text: _________________________________________________________________________________Chapter 2
  commander has the flexibility to do as he sees fit unless the higher com-
  mander also assigns a kill zone, which he proposes to support with additional
  resources.
  2-72. An operation plan or directive normally defines AORs and zones by
  specifying boundary lines in terms of distinct local terrain features through
  which a line passes, specifying whether each terrain feature is included or
  excluded from the unit’s AOR or zones within it. Normally, a specified terrain
  feature is included unless the order identifies it as “excluded.”
  2-73. In either linear or nonlinear operations, military reason normally dic-
  tates a contiguous force deployment. The OPFOR does not recognize the idea
  of “‘noncontiguous operations.” Senior OPFOR commanders ensure that all
  parts of a theater are within the assigned AOR of some subordinate organiza-
  tion, whether or not ground forces are actually present or expected to operate
  in any given area. A given AOR or zone might be not be contiguous with
  other AORs of its level of command or with other zones of the same type, but
  the geographic area between such control measures will be identified as be-
  ing in the AOR of some other organization.
  DTG OSC
  Battle Line LOR
  DTG OSC
  Support Line
  LOR
  DTG
  AD OTG R
  B Sa Zutt
  p
  ole
  p n o
  eZ ro tne DTG LOR ZA ott na eck
  Objective
  AD OTG R
  Enemy
  SPOD
  Highway Support
  Enemy DTG Zone Kill
  APOD Battle Zone Zone Sea
  OSC AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY
  DTG/BTG
  LOR
  DTG
  Dis Zr ou np etion
  DTG/
  LBT ORG
  Dis
  ZO
  r
  ouS npC
  etion
  Kill Zone
  BTG
  AOR
  way
  High
  OSC
  LOR
  Figure 2-13. OSC Nonlinear AOR Example
  2-74. In his operation plan, the commander specifies the organization of the
  battlefield from the perspective of his level of command. Within his unit’s
  AOR, as defined by the next-higher commander, he designates AORs for his
  subordinates, along with zones, objectives, and axes related to his own over-
  all mission. (See Chapter 3 for further discussion of objectives and axes.)
  Whether the overall operation plan is offensive or defensive in nature, some