1-20. Large-scale ground combat operations is sustained combat operations involving multiple corps and divisions (ADP 3-0). Army forces focus on the defeat and destruction of enemy ground forces as part of the joint team during large-scale ground combat operations. Army leaders must anticipate that joint support will be limited in large-scale ground combat operations and must use a combination of measures to protect the force. Army forces close with and destroy enemy forces in any terrain, exploiting success and breaking their opponent’s will to resist. Army forces conduct offense, defense, and stability operations and consolidate gains to attain national objectives. Divisions and corps are the formations that are central to the conduct of large-scale ground combat operations. They are organized, trained, and equipped to enable subordinate organizations. The ability to prevail in the land domain 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.

1-26. In 2018, the Deputy Secretary of Defense signed DODD 3000.05. It provides military forces with guidance on conducting stabilization activities. It outlines Department of Defense policy and assigns responsibility for planning, preparing for, and executing stability operations as a component of joint operations.

1-35. Military forces can engage at any point along this framework. In each case, achieving the end state requires quickly reducing the level of violence through area security tasks, creating conditions that support safely introducing other government agencies and intergovernmental organizations, and securing critical humanitarian access for nongovernmental organizations by performing stability operations tasks. Consolidation of gains focuses on conditions or variables within the operational environment and transforming conditions toward stability. In a failed or failing state, conditions typically require performance of more area security and civil security tasks to eliminate threats and reduce violence. As conditions of the environment begin to improve, constructive capabilities of military forces, by performing other stability operations tasks, focus on building host-nation capacity and encouraging sustained development. (For more discussion of the fragile states framework, see JP 3-07 and the U.S. Agency for International Development’s Fragile States Strategy.)

2-73. Commanders and staff consider tempo both when planning and executing operations. Tempo is the relative speed and rhythm of military operations over time with respect to the enemy (ADP 3-0). It reflects the rate of military action. Controlling tempo helps commanders keep the initiative during combat operations or rapidly establish a sense of normalcy during humanitarian crises. During large-scale ground combat, commanders seek to maintain a higher tempo than the enemy does; a rapid tempo can overwhelm an enemy’s ability to counter friendly actions. During other operations dominated by stability operations tasks, commanders act quickly to control events and deny the enemy positions of advantage. By acting faster than the situation deteriorates, commanders can change the dynamics of a crisis and restore stability.

3-56. Army forces support civilian protection in two general ways. First, they act in accordance with the law of armed conflict and other relevant bodies of law to minimize harm to civilians during their own military operations. Moreover, they avoid actions that undermine efforts by other actors to improve civil security. Second, Army forces may conduct deliberate actions to protect civilians, including stability operations intended to create conditions conducive to civilian security. The second is especially true during consolidation of gains by providing area security, performing the minimum-essential security tasks, and performing the Army stability operations tasks, especially the establishment of civil security and civil control. (See JP 3-0, JP 3-07.3, and ATP 3-07.6 for detailed discussions on protection of civilians.)

2-68. An operation is a sequence of tactical actions with a common purpose and a unifying theme (JP 1). It includes the process of planning, preparing, executing, and assessing the offensive, defensive, and stability operations or defense support of civil authorities tasks and what may be needed to achieve the objectives of any engagement, battle, major operation, or campaign. It also includes enabling operations.

3-22. Transitions mark a change of focus between phases or between the ongoing operation and execution of a branch or sequel. The shift in relative priority between the elements of decisive action—such as from an offense to stability—also involves a transition. Transitions require planning and preparation well before their execution. The staff identifies potential transitions during planning and accounts for them throughout execution; assessment ensures that the staff measures progress toward such transitions and takes appropriate actions to prepare for and execute them. In a stability context, operations can involve multiple types of transitions, and they often occur concurrently. Stability operations include transitions of authority and control among military forces, civilian agencies and organizations, and host nations.

4-27. A decisive point is a geographic place, specific key event, critical factor, or function that, when acted upon, allows commanders to gain a marked advantage over an enemy or contribute materially to achieving success (JP 5-0). While conducting stability operations, decisive points will likely be less tangible and more closely associated with important events and conditions, and typically relate to the human dimension of the problem. Examples include—

4-42. Support involves establishing, reinforcing, or setting the conditions necessary for the instruments of national power of the host-nation government to function effectively; coordinating and cooperating closely with host-nation civilian agencies; and assisting aid organizations as necessary to secure humanitarian access to vulnerable populations. Support is vital to a comprehensive approach to stability operations. The military instrument of national power brings unique expeditionary and campaign capabilities to stability operations. These capabilities enable the military force to address the immediate needs of the host nation and local populace quickly. In extreme circumstances, support may require committing considerable resources for a protracted period. However, easing the burden of support on military forces requires enabling civilian agencies and organizations to fulfill their respective roles. Typically, commanders ease the burden by combining the effects of the stability mechanisms compel, control, and influence to reestablish security and control; restoring essential civil services to the local populace; and helping to secure humanitarian access necessary for aid organizations to function effectively.

3-51. Following the conclusion of large-scale combat in an AO, units perform security first and then progress to stability-related tasks. Units first address the final defeat of all enemy means of resistance and secure key terrain, infrastructure, and populations. Only then do units consider stability tasks above the minimum required by the law of war. Planning to consolidate gains is primarily a corps and division responsibility that occurs before, during, and after large-scale ground combat and includes allocating resources to consolidate gains. When the shift to stability operations occurs, the staff disseminates the change in purpose down to the lowest echelons.

1-34. During stabilization, engagement and intervention activities are better defined in terms of the progress toward stabilizing operational environments. The fragile states framework illustrates conditions that characterize an operational environment during such operations, and it defines the environment according to two quantifiable, complementary scales: decreasing violence and increasing normalization of the state. These scales are the fundamental measures of success in conflict transformation. These measures relate directly to the Army’s strategic role of consolidation of gains: area security (to reduce violence) and stability operations (to increase the stability of the state). Although fragile states do not recover from conflict or disaster according to a smooth, graduated scale, this framework provides a means with which to gauge conditions of an operational environment, formulate an engagement method, and measure progress toward success.

2-254. Survivability is a quality or capability of military forces which permits them to avoid or withstand hostile actions or environmental conditions while retaining the ability to fulfill their primary mission (ATP 3-37.34). Survivability operations are those military activities that alter the physical environment to provide or improve cover, camouflage, and concealment (ATP 3-37.34). Survivability operations are critical to offensive, defensive, and stability operations, but they may be emphasized differently in each. Commanders may rely more on mobility and terrain to provide concealment during the offense, while stressing camouflage, survivability positions, and hardened facilities to avoid or withstand hostile actions during the defense.

1-42. The stabilization framework helps to emphasize the training and organization of forces for consolidation of gains prior to initial deployment and later during force generation. It spurs Army design methodology and planning, serving as an engagement paradigm. This paradigm frames response efforts and guides the development of tasks to accomplish a mission. In simplest terms, it is a guide to action in stability operations. (For more on the stabilization framework, see JP 3-07.)

1-13. The primary role of external military forces during stabilization efforts may be to build host-nation military force capability and capacity. Additionally, military forces may be asked to support the comprehensive efforts of interagency and intergovernmental entities, which are in place to develop host-nation capacity to execute critical government functions. Unified action is an indispensable feature of building host-nation capacity. In stability operations, unified action to enhance the ability of the host nation for security, governance, economic development, essential services, rule of law, and other critical government functions exemplifies building host-nation capacity. (See JP 3-07 and JP 3-20 for additional information on building host-nation capacity).

2-90. Establishing or reestablishing competent host-nation security forces is fundamental to providing lasting safety and security for the host nation and its population. These forces primarily counter external threats. However, they also assist in other key missions including disaster relief, humanitarian assistance, and some other internal military threats. Developing host-nation security forces is integral to successful stability operations and includes organizing, training, equipping, rebuilding, and advising various components of host-nation security forces.

5-56. Military forces may be initially engaged in conducting policing and penal operations to prevent criminal activity or to reduce crime-conducive conditions in a particular area. These activities protect communities from criminal predators who can have a chilling effect on populations and can destabilize specific areas. In these operations, military forces must be proficient in the escalation of force before resorting to lethal action within the rules of engagement. Nonlethal TTP and capabilities provide commanders with the ability to implement or initiate a scalable force response, which can contribute to the protection of the force and the civilian populace. The presence of well-trained, -equipped, and -disciplined Soldiers with lethal capability can often be sufficient to deter violence, confrontation, or conflict while conducting stability operations. However, the rules of engagement are tested by adversaries and the capability to respond first with nonlethal means and to escalate only as required serves the long-term objectives well. Law enforcement activities transition from military personnel to civilian police who are supplied by the host nation or as part of another nation or international policing effort. Police training, development, and mentoring may continue until normalization is achieved. (See ATP 3-39.10 for additional information on host nation police development.) Commanders may authorize, develop, and train civilian volunteers to augment civil control efforts or to serve as a police auxiliary.

3-69. Commanders exercise the joint operations principles of restraint by using nonlethal means to manage a local population’s security expectations and counter rumors. However, they recognize that their Soldiers’ actions, positive and negative, most strongly sway a populace’s perception of Army forces. Trust from a host-nation populace must be developed; it is not assumed or attained without concerted effort. That trust must be earned, one ethical decision and one Soldier at a time. The moral advantage provided by the presence of well-trained, disciplined, well-equipped, and well-led forces can be a potent nonlethal capability. It creates fear and doubt in the minds of enemy forces and may deter adversaries. This effect is important in many stability-dominated operations. Even though stability operations emphasize nonlethal actions, the ability to engage potential enemies with decisive lethal force remains a strong deterrent. Enemy commanders may curtail activities and avoid combat if they perceive Army forces as highly capable and willing to use precise, lethal force. This permits Army forces to extend the scope and tempo of nonlethal actions.

3-55. The protection of civilians refers to efforts that reduce civilian risks from physical violence, protect civilian access to essential services and resources, and contribute to stabilizing conditions for civilians over the long-term. Protection of civilians is a moral, legal, and strategic priority during land operations. Communities throughout the world expect military personnel to protect local populations; failure to do so jeopardizes the credibility and legitimacy of an operation and can undermine other objectives. Protection of civilians is often important when Army units are involved in stability operations, peace operations, combat operations, or security cooperation during peacetime. In some operations such as counterinsurgencies, a population’s support may be the center of gravity or may be otherwise indispensable for mission accomplishment. In any military operation, the ultimate political objectives often include security, sustainable stability, and other conditions that support civilian well-being.

2-11. Army operations to consolidate gains include activities to make enduring any temporary operational success, to set the conditions for a transition of control to legitimate civil authorities, and ultimately to transform military victory to political success. Consolidation of gains is an integral and continuous part of armed conflict necessary for achieving success across the range of military operations. Army forces deliberately plan to consolidate gains during all phases of an operation. Early and effective consolidation activities are a form of exploitation conducted while other operations are ongoing .They enable the achievement of lasting favorable outcomes in the shortest time span. Army forces conduct these activities with unified action partners. In some instances, Army forces will be in charge of integrating forces and synchronizing activities to consolidate gains. In other situations, Army forces will be in support. Army forces may conduct stability operations for a sustained period over large land areas. While Army forces consolidate gains throughout an operation, consolidating gains becomes the focus of Army forces after large-scale combat operations have concluded. Consolidating gains also prevents adversary forces from re-imposing their will in the region.

3-5. The simultaneity of decisive action varies by echelon and span of control. Higher echelons generally have a broader focus than lower echelons when assigning responsibilities to subordinates. The higher the echelon, the greater the possibility that all elements of decisive action occur simultaneously within its area of operations. At lower echelons, an assigned task may require all the echelons’ combat power to execute a specific task. For example, in some form a higher echelon, such as a corps, always performs offensive, defensive, and stability or defense support of civil authority operations simultaneously. Subordinate brigades perform some combination of offensive, defensive, and stability operations, but they generally are more focused by their immediate priorities on a specific element, particularly during large-scale ground combat operations.