text: Chapter 2
  Figure 2-1. Competition continuum and the range of military operations
  2-4. Given the complex and dynamic nature of an operational environment,the competitioncontinuum of
  force does not proceed smoothly from cooperation, through competition below armed conflict, to armed
  conflictand warand back. Within the backdrop of the competition continuum,unstable peace may erupt into
  an insurgency that quickly sparks additional violence throughout a region,leading to a general state of war.
  2-5. Military engagementandsecurity cooperation activities build networks and relationships with partners,
  shape regions, keep day-to-day tensions between nations or groups below the threshold of armed conflict,
  and maintain U.S. global influence. Crisis response and limited contingency operations typically focus in
  scope and scale to achieve specific strategic or operational-level objectives in an operational area. Large-scale
  combat operations occur asmajor operations and campaigns aimed at defeating an enemy’s armed forces and
  military capabilities in support of national objectives.
  2-6. Deterrence applies across the competition continuum. The purpose of deterrence is to dissuade an
  adversary from taking undesirable actions because of friendly capabilities and the will to use them.
  Deterrence takes different forms according to the situation and where Army forces are on the competition
  continuum. Many of the operations listed in the range of military operations may serve as deterrents in certain
  situations to deter further unwanted actions. (See ADP 3-0 for additional information.)
  OPERATIONAL ENVIRONMENT
  2-7. Anoperational environmentis a composite of the conditions,circumstances,and influences that affect
  the employment of capabilities and bear on the decisions of the commander (JP 3-0). Operational
  environments shape the nature and affect the outcome of military operations. The complex and dynamic
  nature of an operational environment and the threats that exist within an operational environment make
  determining the relationship between cause and effect difficult and contributes to the uncertainty of the
  military operation. BCTs and subordinate units must make every effort to understand the specific operational
  environment in which they operate in.
  ANTICIPATED OPERATIONAL ENVIRONMENTS
  2-8. The operational environment encompasses physical areas of the air, land, maritime, space, and
  cyberspace domains (see ADP 3-0). Included as well in the operational environment is the information
  environment—the aggregate of individuals,organizations,and systems that collect,process,disseminate,or
  act on information (JP 3-13) and the electromagnetic spectrum (EMS)—the range of frequencies of
  electromagnetic radiation from zero to infinity (see ATP 6-02.70). Included within these are adversary,
  enemy, friendly, and neutral actors that are relevant to a specific operation (see chapter 3). Although an
  operational environment and information environment are defined separately, they are interdependent and