text: Chapter 8
  READINESS
  8-131. During area security operations, forces must retain readiness over longer periods without contact
  with the enemy. This occurs most often when the enemy commander knows that enemy forces or insurgents
  are seriously overmatched in available combat power. In this situation, the enemy commander normally tries
  to avoid engaging friendly forces unless it is on terms favorable to the enemy. Favorable terms include the
  use of mines and booby traps. Area security forces must not develop a false sense of security, even if the
  enemy appears to have ceased operations in the secured area. The commander must assume that the enemy
  is observing friendly operations and is seeking routines, weak points, and lax security for the opportunity to
  strike with minimum risk. This requires commanders at each echelon to influence subordinate small-unit
  leaders to maintain the vigilance and discipline of their Soldiers to preclude this opportunity from developing.
  PLANNING CONSIDERATIONS
  8-132. During area security operations planning, the commander apportions combat power and dedicates
  assets to protection tasks and systems based on an analysis of the operational environment, the likelihood of
  threat action, and the relative value of friendly resources and populations. Based on an initial assessment of
  the operational environment, the commander task organizes subordinate units and elements and assigns
  security areas within the BCT’s area of operations. Although all resources have value, the mission variables
  of METT-TC make some resources, assets, or locations more significant to successful mission
  accomplishment from enemy or adversary and friendly perspectives. Throughout the operations process the
  commander relies on the risk management (RM) process and other specific assessmentmethods to facilitate
  decision-making, issue guidance, and allocate resources (see chapter 4). Criticality, vulnerability, and
  recoverability are some of the most significant considerations in determining protection priorities that
  become the subject of the commander’s guidance and the focus of area security operations.
  COMMAND AND CONTROL
  8-133. During area security operations, the BCT commander devotes considerable time and energy to the
  problems of coordination and cooperation due to the joint, interagency, and multinational nature of
  stability-focused tasks. The BCT plans and conducts area security operations in concert with partner
  participants towards a unified effort, often as a supporting organization rather than the lead organization. The
  commander uses liaisons to enable unity of effort between partner elements and the coordination centers
  established by the division or higher commander.
  Interagency and Multinational Organizations
  8-134. One factor that distinguishes the conduct of stability-focused tasks from the conduct of
  offensive-and defensive-focused tasks is the requirement for interagency coordination at battalion level and
  below. During area security operations with interagency partners, the commander has inherent
  responsibilities. These responsibilities include the requirement to clarify the mission; to determine the
  controlling legal and policy authorities; and to task, organize, direct, sustain, and care for the organizations
  and individuals for whom the BCT provides the interagency effort. The commander also ensures seamless
  termination of the mission under conditions that ensure the identified objectives are met and can be sustained
  after the operation.
  8-135. When operating inside or with multinational organizations, the BCT commander and subordinate
  commanders and leaders should expect to integrate foreign units down to the company level. SFA activities
  within an area security mission require carefully selected and properly trained and experienced personnel (as
  trainers or advisors) who are not only subject matter experts, but also have the sociocultural understanding,
  language skills, and seasoned maturity to more effectively relate to and train FSF. Additionally, commanders
  and subordinate leaders within the brigade support area (BSA) and battalion trains with the fact that they will
  routinely interact with multinational partners during other area security missions. SOPs at subordinate
  echelons will require modification to incorporate multinational small units that do not have compatible
  communications and information systems.