text: The Brigade Combat Team and the Operational Environment
  SHAPE THE ENVIRONMENT
  2-31. Army operations to shape bring together all the activities intended to promote regional stability and to
  set conditions for a favorable outcome in the event of a military confrontation. Army operations to shape help
  dissuade adversary activities designed to achieve regional goals short of military conflict. Shaping activities,
  although not all inclusive, include security cooperation and forward presence to promote U.S. interests and
  develop allied and friendly military capabilities for self-defense and multinational operations. Regionally
  aligned and engaged Army forces are essential to accomplishing objectives to strengthen the global network
  of multinational partners and preventing conflict.
  Regionally Aligned and Engaged Army Forces
  1 As part of a response to Russian aggression in Ukraine, the deployment of the 3rd
  Armored brigade combat team (ABCT), 4th Infantry Division (ID) in January 2017,
  marked the start of back-to-back, nine-month rotations of U.S. troops and equipment to
  Poland. The 3rd ABCT consisted of approximately 3,500 Soldiers, 80 plus M1 Abrams
  tanks, 140 plusM2 Bradley fighting vehicles, 15plusM109A6 Paladins, and 400plushigh
  mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicles. The deployment of both personnel and equipment
  from a continental United States location forced theater level sustainment and
  transportation functions to exercise their systems for the first time and increased the
  overall ability of the United Statesto project combat power into Eastern Europe. Following
  the ABCT’s consolidation in Poland near the Drawsko, Pomorskie, and Zagan training
  areas, the ABCT dispersed across seven locations in Eastern Europe for training and
  exercises with European allies.
  Along with 3rd ABCT, the 10th Combat Aviation Brigade from Fort Drum, New York,
  deployed to Europe in February 2017 and headquartered in Illesheim, Germany, with
  forward-positioned aircraft in task forces in Latvia, Romania, and Poland. The 10th
  Combat Aviation Brigade consisted of approximately 2,200 Soldiers (including 400
  Soldiers from an additional attached aviation battalion), 24 AH-64 Apaches, 50 UH-60
  Blackhawks, and10 CH-47 Chinooks.2
  Once 3rd ABCT completed reception, staging, onward movement, and integration, the BCT
  conducted various training, security cooperation, and security assistance missions across
  seven counties from Estonia to Bulgaria. These rotations enhanced deterrence capabilities,
  increased the ability to respond to potential crises, and defended North Atlantic Treaty
  Organization and its allies. The ABCT rotations remained under U.S. command and
  focused on strengthening capabilities, interoperability with coalition partners, and
  sustaining readiness through bilateral and multinational training and exercises. 3
  Ultimately the actions taken by 3rd ABCT, 4th ID, created greater understanding of the
  unique conditions within the European operating environment and helped shape the
  operational environmentfor future operations.
  Operation Atlantic Resolve 17 shaped the European operational environment in several
  discreet ways. It established routine deployment of forces that expanded to nearly 6,000
  personnel, 2,500 wheeled vehicles and pieces of equipment, 385 tracked vehicles, and
  almost 100 rotary-wing aircraft into the European theater. It also increased cooperation
  andinteroperability between the United Statesand more than a dozen counties to include
  Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Georgia, Germany, Greece,
  Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and the
  United Kingdom. It established key logistical nodes and infrastructure capable of
  supporting rapid deployment of combat credible forces. Finally, it deterred further Russian
  aggression into Eastern Europe and provided a credible threat of force in case of future
  aggression.4
  Various
  2-32. Shapingthe operational environment requires a deep understanding of competing dynamics across all
  domains within the BCT’s area of operations. The commander builds mutual trust within the BCT and