text: Stability
  Significant security cooperation and military engagements are routinely conducted worldwide for peacetime
  theater and global shaping through the geographic combatant commanders’ theater campaign plans. Some of
  those security cooperation activities are likely to include SFA activity efforts in the lower range of the
  competition continuum. Timely and effective execution of relevant SFA activities as part of security
  cooperation for shaping in the theater campaign may contribute to stabilization and perhaps a measure of
  deterrence to prevent the requirement for U.S. forces having to conduct a contingency operation. Joint forces
  must have the ability to conduct SFA activities throughout all phases of an operation or campaign to
  effectively partner with FSF supporting U.S. or U.S.-led multinational requirements. (See FM 3-22 for
  additional information.)
  Figure 8-2. Security force assistance in the competition continuum
  Note. For the purpose of the following discussion, SFA is addressed within the initial response,
  transformation, and fostering sustainability phases of the stabilization framework.
  PHASING FOR SECURITY FORCEASSISTANCE
  8-226. Phasing for SFA, initial response, transformation, and fostering sustainability, mirrors the
  stabilization framework described in section I of the chapter, and are based on the operational environment.
  SFA can start in any phase or may even move to a previous phase due to changes in the conditions of the
  operational environment. Differences within and between phases may not change on the surface, but
  relationships with FSF can change drastically. For example, the latter stage of the transformation phase can
  differ greatly from the initial stages of the transformation phase. Span of control and the area of operations
  for SFA can expand within a phase and as operations continue within the stabilization framework. As the
  three phases are based on the operational environment, they provide a baseline for augmentation. Potential
  augmentation may require military police, legal, public affairs, civil affairs, PSYOP, engineering,
  sociocultural experts, sustainment, and SFA team personnel.
  Note. A provincial reconstruction team embedded at BCT level is a key element during the
  conduct of SFA. The BCT leads the effort to establish civil security, support to civil control (when
  approved by Congress), and to develop and enable FSF. The embedded provincial reconstruction
  team has the lead for support to economic and infrastructure development, restore essential
  services, and support to governance. Together the BCT and an embedded provincial reconstruction
  team are able to effectively support the FSF and execute all six stability operations tasks.