text: Army Tactics
  systems and reconnaissance assets in reserve. Such systems committed to echelon support operations are not
  in reserve.
  1-95. Units also plan how to reconstitute their reserves after commitment of their original reserves. A higher
  unit can designate a subordinate unit’s reserves as its new echelon reserve or assign another subordinate unit
  to assume the mission of the reserve. Units have more flexibility and can take greater risk in employing their
  reserves if their higher echelon headquarters has not committed its reserve. Units never develop a course of
  action (COA) that assumes the use of a higher echelons reserve.
  1-96. Commander’s generally place their reserve where they can easily reinforce the main effort and
  whenever possible, beyond the enemy force’s direct fire range. Commanders decide whether to orient their
  reserves on their most likely mission or their most important mission when deciding where to place their
  reserves. They generally position their reserves to the rear of their units, in a location that provides maximum
  protection from enemy observation and fire. Units consider several factors when determining the exact
  location for their reserves. These factors include:
  * Orientating on their most likely mission or their most important mission.
  * Response time to various planning priorities.
  * Access to main supply routes (MSRs).
  * Locations of probable enemy penetrations.
  * Terrain.
  * Availability of cover and concealment.
  Initially units may position their reserves in forward locations to deceive enemy forces and obscure
  subordinate unit boundaries. Obscuring subordinate unit boundaries is especially important for
  dissimilar units such as armored and dismounted infantry.
  1-97. Units can task-organize their reserves into small elements and position them where they can react
  quickly to local combat developments in restrictive terrain that lacks movement routes. This dispersion
  provides increased protection, but it reduces the ability of a reserve to mass fires. Units look for the
  availability of covered lateral and forward high-speed deployment routes for their reserves. These reserves
  require movement priority along those routes when they are committed. Units ensure the maintenance of
  communications between these dispersed elements. This may require establishing retransmission nodes for
  combat net radios. Units maintain centrally located reserves positioned somewhat farther from the FLOT in
  open terrain. An enemy forces’ potential to employ weapons of mass destruction and conduct air interdiction
  are other factors commanders consider when deciding where to position their reserves.
  1-98. Units position their reserves beyond the enemy force’s direct fire range whenever possible. This is
  easier to achieve at higher echelons than at lower echelons. Each reserve element takes defensive measures
  to prevent its acquisition and attack by enemy indirect fire systems. These measures include camouflage,
  local security, and control of electronic emissions.
  1-99. A reserve must be able to move quickly to different locations in response to different contingencies.
  For example, a quick reaction force is a type of reserve used during stability operations. A quick reaction
  force is a commander designated force to respond to threat attacks or emergencies. For armored and
  Stryker reserves, an important consideration is cross-country mobility or road networks. For dismounted
  infantry forces, the key considerations are the existing road networks, the availability of ground and air
  transportation, or the availability of pickup and landing zones for use by supporting assets that enable the
  reserve to conduct air assault operations. This is easier to achieve at higher echelons than at lower echelons.
  Each reserve element takes defensive measures to prevent its acquisition and attack by enemy indirect fire
  systems. These measures include camouflage, local security, and control of electromagnetic emissions.
  1-100. When issuing orders, commanders assign the reserve the task of “reserve” and assign it priorities for
  planning, which is unlike other subordinate elements that are assigned a tactical mission task and purpose.
  Commanders assign no more than three planning priorities based on the probability they could happen and
  time to prepare. Commitment of the reserve is listed on the commander’s decision support matrix and
  decision support table.