text: Chapter 6
  6-41. Units use aerial reconnaissance to augment ground reconnaissance. They employ aerial sensors, such
  as manned and unmanned aircraft systems, in advance of ground maneuver reconnaissance. This allows aerial
  observation of named and targeted areas of interest that facilitate their maneuver and cue the attack of targets.
  Armed manned and unmanned aircraft can locate enemy positions and engage enemy forces to disrupt their
  movement and preparations. Aerial assets maintain constant contact and pressure on the enemy.
  6-42. A commander’s decision to exploit stems from the assumption that enemy forces have already been
  somewhat disrupted. Units use all available resources to maintain pressure and overwhelm enemy forces.
  Units combine the effects of operations against enemy reserves and uncommitted forces with the rapid
  maneuver of ground forces to maintain this disruption. When permissible, attack aviation elements can
  maneuver in front of or over exploiting ground maneuver forces to destroy targets. Units seek to integrate
  fixed-wing aircraft into the fires plan for attacking these targets. The exploiting force advances to keep the
  enemy force off balance and degrade enemy intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities. The
  exploiting force’s fire support system must deliver massed fires quickly to respond to any contingencies that
  arise during the exploitation.
  FIX THE ENEMY
  6-43. As part of its shaping operations, an exploiting force has three goals in fixing an enemy force. First,
  fix enemy units in positions out of supporting distance of each other. This allows the exploiting force to
  defeat enemy forces in detail. Second, units attack out of contact enemy forces before they can affect the
  exploitation. By attacking these enemy forces, units seek to fix them in their current positions or force them
  to move to locations where they can be contained until the exploiting force, or a follow and support force can
  engage and defeat them. Third, it achieves a specific targeting effect—such as causing 15 percent casualties—
  that disrupts the enemy commander’s plan.
  FINISH THE ENEMY
  6-44. The exploiting force maneuvers to maintain pressure on the enemy and to prevent their reorganization
  or escape. Units take advantage of any available vertical envelopment capabilities to accomplish these
  missions. The exploiting force clears only enough of its assigned area to permit its advance. It cuts through
  enemy logistics units and LOCs to seize objectives vital to the enemy force’s defense. It attacks from the
  march to overrun weak enemy formations. Exploiting forces can, based on the bypass criteria, contain and
  bypass those enemy pockets of resistance too small to jeopardize the mission. Commanders report enemy
  forces to adjacent units, following units, and higher echelon headquarters.
  6-45. If an enemy unit is too strong for the leading elements of the exploiting force to overrun and destroy,
  succeeding elements of the force conduct a hasty attack based on the combat information provided by its
  leading elements. In almost all cases, units use forms of maneuver other than the frontal attack, to produce
  faster and better results with fewer casualties. While the exploiting force is seeking one or more assailable
  flanks, available fire support systems continue to engage enemy forces to divert attention from the attempted
  envelopment and destroy as much enemy combat power as possible.
  6-46. An exploiting force may face prepared belts of defensive positions in depth when it is exploiting the
  initial success of the attack. Therefore, the exploiting force must move to attack and destroy enemy defending
  forces before they can occupy subsequent or supplemental positions. The faster the exploiting force moves,
  the less likely it is that succeeding defensive lines will be fully prepared and the less effort it will take to
  penetrate each successive defensive position. The exploiting force attacks and maneuvers as many times as
  necessary until it breaks completely through the enemy force’s defenses.
  6-47. A commander’s primary concern when initiating an exploitation resulting from a successful attack is
  rapidly shifting the force into the appropriate task organization to take advantage of a window of opportunity.
  Commanders control their formation as it moves and prevent its overextension. They anticipate the enemy
  force’s reactions to friendly actions. The real danger to the exploiting force is not the immediate enemy force,
  but the enemy forces not yet engaged. Overextension is a risk inherent in exploitation. While commanders
  avoid overextension, they must also guard against being overcautious.