text: FM 7-100.1________________________________________________________________________________
  technological overmatch against one regional opponent rapidly, before other
  regional neighbors or an extraregional power can enter the fight. Thus, a
  characteristic of regional operations is a rapid tempo of offensive combat.
  3-5. The State’s military goal during regional operations is to destroy its re-
  gional opponents’ military power in order to achieve specific ends. The State
  plans regional operations well in advance and executes them as rapidly as is
  feasible in order to preclude intervention by outside forces. Still, at the very
  outset of these operations, it lays plans and positions forces to conduct ac-
  cess-control operations in the event of outside intervention. Extraregional
  forces may also be vulnerable to conventional operations during the time they
  require to build combat power and create support at home for their intervention.
  3-6. In comparison to the forces of the State’s regional neighbors, the OPFOR
  is a relatively large and modern force. Therefore, it is capable of offensive op-
  erations against such opponents. The OPFOR will use armor, mechanized in-
  fantry, airborne, and heliborne forces, when available. Generally, it will use
  infantry forces suitable for operating in the complex terrain that dominates por-
  tions of the region. When the OPFOR is dependent on infantry forces or ir-
  regular forces, it will attack by infiltration or maneuver to conduct ambushes
  of more capable enemy forces.
  3-7. The OPFOR may attack along a suboptimal approach to exploit an en-
  emy vulnerability or to achieve surprise. To maintain a high tempo of opera-
  tions and reach key targets, the OPFOR often accepts the risk of bypassing
  pockets of resistance.
  TRANSITION OPERATIONS
  3-8. Offensive operations play two key roles in transition operations. First,
  they are used to continue to achieve the State’s regional goals as rapidly
  as possible, to make the act an extraregional power is trying to prevent a fait
  accompli. Second, they are a component of access-control operations to ex-
  clude the extraregional power from key areas and contain him in areas of the
  OPFOR’s choosing. The OPFOR uses offensive operations to preclude or put a
  quick end to expansion of the conflict and to either consolidate its previous
  gains or conduct further operations against the original regional enemy.
  3-9. During transition operations, military forces solidify gains made during
  regional operations. However, the central aim is to prevent or defeat outside
  intervention. Although transition operations are primarily defensive in
  nature, attacks will continue. As a minimum, the OPFOR will maintain
  counterattack forces at virtually all levels of command and will attempt to
  physically attack one or more components of an enemy’s combat system. A
  combination of operational and tactical offensive and defensive actions help
  the OPFOR control tempo.
  3-10. Military forces in the immediate vicinity of the point of intervention
  move into sanctuary as opportunity allows, making use of existing C2 and
  logistics. They conduct limited-objective attacks to secure positions, protect
  flanks, and control access. They may attack vulnerable early-entry forces
  before the enemy can bring his technological overmatch to bear. Even at this
  stage, the State may be able to inflict politically unacceptable casualties that
  could cause the extraregional power to terminate its intervention.