text: Unified Land Operations
  3-17. Commanders must initiate transition planning prior to, or during, the initial phases of operation
  planning to ensure they give adequate attention to this critical area. Leaders may base the criteria for
  termination or transition on events, measures of effectiveness and success, availability of resources, or a
  specific date. Transitions may occur independently, sequentially, or simultaneously across the AO or within
  a theater. Ideally, U.S. forces execute each type of transition according to synchronized transition plans.
  Depending on the situation, CAO in transition operations may be—
  * Terminated.
  * Transferred to follow-on forces.
  * Transitioned to other government agencies, IPI, or international organizations.
  3-18. CA forces play a critical role in TG planning. Based upon their expertise and understanding of
  governance, stability operations tasks, and the USG stability sectors, these planners are the best individuals to
  perform this function. Planners must have a clearly identifiable end state and transition of authority, or
  termination criteria for the operation to accomplish the task of transition planning. The transition plan prioritizes
  and plans for the successful handover of missions to interorganizational partners or a follow-on military force.
  3-19. CA forces play a critical role in both planning and executing the transition process. In any major
  operation or lesser contingency, CA forces have significant interaction with the civilian populace and the
  local government. CA personnel must ensure that the gains made in the AO are not lost in the transition
  process. Civil Affairs teams (CATs) are also expected to prepare a transition plan that includes all ongoing
  projects, coordination points of contact, resources, and other information for incoming forces or appropriate
  civil authorities.
  3-20. CA forces are heavily involved in the transition process. During transition, CA forces prepare to hand
  over their role as the facilitator between U.S. forces and international organizations, NGOs, other interagency
  organizations, and local government agencies. CA personnel prepare a transition plan that includes all
  ongoing projects and coordination points of contact for all agencies, possible resources, and any other
  information that may facilitate the transition process. CA forces support joint, combined, or single-Service
  operations from the strategic to the tactical level.
  DECISIVE ACTION
  3-21. As depicted in figure 3-1, page 3-6, CAO are conducted within the four elements of decisive action,
  which are offense, defense, stability, and DSCA. CA forces support unified land operations through all
  phases at the strategic, operational, and tactical levels of warfare. Commanders at all levels must plan to
  integrate civil considerations during operations. Within the OE, U.S. commanders could and can have
  access to indigenous supplies, facilities, services, and labor resources that may be used to support military
  operations. Combat operations can be disrupted by uncontrolled and uncoordinated movement of civilians
  and hostile or illegal actions by entities within the populace. Leveraging, integrating, and coordinating of
  IPI and local civil networks with military operations enhances the ability of the commander to achieve a
  desired end state.