text: Offense
  EMPLOYING CONTROL MEASURES
  6-117. Effectively employing control measures requires a BCT commander and staff to understand their
  purposes and ramifications, including the permissions or limitations imposed on subordinates’ freedom of
  action and initiative. Each measure should have a specific purpose. Commanders use graphic control
  measures to assign responsibilities, coordinate fires and maneuver, and airspace management to assist the
  division’scontrol of airspace. Well-planned fire control measures permit the proper distribution of fires and
  prevent multiple weapons from firing upon prominent targets while less prominent targets escape destruction.
  The BCT uses both fire support coordination measures and direct fire control measures.
  6-118. Commanders maintain tight control over operations conducted under limited-visibility conditions to
  prevent fratricide,noncombatant casualties,and excessive or unintended collateral damagedue to a loss of
  situational awareness by small units. These conditions require commanders to impose additional control
  measures beyond those used in daylight.
  EMPLOYMENT DURING OFFENSIVE OPERATIONS
  6-119. When executing a movement to contact, commanders start movement from line of departure as
  specified in the operation order, and control movement using PLs, contact points, and checkpoints as
  required. They control the depth of the movement to contact using a limit of advance or forward boundary,
  placed on suitable terrain for the force to establish a hasty defense where it will not be at risk to
  enemy-controlled terrain features. Additionally, commanders can designate boundaries and a series of PLs
  that successively become the new rear boundary of the forward security element. The same applies to the
  main body and rear security element,to delineate limits of responsibility.
  6-120. In an attack,before the line of departure or line of contact, a commander may designate assembly
  areas and attack positions where the unit prepares for offensive actions or waits for the establishment of the
  required conditions to initiate the attack. Depending on conditions and risk,a commander may use an axis of
  advance,a direction of attack,or point of departure to further control maneuver forces. Between the probable
  line of deployment and the objective,a commander may designate a final coordination line,assault positions,
  attack by fire and support by fire positions,or a limit of advance beyond the objective if the commander does
  not wish to conduct exploitation or pursuit operations.
  6-121. For an exploitation, a commander will likely use more permissive fire support coordination
  measures. Commanders use targets and checkpoints as required. Moving the coordinated fire line as the force
  advances is especially important,as is placement of the forward boundary. Placing the forward boundary too
  deep could limit higher echelon forces and effects,which would normally assist the BCT.
  6-122. Pursuit control measures include an area of operations for each maneuver unit, PLs to designate
  forward and rearward boundaries for the direct-pressure force,and often a route,axis of advance,or an area
  of operations for the encirclement force to move parallel in order to get ahead of the fleeing enemy.
  Commanders establish a boundary or restrictive fire line between the force conducting the encirclement and
  the force exerting the directpressure before the encircling force reaches its objective. Commanders may also
  establish a free-fire area,or a no-fire area.
  ATTACK AND ASSAULT POSITIONS
  6-123. Anattack positionis the last position an attacking force occupies or passes through before crossing
  the line of departure (ADP 3-90). An attack position facilitates the deployment and last-minute coordination
  of the attacking force before it crosses the line of departure. Assault position is a covered and concealed
  position short of the objective from which final preparations are made to assault the objective (ADP 3-90).
  Such final preparations can involve tactical considerations,such as a short halt to coordinate the final assault,
  reorganize to adjust to combat losses, or make necessary adjustments in the attacking force’s dispositions.
  Ideally assaulting units do not stop in a planned assault position unless necessary.