text: Chapter 1
  amount of aviation forces assigned to consolidation missions with the need for concentration in the close
  and/or deep areas.
  DECISIVE, SHAPING, AND SUSTAINING OPERATIONS
  1-47. The decisive, shaping, and sustaining framework element lends itself to a broad conceptual
  orientation and defines the desired purpose of each component. Decisive operations are those that directly
  accomplish the mission (ADP 3-0). The decisive operation is the focal point around which commanders
  design an entire operation and accomplish the commander’s intent. Army Aviation forces are often used to
  increase the combat power applied to the decisive operation and conducts all missions in DS, GS, TACON
  or OPCON to the ground maneuver force tasked with accomplishing the decisive operation. Aviation
  operations may be designated as decisive; in this case aviation units are typically task-organized with
  ground maneuver forces as the combined arms team maneuver headquarters.
  1-48. Shaping operations are operations that establish conditions for the decisive operation through effects
  on the enemy, other actors, and the terrain (ADP 3-0). During unified land operations, Army Aviation
  conducts all missions and tasks in DS, GS, TACON, or OPCON to the ground maneuver forces tasked with
  accomplishing shaping operations. Army Aviation units can also be assigned to accomplish shaping
  operations without ground forces. During these operations, Army Aviation units conduct movement to
  contact, attacks, reconnaissance, and/or screens to prevent the enemy from gaining a position of relative
  advantage. Finally, Army Aviation can conduct shaping operations in support of the joint task force and air
  or maritime component commanders.
  1-49. Sustaining operations as those operations at any echelon that enable the decisive operation or
  shaping operations by generating and maintaining combat power (ADP 3-0). Sustaining operations occur
  throughout the AO, not just in the support area, and determine how quickly Army forces reconstitute and
  exploit success is LSCO. Army Aviation conducts reconnaissance, attack, screen, air movement,
  MEDEVAC, and C2 support when in support of a unit tasked with sustaining operations. Army Aviation
  units typically are not sustaining operations headquarters.
  MAIN AND SUPPORTING EFFORTS
  1-50. The use of main and supporting efforts provides prioritization of support and resources among
  subordinate units. The main effort is a designated subordinate unit whose mission at a given point in time is
  most critical to overall mission success (ADP 3-0). The designated main effort is typically weighted
  heavily with Army Aviation combat power to achieve their mission. Army Aviation units may also be
  designated as the main effort during specified phases of an operation when assigned as the maneuver
  headquarters operating independently from ground maneuver or task-organized as the maneuver
  headquarters of the combined arms team.
  1-51. A supporting effort is a designated subordinate unit with a mission that supports the success of the
  main effort (ADP 3-0). Commanders provide supporting efforts with the minimum combat power
  necessary to accomplish the mission; consequently, supporting efforts may be resourced with less Army
  Aviation combat power than the main effort. Army Aviation units may also be designated as the supporting
  effort during specified phases of an operation when assigned as the maneuver headquarters operating
  independently from ground maneuver or task-organized as the maneuver headquarters of the combined
  arms team assigned as a supporting effort.
  SECTION V – OPERATIONAL ENVIRONMENT
  1-52. To shape the OE, prevent conflict, succeed in LSCO, and consolidate gains, Army Aviation leaders
  and units must be enabled with the training, leadership, and technologies necessary to accomplish the
  mission. Trained leaders and formations that are fully capable of operating under ambiguous and often
  unknowable conditions, equipped with advanced technologies and capabilities, ensure that Army Aviation
  remains a unique and asymmetric advantage for the Army and the United States.