text: Chapter 3
  urban development, and the characteristics of the rural setting itself influence both insurgent
  and counterinsurgent operations.
  Considerations during Counterinsurgencies
  3-57. Counterinsurgency operations in a rural environment may allow for the potential application
  of full military combat power, conventional fire and maneuver, and less restrictive rules of engagement due
  to a lower population density. However, leaders, still plan for the application of the minimum-essential
  force required to accomplish the mission.
  3-58. In the rural environment, insurgents rely on friendly elements within the population to provide
  supplies and intelligence. Rural insurgents prefer to operate in regions providing plenty of cover
  and concealment such as heavily forested and mountainous areas that hinder the counterinsurgency force
  in gaining access and intelligence. Often operating from their own home or village, rural insurgents will
  often move to camps if security does not permit them to remain at home. Insurgent camps are also chosen
  with a view toward easy access to the target population, access to a friendly or neutral border, prepared
  escape routes, and good observation of counterinsurgency force approach routes. When counterinsurgency
  operations force the insurgents out of his preferred base camps, he tends to establish camps in rugged
  inhospitable areas not easily penetrated. Like COIN in urban areas, rural counterinsurgency operations
  must focus on both locating and killing the guerrilla and on severing the supportive element of the
  population, such as the mass base and auxiliary, from providing supplies and intelligence.
  3-59. Offensive operations are usually conducted in areas that either are under insurgent control or are
  contested. In these areas, ground or water modes of entry are often used, but air assault or parachute
  operations can also be employed. These operations use offensive tactics such as a raid, a reconnaissance
  in force, a cordon and search, a hasty or deliberate attack, a pursuit, or a combination of these.
  Purpose
  3-60. Their purpose is to—
  • Destroy the insurgent force and its base complexes.
  • Expand controlled areas.
  • Isolate guerrillas from their support.
  • Demonstrate support for the government and for the populace in the local area.
  • Harass the insurgent to prevent the buildup of personnel and logistical resources.
  Lines of Effort
  3-61. All rural operations must address all LOEs. Examples along each LOE to consider include—
  Establish Civil Security
  3-62. Conduct raids with HN security forces to attack key guerrilla groups.
  Establish Civil Control
  3-63. Reinforce police operations, especially police stations and checkpoints, as a means to increase
  control of the population; conduct census.
  Support HN Security Forces
  3-64. Use HN security forces to increase combat power, expand the AO, increase the number of villages
  secured, and increase the legitimacy of the operation.
  Support to Governance
  3-65. Establish or convene a village, district, provincial or tribal council to identify and solve
  underlying issues.