text: Operations During Armed Conflict
  6-105. Consolidating gains requires a significant commitment of combat power in addition to the combat
  power being employed to maintain tempo and pressure on enemy main body forces. When available, Army
  forces rely on host-nation forces better suited for operations that involve close interaction with local
  populations. When a host nation or an ally is unable to provide support, Army forces are responsible for
  consolidating gains. During large-scale combat operations, corps should plan for a division and a division
  should plan for a BCT to conduct operations with the purpose of consolidating gains.
  APPLYING DEFEAT MECHANISMS
  6-106. As described in Chapter 2, defeat mechanisms are broad means by which commanders visualize and
  describe how they plan to defeat enemy forces. Defeat mechanisms have interactive and dynamic
  relationships constrained only by the resources available and imagination. Defeat mechanisms are most
  useful for commanders at the division-level and above to develop operational and strategic approaches to
  defeat enemy forces. For commanders at the brigade combat team-level and below, the defeat mechanisms
  may offer limited utility. Defeat mechanisms are not tactical tasks, and commanders at the lower tactical
  echelons do not develop or employ defeat or stability mechanisms.
  6-107. Once developed, defeat mechanisms help commanders and staffs determine tactical options for
  defeating enemy forces in detail. Commanders translate defeat mechanisms into tactics and describe them in
  the concept of operations. Commanders use tactics to apply friendly capabilities against enemy forces in the
  most advantageous ways from as many domains as possible. Understanding how tactics support each of the
  defeat mechanisms improves tactical judgment. (See ADP 3-90 for more information on tactics.)
  DESTROY
  6-108. Destruction and the threat of destruction lies at the core of all the defeat mechanisms and makes
  them compelling in a specific context. It is the defeat mechanism with the most enduring effect. A commander
  can achieve the destruction of smaller units with massed fires. However, destruction is the most
  resource-intensive outcome to achieve on a large scale. Commanders use destruction as a defeat mechanism
  when—
  (cid:122) Enemy forces are not vulnerable to other means.
  (cid:122) The tactical situation requires the use of overwhelming combat power.
  (cid:122) The risk of loss is acceptable.
  (cid:122) It is necessary to set conditions for other defeat mechanisms.
  6-109. The physical effects of destruction have significant implications in the information and human
  dimensions. The destruction of enemy capabilities sends the message that enemy forces may be overmatched,
  and defeat is imminent. Casualties and the loss of life have negative psychological impacts that can either
  embolden or degrade enemy morale and will to fight. Typically, significant death and destruction degrade
  enemy morale and will. The joint force can sometimes achieve similar results with modest and precise
  applications of combat power. However, modest applications of combat power may prolong the joint force’s
  ability to achieve a decisive outcome. Excessive destruction of infrastructure can create a humanitarian crisis
  and create civilian casualties or suffering that undermines domestic and international support for military
  operations, so commanders must exercise judgment appropriate to each operational context. For moral, legal,
  and pragmatic reasons, commanders should take precautions to avoid death and destruction unnecessary for
  operational success, and they must always comply with the law of armed conflict.
  6-110. At the operational level, physical destruction is rarely feasible or acceptable as the overarching
  defeat mechanism. Operational-level commanders choose elements of enemy forces that must be destroyed
  to enable the other defeat mechanisms. They synchronize Army, joint, and unified action partner capabilities
  to destroy critical components of enemy warfighting systems, such as sensors, long-range fires capabilities,
  C2 nodes, supply depots, and critical infrastructure.
  6-111. At the tactical level, the lower the echelon the more central destruction is to its operation. Corps and
  divisions destroy enemy formations and critical capabilities to enable tactical success. They destroy enemy
  surveillance, reconnaissance, C2, fires, maneuver, protection, and sustainment capabilities. They destroy
  these capabilities to limit the effectiveness of enemy offensive or defensive schemes and preserve friendly