text: Chapter 5
  risk calculus. Regardless of the methods used to raise the potential cost of an adversary, the primary deterrent
  is the demonstrated ability of a properly manned, equipped, and trained joint force to prevail in large-scale
  combat operations.
  5-11. FS and FA activities that contribute to operations during crisis consist of, but are not limited to, the
  participation in activities such as flexible deterrent operations, flexible response operations, setting the
  theater, and force tailoring. Elements of the FS system will also have an important role in initial deployment
  into a theater of operations including echeloning CPs and integration with the initial employment of
  information collection assets.
  5-12. A flexible deterrent option is a planning construct intended to facilitate early decision making by
  developing a wide range of interrelated responses that begin with deterrent-oriented actions carefully tailored
  to create a desired effect (JP 5-0). An example of a flexible deterrent option for a FA unit be the movement
  of a FA BN into a position where it can range potential HPTs. Other examples include, standing up an FFA
  HQ, deploying long range fires assets that could provide joint SEAD or strike HPTs, or establishing a
  counterfire HQ and deploying the appropriate firing units. Flexible deterrent options are preplanned actions
  designed to deescalate the situation that must be carefully weighed by theater-level leaders against the
  potential that they may unintentionally elevate tensions.
  Flexible Deterrent.
  An example of a flexible deterrent is the Regionally Aligned Forces mission assigned
  to the multiple launch rocket system rotational battalion in the Korean Theater of
  Operations. Each of the firing batteries, with enablers from headquarters and
  headquarters battery and forward support company, deploy to a combat outpost for a
  total of four and a half months of an eight-month deployment. The battalion’s mission
  is to work closely with Republic of Korea forces as a deterrent option to North Korean
  aggression.
  5-13. Unit's assigned missions during crisis generally have branch plans that describe how they can respond
  should a situation escalate. Those plans describe conditions that are created or maintained to reduce the risk
  to the overall mission of the force. The sequencing of forces into theater and their subsequent AO considers
  risks to the mission.
  5-14. Successful operations during crisis ensure that tensions and conditions do not escalate further. The
  very nature of these operations implies that the forces assigned to this task have the capacity to conclude the
  situation with force. While this is a powerful message to an adversary, there is always the potential for
  misinterpretation of friendly actions and those misinterpretations leading to large-scale combat operations.
  To reduce the risk of escalation, the theater army considers the initial ROE, force positioning and posture,
  weapon control status, and operating parameters for example communication with all echelons of command
  for shared understanding, underwriting risk.
  5-15. A flexible response is the capability of military forces for effective reaction to any enemy threat or
  attack with actions appropriate and adaptable to the circumstances existing (JP 5-0). Flexible response
  systems are generally punitive in nature, responding to an offensive action by the enemy, and may mark the
  transition from competition to conflict. Often, the ability to provide a credible flexible response system can
  act as a flexible deterrent option to deter an adversary's planned offensive action. An example of a flexible
  response activity involving FS would be executing strikes with air-to-surface or surface-to-surface fires
  against designated HPTs.