text: The Brigade Combat Team and the Operational Environment
  INFLUENCE OUTCOMES
  2-49. The BCT commander and staff employ information-related capabilities within the BCT’s area of
  operations to empower the successful accomplishment of objectives. Influence alters public opinion
  garnering support for military and diplomatic operations. Well planned and executed,information operations
  lead to diplomatic and political conclusions that canminimize or eliminate the need for military operations.
  All assets and capabilities at a commander’s disposal have the capacity to achieve objectives and inform and
  influence to varying degrees. Some examples of resources the commander may use includecombat camera,
  human intelligence (HUMINT), maneuver, and network operations. Objectives encapsulate the results of
  activities and the expected or desired conclusion of missions and tasks. Use of information-related
  capabilities nested within tactical, operational, and strategic objectives reinforce narratives that inform and
  promote influence.
  2-50. Culture, history, religion, politics, tradition, and needs hierarchies contribute to interpretation and
  acceptance of the narratives presented to adversaries, host-nation forces, and indigenous populations.
  Competing narratives clash within the operational environment concurrently with lethal, nonlethal, and
  ancillary capabilities within the operational environment. The commander and staff work with
  information-related capabilities such as civil affairs, public affairs, military intelligence, and other
  capabilities. Capabilities such as PSYOP forces,draft,implement,distribute,and monitor the effectiveness
  of narratives. Unintended or unconsidered consequences impacts from activities and actions of entities
  outside of the commander’s sphere of control, and adversary or enemy competing narratives struggle for
  acceptance or rejection of the narrative within the operational environment. Using environmental metrics,
  civil considerations, intelligence, monitoring of media (external and social), and constant attention to all
  competing narratives increases the commander’s development of influence within an area of operations.
  2-51. Influence and outcomes are inextricably linked so commanders can consolidate the elements of combat
  power resulting in mission success and end state accomplishment. Subsets within influence and its attainment
  are concepts and actions such as conflict resolution, negotiation, accommodation, reconciliation,
  compromise, and release of authority and responsibility to host-nation military and political forces and
  entities. Continuous information collection and intelligence analysis of the area of operations are essential to
  gain and implement influence. The BCT commander relies on organic,specifically trained staff and attached
  capabilities to analyze the information environment and recommend adjustments to physical actions and the
  commander’s narrative to maintain narrative dominance. The commander and staff achieve desired effects
  by synchronizing operations and the narrative.
  2-52. Building trust and legitimacy are key information influence objectives. As trusted Army professionals,
  the BCT commander and staff conduct risk assessment and take into account ethical considerations in
  planning and execution. (See ADP 1.) In population-centric operational environments, earning and
  maintaining the trust of either the host nation or indigenous population are essential to mission
  accomplishment.
  SECTION III – CONSOLIDATION OF GAINS
  2-53. The BCT consolidates gains and favorable milestones to seize and exploit weaknesses, capitalize on
  opportunities, and further the allies’ interests to secure stable political settlements and objectives
  complimentary to desired outcomes. Consolidate gains are activities to make enduring any temporary
  operational success and toset the conditions for a sustainable securityenvironment allowing for a transition
  of control to other legitimate authorities (ADP 3-0). Consolidate gains is an integral part of winning and
  achieving success across the competition continuum and the range of military operations. It is the
  follow-through to achieve the commander’s intent, and essential to retaining the initiative over determined
  enemies and adversaries.
  2-54. Consolidate gains is not a mission. It is an Army strategic role defined by the purpose of the tasks
  necessary to achieve enduring political outcomesto military operations and,as such,represents a capability
  that Army forces provide to the joint force commander. Consolidating gains enables a transition from the
  occupation of a territory and control of populations by Army forces—that occurred because of military
  operations—to the transfer of control to legitimate authorities. Activities to consolidate gains occur across
  the range of military operations and often continue through all phases of a specific operation.