text: Mission Command
  3-59. The security focus allows the commander to determine specific tasks, their priority, and their relation
  to the intent and end state. Moreover, focus allows subordinate commanders to narrow their operations to
  acquire the most important information for higher headquarters and protect the most critical activities.
  3-60. Commanders orient their security assets by identifying a security objective in the area of operations.
  The security objective is the most important result desired from that specific security effort. The security
  objective clarifies and prioritizes the tasks for the Cavalry unit nested within the maneuver plan of the
  protected commander. The BCT commander provides focus to the protecting force’s efforts to accomplish
  the mission efficiently and effectively. As an example, the security objective may constitute locating and
  defeating enemy reconnaissance forces, confirming or denying the commander and staff’s initial assessment,
  providing early warning and reaction time to the main body, or protecting the main body from enemy
  observation and engagement.
  Security Duration
  3-61. Clearly articulating the duration of security operations allows the commander to establish associated
  time requirements that drive security operations planning, such as the method of establishing observation
  posts (either mounted or dismounted), battle positions, length of UAS rotation, and required logistical and
  communications support necessary to execute the mission. The security durations are short (less than
  12 hours) and long (greater than 12 hours). Duration can also relate to depth, especially in screen missions,
  as time is needed to deploy properly into screen areas to achieve the required depth throughout the area of
  operations. Commanders consider tasks, their CCIRs, the LTIOV, tactical risk, movement techniques,
  reconnaissance methods, and formations when articulating the security duration. The two observation posts
  that Cavalry units employ are described below:
  * Short duration: Cavalry organizations establish and staff short duration observation posts for less
  than 12 hours. Cavalry units establish short duration observation posts quickly, so commanders
  can take advantage of available time and mass reconnaissance assets by maximizing the number
  of observation posts and associated observing forces on the ground and in the air for a short period.
  * Long duration: Cavalry organizations establish and staff long duration observation posts for
  greater than 12 hours. Significantly, the number of observation posts decreases as platoons and
  troops must allocate additional forces to each observation post to manage a deliberate rotation
  schedule and rest plan. Units must coordinate for adequate resupply of all supply classes to support
  observation posts that operate for extended periods.
  Engagement and Disengagement Criteria
  3-62. Just as the commander issues guidance for engagement and disengagement criteria in reconnaissance
  guidance in paragraphs 3-51 to 3-54 (page 3-11), the same criteria apply to security operations.
  3-63. The BCT commander provides the security force with engagement and disengagement criteria for the
  operation. Engagement criteria direct the squadron either to engage and destroy enemy reconnaissance assets
  or to allow enemy reconnaissance assets to pass in order to identify, disrupt, or isolate the enemy’s
  second-echelon forces with direct and indirect fires. The BCT and security force must still have a plan to
  maintain contact with enemy reconnaissance assets that bypass the security force.
  3-64. Engagement criteria identify two specific themes: under which conditions the protecting force can
  attack enemy forces, and what the security force can attack within its capabilities and task organization. A
  protecting force has a restrictive engagement criterion when the BCT desires the protecting force to remain
  hidden in order to report on the enemy composition and disposition. Likewise, a protecting force has an
  unrestricted engagement criterion and may destroy enemy reconnaissance assets within their capability when
  friendly forces overmatch enemy forces or when the commander requires an aggressive
  counterreconnaissance effort.
  3-65. The commander develops the disengagement criteria in conjunction with engagement criteria for
  security operations. Similar to reconnaissance guidance, the disengagement criteria for security operations
  are well thought out and developed in the planning process to prevent a security force from becoming
  decisively engaged. A disengagement involves moving to a location where enemy forces can no longer
  engage the security force through direct fire contact or observed indirect fires. The disengagement criteria