text: Army Tactics
  contest the joint force in all domains. Army forces simultaneously support and are supported by the joint
  force across all domains. This interdependent relationship between the Army and the rest of the joint force
  allows joint force commanders to impose multiple dilemmas on the enemy. This interdependence is also why
  all Army operations are multidomain operations.
  1-13. At the tactical level of warfare, Army formations provide unique capabilities to the joint force. These
  capabilities include but are not limited to ground maneuver forces able to seize and hold terrain, surface based
  indirect fires, air and missile defense, and sustainment. Army tactical formations also use joint force
  capabilities including fixed- and rotary-wing aviation, unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), satellite
  communications, and the global positioning system during offensive, defensive, and stability operations.
  1-14. All Army operations are multidomain operations. This is because every operation requires integrating
  capabilities from all domains to succeed. For example, at the lower tactical levels companies and platoons
  employ capabilities from other domains such as aviation (including UAS), joint fires, satellite
  communications, and the global positioning system. As part of the joint force, Army forces execute
  multidomain operations throughout the competition, crisis, and conflict contexts. Army tactical formations
  typically conduct operations dominated by one context at a time. (See FM 3-0 for more information on Army
  operations during competition and crisis).
  1-15. During combat operations tactical-level Army forces execute offensive, defensive, and stability
  operations supported by enabling operations to achieve tactical objectives that support operational and
  strategic objectives. While a division possesses the capability and capacity to conduct simultaneous
  offensive, defensive, and stability operations, brigade combat teams (BCTs) and below are typically only
  capable of executing a single type of operation at a given time.
  1-16. FM 3-90 focuses on the tactics associated with large-scale combat operations at the tactical level with
  particular emphasis on offensive, defensive, and enabling operations. (See ADP 3-07 for more information
  on stability operations and ADP 3-28 for more information on defense support to civil authorities).
  OFFENSIVE, DEFENSIVE, STABILITY, AND ENABLING OPERATIONS
  1-17. An offensive operation is an operation to defeat or destroy enemy forces and gain control of terrain,
  resources, and population centers (ADP 3-0). A defensive operation is an operation to defeat an enemy attack,
  gain time, economize forces, and develop conditions favorable for offensive or stability operations (ADP 3-
  0). A stability operation is an operation conducted outside the United States in coordination with other
  instruments of national power to establish or maintain a secure environment and provide essential
  governmental services, emergency infrastructure reconstruction, and humanitarian relief (ADP 3-0). Every
  type of operation has a mission that consists of a task and purpose.
  1-18. An enabling operation is an operation that sets the friendly conditions required for mission
  accomplishment. By themselves, enabling operations do not directly accomplish the commander’s end state
  and are not decisive on their own, but are required to conduct successful offensive, defensive, and stability
  operations. Enabling operations can also be described or listed as key tasks during the execution of a mission.
  1-19. Offensive, defensive, and enabling operations arrange friendly forces by purpose. Purpose describes
  friendly force goals with respect to the enemy force’s ability to achieve its objectives. Objective is a location
  used to orient operations, phase operations, facilitate changes of direction, and provide for unity of effort
  (ADP 3-90). Based on the purpose assigned, the commander selects a type of offensive or defensive operation
  and any enabling operations required. The types of operations have subsets called variations. The variations
  share similar ways of organizing forces as the parent operation, with differing conditions and outcomes. The
  taxonomy provides, if needed, additional categories of methods and forms. Figure 1-1 illustrates the Army’s
  tactical taxonomy.