text: Introduction
  FM 3-81 provides doctrine for the tactical employment of the MEB in support of Army operations. The
  manual provides the MEB with a unity of effort and a common philosophy, language, and purpose. As one
  of the multifunctional brigades of the Army, the MEB is designed to conduct support area operations in
  support of division and corps operations (also echelons above corps operations within Army, joint, and
  multinational structures). The MEB is a command and control headquarters with a robust multifunctional
  brigade staff that is optimized to conduct support area operations.
  FM 3-81 discusses how MEBs enable commanders to achieve their objectives in support of unified land
  operations. A MEB is a combined arms organization that is task-organized based on mission requirements.
  The MEB is not a maneuver brigade, although it can be assigned an area of operations (AO) (normally the
  support area) and control terrain.
  This revision is based on the successful training and employment of MEB units. This manual builds on the
  collective knowledge and wisdom that was gained through recent operations, lessons learned, doctrine
  revisions, and the analysis of the requirements for divisions and corps to control support areas. This doctrine
  has been adjusted to accommodate new technologies and organizational changes.
  There are changes to the force structure of the MEB that have affected the MEB. The MEBs brigade support
  battalion (BSB) is being replaced with a headquarters support company (HSC). These modifications have an
  impact on dependencies and require additional mission analysis for the MEB when determining an area
  support concept requirement by sustainment assets of the supporting sustainment command.
  FM 3-81 describes how MEB commanders, staffs, and subordinate leaders plan, prepare, execute, and assess
  MEB operations in support of ARFOR that are conducting unified land operations within the framework of
  joint operations. It removes the maneuver support, stability, and defense support of civil authorities (DSCA)
  as the primary task for the MEB. The subordinate tasks that were aligned under maneuver support and
  stability are now aligned under tasks for the conduct of support area operations. FM 3-81 increases the
  emphasis on the MEB primary task of conducting support area operations while supporting the corps or
  division commander during decisive action—offensive, defensive, stability, or DSCA tasks. FM 3-81
  includes significant changes. It—
  * Establishes support area operations as the MEB primary mission and removes maneuver support
  stability and DSCA as primary MEB tasks.
  * Describes how the MEB is not a force provider for enduring periods of time and how this could
  cause the MEB to become ineffective in its ability to conduct support area operations.
  * Expounds the discussion on MEB support to Army operations.
  * Discusses how crime, disorder, and the fear of crime are persistent, debilitating factors that
  contribute to instability throughout the support area.
  * Adds organizational charts and a detailed discussion on MEB capabilities and the capabilities of
  units that may be task-organized to it.
  * Introduces rear command post support.
  * Designates the MEB role in synchronizing, integrating, and organizing protection capabilities and
  resources.