text: Operations During Armed Conflict
  6-248. Commanders typically economize combat power reserved to protect their rear operations. Bypassed
  enemy forces, enemy special operations forces, and irregular forces pose a significant threat to rear
  operations. Typically, divisions assign a BCT to provide security and consolidate gains in rear areas.
  Maneuver enhancement brigades, with augmentation, employ a tactical combat force to defeat Level III
  threats throughout the support areas, including major sustainment nodes and main supply routes. (See JP 3-10
  for more information on threat levels.)
  6-249. Rear operations play a key role during transitions. For example, a transition between defense and
  offense increases the amount of fuel, maintenance, and movement support required for operations. A
  transition to stability operations requires greater humanitarian aid supplies, force protection and construction
  material, and contract support.
  6-250. When required, commanders conduct reconstitution operations in the rear area, where enemy direct
  fire contact is unlikely. While reconstitution operations are dominated by sustainment factors, they are not
  the exclusive responsibility of sustainment units. All warfighting functions contribute to an effective
  reconstitution.
  6-251. As stability becomes a greater focus of operations, commanders must assess the resources available
  against the mission to determine how best to conduct the minimum-essential stability operations tasks and
  what risk they can accept. The land component commander can establish a civil affairs task force to operate
  in the rear area and form a transitional military authority or support civil administration that facilitates the
  ultimate consolidation of gains in support of the desired strategic end state. The purpose of the civil affairs
  task force is to concentrate stability operations in an AO under a commander’s main effort. Additionally,
  commanders may require Soldiers from all branches to conduct civil security related tasks such as transitional
  public security tasks until local security forces are able to conduct these tasks. The speed with which
  transition from U.S. forces to local authorities occurs is dependent on the ability to plan and control elements
  aimed at developing and legitimizing governance at the tactical and operational levels. (See FM 3-57 for
  more information regarding the civil affairs task force.)
  TRANSITION TO DEFENSE AND STABILITY
  6-252. When offensive operations culminate before enemy forces are defeated, friendly forces rapidly
  transition to the defense. Commanders may deliberately transition to the defense when enemy forces are
  incapable of fully exploiting an opportunity, or when they believe they can build combat power to resume
  the offense before enemy forces can react effectively. Depending on where culmination occurs, friendly
  forces may have to reposition forces on defensible terrain and develop a form of defense and scheme of
  maneuver based on an assessment of the mission variables.
  6-253. Successful offensive operations end because Army forces have achieved their assigned objectives.
  A successful offense can also require a transition to a defensive posture dominated by stability operations
  and a strategic environment moving toward post-conflict political goals. These operations have the goal of
  transitioning responsibility for security and governance to legitimate authorities other than U.S. forces.
  6-254. As a transition to stability operations occurs, leaders focus on stability tasks and information
  activities to inform and influence populations and conduct security force assistance. Effective collaboration
  with diplomatic and humanitarian organizations enhances the ability to achieve stability mechanisms. Army
  forces play a key role in enabling the joint force to establish and conduct military governance until a civilian
  authority or government is given control of their assigned areas.
  TRANSITION TO POST-CONFLICT COMPETITION
  6-255. Army forces conclude armed conflict by establishing conditions that are favorable to the United
  States on the ground. Army forces support these conditions throughout armed conflict by consolidating gains
  and prosecuting operations with desired end state in mind. As hostilities end, stability tasks dominate
  operations with the purpose of transitioning responsibilities to legitimate authorities in a secure environment.
  Army forces provide the joint force with the option of establishing a military transitional government before
  transitioning full governing responsibility to host-nation or other provisional governments.