text: Chapter 6
  take advantage of a lack of civil security and civil control. Leaders assess the threat posed by irregular forces
  and criminal actors to determine whether or not these groups warrant detention by friendly forces. (See
  FM 3-63 for more information on detainee operations.)
  6-101. Army forces must deliberately plan and prepare for consolidating gains because it is resource
  intensive and requires significant coordination with unified action partners. Planning for consolidating gains
  includes an assessment of operational risk, available combat power, changes to task organization, and
  additional assets required to achieve the desired end state. Assets might include—
  (cid:122) Additional forces to provide area security tasks.
  (cid:122) Host-nation, partner, and allied security forces.
  (cid:122) ISR assets.
  (cid:122) Engineers.
  (cid:122) Military police.
  (cid:122) Explosive ordnance disposal units.
  (cid:122) Medical units.
  (cid:122) Logistics units.
  (cid:122) Civil affairs units.
  (cid:122) Psychological operations units.
  (cid:122) CBRN units.
  6-102. Operations to consolidate gains can take many forms. These operations can include—
  (cid:122) Offensive operations. Forces conduct offensive operations to complete the defeat of fixed or
  bypassed enemy forces.
  (cid:122) Area security. Forces conduct security tasks to defeat enemy remnants, proxy or insurgent forces,
  and terrorists; control populations and key terrain; and secure routes, critical infrastructure,
  populations, and activities within an assigned area.
  (cid:122) Stability operations. Forces execute minimum-essential stability operations tasks and ensure the
  provision of essential governmental services (in support of host nation or in place of the host
  nation), emergency infrastructure reconstruction, and humanitarian relief. These may include
  military governance.
  (cid:122) Influence local and regional audiences. Commanders communicate credible messaging to specific
  audiences to prevent interference and generate support for operations or the host nation.
  (cid:122) Defensive operations. Establish security from external threats. Commanders ensure sufficient
  combat power is employed to prevent physical disruption from threats across the various domains
  seeking to reverse or subvert the military gains made by friendly forces.
  (cid:122) Detainee operations. Commanders and staffs must consider detainee operations prior to a conflict,
  during, and after large-scale combat operations have ceased. Detainee operations have long-lasting
  operational and strategic impacts.
  6-103. Determining when and how to consolidate gains at the operational level and applying the necessary
  resources at the tactical level requires clear understanding about where to accept risk during an operation.
  Failure to consolidate gains generally leads to failure in achieving the desired end state, since it represents a
  failure to follow through on initial tactical successes and cedes the initiative to determined enemies seeking
  to prolong a conflict. Security is necessary for transition of responsibility to a legitimate governing authority
  and the successful completion of combat operations. Army forces integrate the capabilities of all unified
  action partners and synchronize their employment as they consolidate gains.
  6-104. Although operations to consolidate gains may at times be economy of force efforts, they are critical
  to the long-term success of the joint force’s operation. Enemy forces will continue to challenge Army gains
  even after their forces are defeated to gain time for a favorable political settlement, set conditions for a
  protracted resistance, and alter the nature of the conflict to gain relative advantages. Enemy forces will
  execute information warfare, exploit cultural seams, challenge security, encourage competition for resources,
  promote conflicting narratives, support religious divides, and create alternatives to legitimate authority. As
  long as enemy forces have a will to resist, they will continue to attempt to undermine friendly gains.