text: Stability Tasks in Military Operations
  Table 1-1. Practical guidelines for supporting foreign humanitarian assistance
  Army units supporting • Consult with international humanitarian organizations for guidance.
  foreign humanitarian • Develop a plan of action for the distribution.
  assistance— • Adequately staff the distribution site, including translators to assist
  with communications.
  • Provide water, sanitation, and shelter at the distribution site.
  • Identify leaders from the population to assist with the operation.
  • Attempt to calm the population and create a sense of order prior to
  handing out supplies.
  • Use members of the community to assist with the distribution by
  informing people of what is being given to whom, including how and
  where the distribution will happen.
  • Divide large stockpiles of supplies into smaller parts to distribute to
  different locations or zones at the same time to minimize long lines
  and crowds.
  • Consider the special needs of women, children, the elderly, infirm,
  and handicapped who may have a difficult time accessing supplies.
  • Stop the distribution if disorder or violence occurs as a result.
  Army units supporting • Distributing commodities without a site plan.
  foreign humanitarian • Sending a small team to execute a distribution.
  assistance avoid— • Setting conditions that would lead to dehydration or an unsanitary
  environment.
  • Ignoring, marginalizing, or alienating local leaders during the
  distribution.
  • Using one major distribution point that will attract a large crowd.
  • Throwing commodities from vehicles or other modes of transport,
  creating a fight for the fittest to obtain the supplies.
  • Ignoring questions and concerns of the population.
  • Allowing long lines or waiting periods that can agitate populations and
  be harmful for vulnerable persons.
  • Distributing supplies to only one race, gender, religious group, or
  ethnic group that can aggravate social tensions resulting in violence.
  • Delivering commodities under unsafe conditions that put civilians at
  risk.
  • Assuming that distribution is an easy task; commodities are valuable
  items that can be monetized, which is why some people try to cheat
  the system to get as much as possible.
  COUNTERINSURGENCY
  1-132. Counterinsurgency operations often focus on stability tasks. The combination of stability tasks
  with offensive and defensive tasks sets the tone for the operation. Although all tasks performed to establish
  conditions to achieve a desired end state are significant, an emphasis related to stability tasks is often
  critical in counterinsurgency operations. Changes in an operational environment occur rapidly and
  frequently, requiring adaptability when performing a combination of tasks. Army forces continuously
  assess the mix of offensive, defensive, and stability tasks so they can adjust operations to achieve the
  desired objectives. The tasks of establishing civil security and governance focus on legitimacy of the
  government when facing an insurgent threat. Complementary action to address insurgency is building up
  the capability of the host nation to resist the insurgency over time and to address the drivers of the conflict.
  The tasks of establishing civil control and support to economic and infrastructure development support this
  complementary action. (For more detail, see ATP 3-07.5.)
  1-133. Countering an insurgency incorporates previous or continuing security cooperation efforts, U.S.
  and host-nation objectives, a whole-of-government effort, and a comprehensive approach to address root