text: Chapter 7
  prevent multiple weapons from firing upon prominent targets while less prominent targets escape destruction.
  The BCT properly uses fire support coordination measures, direct fire control measures, maneuver control
  measures,and airspace coordinating measures to synchronize operations in the land and air domains.
  AREA OF OPERATIONS
  7-97. An area of operations is an operational area defined by the joint force commander for land and maritime
  forces that should be large enough to accomplish their missions and protect their forces. An area of operations
  is a basic tactical concept and the basic control measure for all types of operations. An area of operations
  gives the responsible unit freedom of maneuver and enables fire support planning within a specific area.
  Commanders employ control measures to avoid fratricide against forward deployed security forces in the
  security area and engineer assets constructing countermobility obstacles in EAs. All units assigned an area
  of operations have the following additional responsibilities within the boundaries of that area of operations:
  (cid:122) Terrain management.
  (cid:122) Information collection.
  (cid:122) Civil-military operations.
  (cid:122) Movement control.
  (cid:122) Clearance of fires.
  (cid:122) Security.
  (cid:122) Personnel recovery.
  (cid:122) Airspace management.
  (cid:122) Minimum-essential stability operations tasks.
  7-98. A unit’s area of operations should provide adequate depth based on its assigned tasks,the terrain,and
  the anticipated size of the attacking enemy force. To maintain security and a coherent defense, an area of
  operations generally requires continuous coordination with flank units. The BCT assigns control measures,
  such as PLs, coordinating points, EAs, obstacle belts, and battle positions, to coordinate subordinate unit
  defenses within the MBA. The BCT commander and staff use briefings, inspections, rehearsals, and
  supervision to ensure coordination among subordinate units, to eliminate any gaps, and to ensure a clear
  understanding of the defensive plan.
  7-99. Subordinate unit area of operations may be contiguous or noncontiguous. A contiguous area of
  operations (see figure 7-2onpage 7-7) is where all a commander’s subordinate forces’areas of operations
  share one or more common boundary(FM 3-90-1). A noncontiguous area of operations(see figure 7-8) is
  where one or more of the commander’s subordinate force’s areas of operation do not share a common
  boundary (FM3-90-1). The higher headquarters is responsible for controlling the areas not assigned to
  subordinate forces within noncontiguous areas of operations. (SeeFM 3-90-1 for additional information.)