text: The Brigade Combat Team and the Operational Environment
  of law and the host nation’s ability to provide for effective governance. Persuasion and empowerment
  demand the BCT use engagement strategies to make connections and form relationships with pillar
  organizations and individuals who control and influence the local community. Engagements secure common
  and clearly defined goals and ideals that provide a common reference point for future engagements and
  activities. Engagements seek to reinforce the authority of legitimate leaders and pillars and to restore or
  solidify confidence in host-nation security forces, governance, and rule of law. Persuasive efforts utilize a
  compelling narrative that justifies and explains friendly actions while delegitimizing motivations and
  behaviors of those who are counter to positive gains within the area of operations. Additionally,persuasive
  efforts specifically target neutral or fringe entities with the goal of tipping neutrality to a favorable alliance.
  2-39. Defensive operations will likely be constant during BCT operations, to include the protection of
  information, friendly forces, or civil populations. Offensive operations of limited scope, duration, and
  objectives targeting enemy,capabilities,groups,or individuals seize initiative and opportunities contributing
  to enduring success. BCTs identify opportunities to seize, retain, and exploit the initiative to destroy,
  dislocate, disintegrate, or isolate enemy organizations and discredit enemy actions as trust builds and
  information is collected. Offensive operations shape the operational environment within operational
  frameworks and establish conditions for future operations. Effective offensive operations retain initiative
  through actions and coherent andcompelling themes and messages to inform and influence audiences.
  INFLUENCE AUDIENCES
  2-40. The BCT commander ensures actions,themes,and messages complement and reinforce each other to
  accomplish objectives. An information theme is a unifying or dominant idea or image that expresses the
  purpose for an action. A message is a verbal, written, or electronic communication that supports an
  information theme focused on an audience. A message supports a specific action or objective. Actions,
  themes, and messages are inextricably linked. The commander ensures actions, themes, and messages
  complement and reinforce each other and support operational objectives. The commander keeps in mind that
  every action implies a message,and avoids contradictory actions,themes,or messages.
  2-41. Throughout operations, the commander informs and influences audiences inside and outside of the
  BCT. The commander informs and influences by conducting Soldier and leader engagements, radio
  programs,command information programs,operations briefs,and unit website posts or social media. Soldiers
  and leaders build trust and legitimacy by demonstrating their adherence to the moral principles of the Army
  Ethic. That trust is earned by the actions of every Soldier and leader assigned or attached to the BCT.
  Commanders and subordinate leaders convey the importance of that message to their subordinates at every
  opportunity. The BCT staff assists the commander to create shared understanding and purpose inside and
  outside of the BCT, and among all affected audiences. Shared understanding synchronizes the words and
  actions of Soldiers and leader to achieved mutual trust that informs and influences audiences inside and
  outside the BCT (see ADP 1).
  2-42. Influence is central to shaping the operational environment. All activities conducted by the BCT
  directly or indirectly contribute to or detract from the BCT’s ability to influence the populace and
  environment. Information related tools, techniques, and activities are the integration of designated
  information-related capabilities to synchronize themes,messages,and actions with operations to inform U.S.
  and global audiences, influence foreign audiences, and affect adversary and enemy decision-making.
  Information related capabilities clarify intentions through common narratives, counter enemy propaganda,
  expose corruption within competing groups or entities,and bolster the legitimacy of host nation power and
  governance. Information related capabilities modify behaviors and efforts through persuasion,cooperation,
  or coercion that leads to successful operations that secure the populace and provide order to the social
  structure.
  2-43. Narratives provide a communication mechanism and are the unifying structures between action and
  communication with the populace. Simple narratives tie together the actions of the BCT with unit objectives.
  Simple narratives provide a basis for informing and influencing leaders and pillars as to the purpose behind
  actions and activities conducted by host nation forces and the BCT. Compelling narratives seek to address
  concerns and interests of the populace while explaining the methodologies endeavored by the host nation
  government and security forces in partnership with the BCT. All BCT leaders must understand the narrative
  as they play a central role in key leader engagements and all information-related capabilities. Narratives