text: Chapter 4
  Support Area Responsibilities
  Command and control is fundamental to the art and science of warfare. No single
  specialized military function, either by itself or combined with others, has a purpose
  without it. Through command and control, commanders provide purpose and direction
  to integrate all military activities toward a common goal—mission accomplishment.
  Commanders assign support areas to subordinate commanders to conduct support area
  responsibilities. This chapter describes the MEB role in conducting terrain
  management, controlling movement, protection, security, and defense functions.
  TERRAIN MANAGEMENT
  4-1. Terrain management is the process of allocating terrain by establishing areas of operations, designating
  AAs, and specifying locations for units and activities to deconflict activities that might interfere with each
  other (ADP 3-90). Throughout the operations process, commanders assigned an AO manage terrain within
  their boundaries. Through terrain management, commanders identify and locate units in the area. The
  operations officer, with support from others in the staff, can then deconflict operations, control movements,
  and deter fratricide as units get in position to execute planned missions. Commanders also consider unified
  action and host-nation partners located in their AO and coordinate with them for use of the terrain.
  4-2. The higher headquarters may position a number of other support brigades; functional brigades; smaller
  units; various higher headquarters; contractors; and joint, interagency, and multinational organizations within
  the support area. Regardless of the size of units, the MEB commander has some command and control
  responsibilities over those in their AO. Units assigned to operate within the support area are typically TACON
  to the MEB commander for defense and force protection. The MEB commander has approval authority for
  the exact placement of units and facilities within the support area, unless placement is directed by the MEB
  commander’s higher headquarters. In instances where there is disagreement, the higher headquarters retains
  final authority. The commander must deconflict operations, control movement, and prevent fratricide.
  4-3. Terrain management involves allocating terrain by establishing AOs and other control measures, by
  specifying unit locations, and by deconflicting activities that may interfere with operations. Indirect fires and
  air corridors must be planned congruently to ensure deconfliction in time and space. Control trigger,
  elevation, and azimuths should be considered when planning airspace deconfliction and should be
  synchronized with division or corps and adjacent unit plans. During large-scale combat operations, the MEB
  commander may designate AAs where the tenants of the support area occupy an area and provide temporary
  functional support until support area base camps and base clusters can be established or until a relocation of
  the support area is required due to transitions. Occupy is a tactical mission task that involves moving a
  friendly force into an area so that it can control that area. Both the force’s movement to and occupation of
  the area occur without enemy opposition (FM 3-90-1). While in the AA, each unit is responsible for its own
  protection activities, such as local ground security. An assembly area is an area a unit occupies to prepare
  for an operation (FM 3-90-1). Ideally, an AA provides—
  * Concealment from air and ground observation.
  * Adequate entrances, exits, and internal routes.
  * Space for dispersion; each AA is separated by enough distance from other AAs to preclude mutual
  interference.
  * Cover from direct fire.
  * Good drainage and soil conditions that can sustain unit vehicles and individual Soldier
  movements.