text: Stability
  The commander and staff assess the need for providing protection to contractors operating within
  the BCT’s area of operations and designate forces to provide security to them when appropriate.
  The mission of, threat to, and location of each contractor determines the degree of protection
  needed. Protecting contractors involves not only active protection to provide escort or perimeter
  security, but also training and equipping of contractor personnel in self-protection (protective
  equipment and weapons). Under certain conditions, contract security forces may be another means
  of reinforcing the security of sustainment elements supporting from within and external to the
  BCT’s area of operations, and base and cluster defenses.
  EXECUTION
  8-215. Though close combat dominance remains the principal means to influence enemy actions, the
  conditions and standards of performance are modified by the mission variables of METT-TC and the more
  restrictive rules of engagement required during the conduct of stability-focused tasks. The general scope of
  BCT missions supporting stability-focused tasks includes security operations, patrols and patrolling
  (reconnaissance and combat), intelligence operations (for example, HUMINT assets from the military
  intelligence company of the BCT, or higher headquarters), surveillance (ground forces and aerial assets),
  convoy security, and Soldier and leader engagements. Additionally, missions often require the establishment
  of static security posts, base and base clusters, searches, roadblocks, checkpoints, observation posts, and
  combat outposts supports the conduct of stability-focused tasks. The condition set surrounding each mission
  differs and requires detailed analysis and planning.
  APPORTIONMENT OF COMBAT POWER AND DEDICATED ASSETS
  8-216. The BCT commander, during area security operations, apportions combat power and dedicates assets
  to protection tasks based on an analysis of the operational environment, the likelihood of enemy action, and
  the relative value of friendly resources and populations. Although all resources have value, the mission
  variables of METT-TC make some resources, assets, or locations more significant from enemy or adversary
  and friendly perspectives. The commander relies on RM (see chapter 4) and other assessment methods to
  facilitate decision-making, issue guidance, and allocate resources. 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 BCT’s area security efforts.
  8-217. Generally, the BCT conducts area security operations to establish stability after open hostilities
  cease. With the complex and dynamic nature of this area security operation, it is important to remember that
  area security operations and activities change from day to day, based upon the mission variables of
  METT-TC. ATP 3-21.20 provides two detailed scenarios, used for discussion purposes, representing ways
  anInfantry brigade combat team (IBCT)may employ forces during the conduct of an area security operation.
  ATP3-21.10 discusses these same scenarios for the employment of forces (subordinate units of an Infantry
  battalion) during the conduct of area security.
  CRITERIA TO JUDGEPROGRESS
  8-218. During execution, evaluating is using criteria to judge progress toward desired conditions and
  determining why the current degree of progress exists (ADP 5-0). Evaluation is at the heart of the assessment
  process (see chapter 4) where most of the analysis occurs. Evaluation helps the BCT commander determine
  what is working and what is not working, and gain insights into how to better accomplish the mission.
  8-219. Criteria in the form of MOE and MOP aid in determining progress toward attaining end state
  conditions, achieving objectives, and performing tasks. MOEs help determine if a task is achieving its
  intended results. MOPs help determine if a task is completed properly. MOEs and MOPs are simply criteria—
  they do not represent the assessment itself. MOEs and MOPs require relevant information as indicators for
  evaluation.
  8-220. An MOE is a criterion used to assess changes in system behavior, capability, or operational
  environment that is tied to measuring the attainment of an end state, achievement of an objective, or creation