text: Army Tactics
  standard operating procedures (SOPs) and commander guidance may provide automatic approval of certain
  actions. The next higher echelon commander always has the option of disapproving the unit in contact’s
  action based on its impact to the overall mission.
  Execute and Report
  1-83. With the action selected and, if needed, approved by their higher echelon, the unit in contact takes the
  appropriate actions. The unit initiates direct and indirect fires to gain the initiative if it is appropriate to engage
  enemy forces. If the action is to attack, the unit in contact immediately attacks if it has sufficient, immediately
  available combat power to overwhelm the enemy force. If the action is to defend or withdraw the unit in
  contact does so while maintaining contact and continuing to gain as much information as possible about the
  enemy forces disposition and positions. If the action is to bypass the enemy, the unit in contact maintains
  contact and continues their mission. Unless specifically told by their higher headquarters to break contact,
  the unit in contact will maintain contact no matter which action is chosen. Regardless of the chosen action,
  reporting to the next higher echelon is required to ensure the unit is staying within the commander’s intent.
  Tactical Mission Tasks
  1-84. A task is a clearly defined action or activity specifically assigned to an individual or organization, or
  derived during mission analysis, that must be done as it is imposed by an appropriate authority (JP 1, Vol 1).
  A tactical mission task is the specific activity a unit performs while executing a tactical operation or
  form of maneuver. Tactical mission tasks are used as components of a mission statement or given as tasks
  to subordinate units. While all tactical mission tasks are defined, most have a symbol. Appendix B lists
  tactical mission tasks, their definitions, and shows their associated symbol.
  1-85. Tactical mission tasks are essential in the development of a mission statement. A mission statement is
  a short sentence or paragraph that describes the organization’s essential task(s), purpose, and action
  containing the elements of who, what, when, where, and why (JP 5-0). The “what” is either a task or a type
  of operation or both and is expressed in terms of action verbs. For example, a higher headquarters can assign
  a subordinate unit to conduct an area defense and block the enemy to prevent the enemy from crossing a
  phase line. The purpose or the why of the mission statement is interconnected to the tactical task. The “why”
  provides the reason the unit is to execute the task and the method the unit contributes to the higher echelon’s
  headquarters. The purpose is critical in the formation of the mission statement. (See ATP 5-0.2-2 for an
  example list of purposes.)
  Multinational Operations Considerations
  1-86. Army forces can expect to operate with multinational partners. Multinational operations is a collective
  term to describe military actions conducted by forces of two or more nations, usually undertaken within the
  structure of a coalition or alliance (JP 3-16). Multinational operations present opportunities including—
  * Providing international legitimacy that helps isolate adversary or enemy forces.
  * Partners may have different authorities allowing them to employ capabilities in multiple domains.
  * Providing additional combat forces who may possess capabilities the joint force may lack.
  1-87. Multinational operational operations also include numerous challenges including—
  * Language issues.
  * National caveats on the use of forces, rules of engagement, authorities, and approval to share
  information and intelligence.
  * Interoperability concerns.
  1-88. Interoperability is the ability to act together coherently, effectively, and efficiently to achieve tactical,
  operational, and strategic objectives (JP 3-0). The Army’s approach to interoperability encompasses all
  components and operational domains. This approach facilitates the ability of Army forces to operate with
  other unified action partners, including multinational partners. To increase multinational interoperability the
  Army participates in numerous bilateral and multilateral activities. Some of these activities result in
  standardization agreements or doctrine. These products serve as a baseline for cooperation among
  multinational partners. For tactical Army forces, these products can be transparent. For example, Army forces