text: Stability
  8-81. The BCT remains responsible for achieving unity of effort in all subtasks, but other agencies, including
  host nation, U.S. Department of State, or nongovernment organizations will most often assume responsibility
  for execution. Credibility of the legitimate authority or illegitimate actors is not the primary consideration
  during the initial response phase of restoring essential services. Credibility will become vital later in the
  initial response phase, as actors will seize the initiative to influence their political position when an interim
  authority is established and as the host nation begins the transformation phase. The BCT monitors and keeps
  a record of actions taken by actors to influence the population perception of legitimacy. This allows the BCT
  to credit and discredit legitimate and illegitimate actors through factual information.
  8-82. BCTs also focus on maintaining civil security to allow other agency and host nation entities to meet
  these needs, thus ensuring the BCT builds capacity to transition this responsibility quickly. The activities
  associated with this stability operations task extend beyond simply restoring local civil services and
  addressing the effects of humanitarian crises. While military forces generally center efforts on immediate
  needs of the populace, other civilian agencies and organizations focus on broader humanitarian issues and
  social well-being.
  8-83. The presence of dislocated civilians can threaten success in any operation. A number of factors may
  displace civilians, which will prompt the BCT to assist meeting the immediate needs of the displaced civilians
  until other better-equipped organizations establish control in the BCT area of operations. Dislocated civilians
  may indicate symptoms of broader issues such as conflict, insecurity, and disparities among the population.
  The BCT must address and assess the impact of displaced civilians immediately to establish conditions for
  stabilization and reconstruction of a traumatized population. Local and international aid organizations are
  most often best equipped to handle the needs of the local populace but require a secure environment in which
  to operate. Through close cooperation, military forces can enable the success of these organizations by
  providing critical assistance to the populace.
  8-84. Understanding the location, disposition, and composition of displaced civilians must remain a high
  priority and consideration throughout operations focused on stability. A large number of all dislocated
  civilians are women and children. Most suffer from some form of posttraumatic stress disorder, and all
  require food, shelter, and medical care. External groups may target the displaced civilians as a continuation
  of earlier conflict, thus escalating the conflict and destabilizing the environment. Internal unrest within the
  displaced civilian population can create de-stabilizing actors as well. Thus, the BCT coordinates with unified
  action partners and augments with available assets from a higher headquarters, such as medical support,
  security, establishing secure facilities and possibly evacuation to maintain initiative over potential
  destabilizing factors.
  8-85. The BCT plans for health threats and diseases prevalent in the regionto provide support for deployed
  forces and affected civilians within the BCT’s area of operations. Roles 1 and 2 medical assets support force
  health protection (see ATP 4-02.8) measures to mitigate the adverse effects of disease and nonbattle injuries
  and promote the health of deployed forces. The BCT conducts area and zone reconnaissance to gain
  information on public health hazards by collecting information on sewage, water, electricity, academics,
  trash, medical, safety, and other considerations. If necessary, the BCT assesses existing medical infrastructure
  including preventative health services and may temporarily operate or augment operations of existing
  medical facilities in extreme circumstances. (See FM 4-02 and ATP4-02.3 for additional information.)
  TRANSFORMATION
  8-86. Operations conducted during the transformation phase establish the foundation for long-term
  development, resolving the root causes of conflict that lead to events such as famine, dislocated civilians,
  and human trafficking. The BCT primarily conducts operations that secure the environment to enable other
  agencies and host nation to meet the needs of the populace. The BCT commander and staff assess related
  activities and missions to achieve unity of effort within the operational environment and continually identify
  potential sources of instability. The commander and staff apply the principles of unity of effort, legitimacy
  and host nation ownership, and building partner capacity during transformation that enables a combined
  effort toward sustained social well-being for the population and achieving progress towards fostering
  sustainability.