text: Security Operations
  5-95. Division or corps headquarters determine the requirements for a covering force built around a brigade.
  Maneuver, enabling, and sustainment assets reinforce the covering force so it can accomplish its mission.
  Reinforcements increase the distance and time the covering force can operate away from the main body and
  enhances the covering force’s ability to fight. Reinforcements typically revert to their parent organizations
  upon the passage of the covering force (see table 5-3).
  Table 5-3. Typical command and support relationships for cover operations
  ATTACHMENT RELATIONSHIP PARENT ORGANIZATION
  Battalion Task Force Attached Division
  Cavalry Squadron Attached Division
  Air Cavalry Squadron/
  Operational Control Division/Corps
  Attack Battalion
  Field Artillery Brigade Attached or Direct Support Division/Corps
  Engineer Battalion Attached or Direct Support Division/Corps
  Air Defense Artillery Brigade Attached or Direct Support Corps
  Additional Sustainment Units Attached Division/Corps
  5-96. A covering force may be offensive or defensive in nature, but a covering force executes all covering
  force operations aggressively to maximize offensive opportunities. The covering force executes its mission
  as it would in zone reconnaissance or reconnaissance in force in that it is force-oriented.
  OFFENSIVE COVER
  5-97. An offensive covering force seizes the initiative early, allowing the main body commander freedom of
  maneuver. While conducting offensive tasks, a covering force may operate to the front or flanks of the main
  body. Offensive covering forces conduct reconnaissance along the main body’s axis of advance. They deny
  the enemy information about the size, strength, composition, and objective of the main body, destroy, disrupt,
  or fix enemy forces and reconnaissance assets in the security zone forces, develop the situation to determine
  enemy strengths, weaknesses, and disposition, and exploit opportunities until main body forces are
  committed. Advance cover and flank cover are two types of offensive covers.
  5-98. The following are a list of offensive tasks Cavalry units could conduct within capability during
  offensive cover missions:
  * Destroy, disrupt, or fix enemy forces and reconnaissance assets in the disruption zone.
  * Conduct counterreconnaissance to destroy or defeat all enemy reconnaissance elements. Must
  prevent ground observation and direct fire against the main body.
  * Maintain contact with the protected force and other forces operating on its flanks.
  * Gain and maintain contact with enemy forces, and report activity in the assigned area.
  * Maintain observation of avenues of approach that affect the protected forces’ mission.
  * Locate and identify enemy forces in the battle zone, and conduct handover to follow-on forces.
  * Cause the enemy to commit resources to counter the cover force that would have been used against
  the main body.
  * Deny the enemy information about the size, strength, composition, and objective of the main body.
  * Determine enemy strengths, weaknesses, and disposition, and exploit opportunities until main
  body forces are committed.
  * Clear or bypass enemy forces in the assigned area according to engagement criteria.
  * Conduct reconnaissance along the main body’s axis of advance.
  * Penetrate the enemy’s disruption zone to locate enemy main defensive positions.
  * Locate gaps or weaknesses in the enemy’s defensive scheme.
  * Defeat or repel enemy forces as directed by the higher commander.