text: Sustainment Operations During Armed Conflict
  penetrations, choosing terrain that puts enemy forces at the greatest possible disadvantage. The Army
  employs maneuver brigades to defeat the enemy attacking force.
  5-239. Sustaining main battle area operations includes increased requirements in Class IV, V, and IX items
  to support the defensive effort and build Class III (bulk and package) stocks to prepare to transition to
  offensive operations. Sustainment capability is organic to maneuver brigades, fires, engineer, and aviation
  support in the main battle area. Specific organizations include the maneuver brigade BSBs and FSCs
  supporting the field artillery, aviation, and engineer battalions.
  REAR OPERATIONS
  5-240. Rear operations maintain freedom of action in the security and main battle areas and prevent
  culmination. The rear command post enables this freedom of action by planning and directing sustainment,
  conducting terrain management, providing movement control, and providing area security of the rear area.
  TRANSITION TO OFFENSE
  5-241. The ultimate goal of defensive operations is to defeat the enemy’s attacks and transition, or threaten
  to transition, to the offense. Transitions must be deliberately planned, and units must take actions to prevent
  the enemy from regaining momentum. As friendly forces meet their defensive objectives, forces consolidate
  and reorganize for offensive operations or prepare to facilitate forward passages of lines for fresh formations.
  Sustainment forces must also be prepared to support the transition to offensive operations.
  5-242. Sustainment commanders must be prepared to sustain offensive objectives established by maneuver
  commanders during transitions. Sustainment planners must understand that perfect conditions may not exist
  during a transition, but they must still be prepared to sustain combat power. During transitions, it is essential
  for sustainment planners to provide maneuver commanders with freedom of action and prolong endurance
  necessary to sustain the pace of offensive operations.
  SECTION III – SUSTAINMENT OF OFFENSIVE OPERATIONS
  5-243. This section provides an overview of sustainment of offensive operations and the fundamental
  principles of sustainment during the offense. It also covers additional sustainment planning considerations
  unique to offensive operations. It concludes with a discussion of sustainment support of offensive operations.
  5-244. An offensive operation is an operation conducted to defeat or destroy enemy forces and gain control
  of terrain, resources, and population centers (ADP 3-0). The intent of an offensive operation is to impose the
  commander's will on the enemy. Against a capable, adaptive enemy, offensive operations are the most direct
  and sure means of seizing, retaining, and exploiting the initiative to achieve objectives.
  5-245. The key to successful offensive operations is to achieve all desired objectives prior to culmination.
  This requires the force in the offense to have some combination of relative advantage in the physical,
  information, or human dimensions. Typically, offensive operations require advantages in multiple domains,
  but commanders may achieve those advantages through deception operations and surprise rather than the
  physical means of combat power alone.
  OVERVIEW OF SUSTAINING OFFENSIVE OPERATIONS
  5-246. There are four types of offensive operations: movement to contact, attack, exploitation, and pursuit.
  These operations enable commanders to impose their will on the enemy and deprive the enemy of resources,
  seize decisive terrain, deceive or divert the enemy, develop intelligence, or hold an enemy position.
  5-247. Sustainment commanders and their staffs prepare to support each offensive operation. Sustainment
  determines the depth, duration, and endurance of Army operations and plays a key role in enabling a
  successful attack. Failure to provide adequate sustainment during offensive operations can result in a tactical
  pause, culmination of offensive operations, and prevent consolidation of gains. Operational and sustainment
  planners at each echelon of command work closely to synchronize sustainment support to allow commanders
  the freedom of action to maneuver and provide extended operational reach for the offense.