploiting opportunities. BCTs leverage information collection, interactions with people and organizations, offensive and defensive tasks, IRCs, and cyberspace electromagnetic activities (CEMA) to achieve the security conditions essential to the effective performance of stability tasks.

1-34. During large-scale ground combat operations, Army forces focus on the defeat and destruction of enemy ground forces as part of the joint team. Army forces close with and destroy enemy forces in any terrain, exploit success, and break the opponent’s will to resist. Army forces attack, defend, perform stability tasks, and consolidate gains to accomplish national objectives. Divisions and corps are the formations central to the conduct of large-scale combat operations. The ability to prevail in ground combat is a decisive factor in breaking an enemy’s capability and will to continue a conflict. Conflict resolution requires the Army to conduct sustained operations with unified action partners as long as necessary to accomplish national objectives.

1-53. Consolidate gains are the activities to make enduring any temporary operational success and set the conditions for a stable environment allowing for a transition of control to legitimate authorities (ADP 3-0). Operations to consolidate gains require decisive action that increases emphasis on security and stability tasks over time. They will likely involve significant combat operations against bypassed enemy forces and remnants of defeated units initially. These operations often begin concurrently with large-scale combat operations and continue after large-scale combat operations are complete. Both security tasks and stability tasks are required to consolidate gains, and commanders support both with fires.

8-28. Divisions and corps assign subordinate units responsibility for consolidation areas to preserve the tempo of operations. Commanders assign consolidation areas to units in a follow and support role to avoid pulling combat power from the close and deep areas. Units assigned a consolidation area require the capability to conduct decisive action, which includes offensive, defensive, and stability tasks, to defeat enemy remnants or bypassed forces and preserve freedom of action for their higher headquarters. The consolidation area generally reduces the size of the support area and improves its security, allowing units in the support area to focus primarily on functional tasks and the local security of base clusters and routes.

2-56. Momentum comes from retaining operational initiative and executing high-tempo operations that overwhelm enemy resistance. Commanders control momentum by maintaining focus and pressure. They set a tempo that prevents exhaustion and maintains adequate sustainment. A sustainable tempo extends operational reach. Commanders maintain momentum by anticipating and transitioning rapidly between any combination of offensive, defensive, stability, or DSCA tasks. Momentum prevents an enemy from recovering the initiative. Sometimes commanders push the force to its culminating point to take maximum advantage of an opportunity. Exploitations and pursuits often involve pushing all available forces to the limit of their endurance to capitalize on momentum and retain the initiative.

1-97. The presence of an Army band presents an opportunity for CCDRs to convey strategic messaging, setting the conditions to alter the opinions and attitudes of audiences through band support operations. Army band performances create an occasion for communication. Bands help shape the environment for interagency and HN success during stability. During this phase of operations band support may include, but is not limited to, ceremonial, diplomatic, HN outreach, Soldier morale, or memorial support. Through the provision of tailored music performances, Army band also enhances Soldier resilience, morale, and esprit de corps.

3-75. Countermobility operations are those combined arms activities that use or enhance the effects of natural and man-made obstacles to deny enemy freedom of movement and maneuver (ATP 3-90.8). The primary purposes of countermobility are to shape enemy movement and maneuver and to prevent enemy forces from gaining a position of advantage. Countermobility supports the conduct of the offense, defense, and stability or defense support of civil authorities across the range of military operations.

1-105. Momentum comes from retaining the initiative and executing high-tempo operations that overwhelm enemy resistance. Commanders control momentum by maintaining focus and pressure. They set a tempo that prevents friendly exhaustion and maintains sustainment. A sustainable tempo extends operational reach. Commanders maintain momentum by anticipating and transitioning rapidly between any combination of offensive, defensive, and stability tasks. Sometimes commanders push their force to its culminating point to take maximum advantage of an opportunity. For example, exploitations and pursuits may involve pushing all available forces to the limits of their endurance.

4-25. The consolidation area does not necessarily need to surround—nor contain—the support area base clusters. It requires a purposefully task-organized, combined arms unit to perform area security and stability tasks and employ and clear fires. This unencumbers units conducting close operations and enables the higher echelon headquarters to focus on close operations, deep operations, and future planning. Corps and divisions may designate multiple consolidation areas. Units designated to a consolidation area conduct decisive action to defeat remnants of defeated or by-passed forces and stabilize the area for transition to legitimate authority. The forces necessary to consolidate gains represent a separate and distinct requirement beyond the BCTs and divisions required to conduct close and deep operations. To consolidate gains properly, the theater army plans and requests the additional required forces through the force-tailoring process.

3-22. Army forces consolidate gains through decisive action, executing offense, defense, and stability to defeat enemy forces in detail and set security conditions required for a desired end state. Consolidate gains is not a phase. Army forces consolidate gains continuously during the conduct of operations, although not simultaneously and with varying purposes by echelons over time. Consolidating gains is focused on the exploitation of tactical success to ensure enemy forces cannot reconstitute any form of resistance in areas where they were initially defeated. This creates an enabling tempo of operations on the ground in the close, deep, and support areas. (See table 3-2 on page 3-6 for a general taxonomy of purpose that reflects focus, planning considerations, and approach by echelons as they consolidate gains during combat.)

5-1. Combat power is the total means of destructive, constructive, and information capabilities that a military unit or formation can apply at a given time. Operations executed through simultaneous offensive, defensive, stability, or DSCA operations require the continuous generation and application of combat power. To an Army commander, Army forces generate combat power by converting potential into effective action. Combat power includes all capabilities provided by unified action partners that are integrated and synchronized with the commander’s objectives to achieve unity of effort in sustained operations.

7-267. As corps and divisions continue to advance at some point in time they will transition from one phase of the major operations or campaign plan to another and begin executing a sequel to their previous offensive order. The end of offensive tasks may not be the decisive act. Consolidation of gains may be the decisive operation in the major operation or campaign. The transition to a focus on the conduct of area security and stability tasks from the conduct of offensive tasks cannot be an afterthought. Setting the conditions for the consolidation of gains may have significant impact on the planning and execution of offensive-centric actions. (See chapter 8 for more information on consolidation of gains.)

9-159. The assistant chief of staff, civil affairs operations (G-9 [S-9]) ensures each war-gamed COA effectively integrates civil considerations (the “C” of METT-TC). The civil affairs operations officer considers not only tactical issues but also sustainment issues. This officer assesses how operations affect civilians and estimates the requirements for essential stability tasks commanders might have to undertake based on the ability of the unified action partners. Host-nation support and care of dislocated civilians are of particular concern. The civil affairs operations officer’s analysis considers how operations affect public order and safety, the potential for disaster relief requirements, noncombatant evacuation operations, emergency services, and the protection of culturally significant sites. This officer provides feedback on how the culture in the area of operations affects each COA. If the unit lacks an assigned civil affairs officer, the commander assigns these responsibilities to another staff member.

3-20. Unanticipated changes or an improved understanding of an operational environment may result in commanders reframing a problem and adapting an operation. Unforeseen success resulting in collapse of enemy opposition illustrates one unanticipated change. Another example is a deteriorating situation during peace operations requiring a transition to the defense or offense to reestablish stability. Commanders need to adjust task organizations to support the requirements of transitions. When transitioning, subordinate commanders must clearly understand their higher echelon commander’s intent, concept of operations, and desired end state. This includes how much risk to accept, and where to accept it.

2-78. Transitions mark a change of focus between phases or between the ongoing operation and execution of a branch or sequel. Shifting priorities among the offense, defense, and stability also involves transitions. Transitions require planning and preparation so the force can maintain the initiative and tempo of operations. Forces are vulnerable during transitions, so commanders establish clear conditions for their execution. Planning identifies potential transitions and accounts for them throughout execution. Effective commanders consider the time required to plan for and execute transitions. Assessment helps commanders measure progress toward such transitions and take appropriate actions to execute them.

7-38. Cultural awareness and understanding of how cultural factors can influence the success of communications has long been an important competency for military leaders leading ethnically and culturally diverse organizations. In recent years, the necessities of counterinsurgency, stability, and interorganizational operations have placed cross-cultural communications skills at the center of operational success.

1-173. Transitions mark a change of focus between phases or between the ongoing operation and execution of a branch or sequel. Shifting priorities between offensive, defensive, and stability tasks also involves a transition. Transitions require planning and preparation well before their execution so that a force can maintain the momentum and tempo of operations. A force is vulnerable during transitions, and commanders establish clear conditions for their execution. Commanders identify potential transitions during planning and account for them throughout execution. Commanders should appreciate the time required to both plan for and execute transitions. Assessment ensures that commanders measure progress toward such transitions and take appropriate actions to prepare for and execute them.

2-26. DOS developed a detailed list of stability-focused, stabilization and reconstruction essential tasks (hereafter referred to as the essential stability task matrix). The essential stability task matrix helps planners identify specific requirements to support host nations in transition so host nations can prevent armed conflict, prevent civil strife to sustaining stability, or restore stability post-conflict. It serves as a detailed planning resource, and it continues to develop as forces implement it during operations. Forces can apply this matrix as a resource for both peacetime and conflict situations. (For more information see the Post Conflict Reconstruction Essentials Tasks Matrix at https://2001-2009.state.gov/s/crs/rls/52959.htm.)