text: Planning and Operational Considerations
  * Expand controlled areas.
  * Destroy the insurgent force and its base complexes.
  7-65. To the extent possible, the counterinsurgency force should include personnel indigenous to the
  operational area. The type of force employed, along with its host-nation counterpart (regular forces or
  paramilitary) depends on the objectives, characteristics of the area, attitude of the local population, political
  considerations, and the equipment and logistic support available. The size and composition of the
  host-nation unit is, in part, determined by the insurgent’s influence over the population and the
  government’s ability to recruit and develop an adequate local force. When the unit is recruited from local
  inhabitants, local leaders should be used even though their military ability may be limited. By using local
  leaders, assisted by advisors, better control and motivation are possible. Training, indoctrinating, and
  incorporating the local force into the governmental structure is facilitated by using local leaders.
  7-66. Understanding the host nation’s population’s issues from their perspectives enables
  counterinsurgents to address the prerequisites of the insurgency and obtain local support for remote area
  operations. Success is more likely if—
  * A significant segment of the local population supports the program.
  * The host nation recruits local personnel for its remote area paramilitary or irregular force.
  * Host-nation forces conduct remote area operations to interdict infiltration routes in areas nearly
  devoid of people. In this case, U.S. and multinational elements and host-nation forces operate in
  a manner similar to that of the insurgents, but with access to superior sustainment resources.
  7-67. In a rural environment, insurgents rely on friendly elements within the population to provide supplies
  and intelligence. Rural insurgents prefer to operate in regions providing plenty of cover and concealment,
  such as heavily forested and mountainous areas that hinder a counterinsurgency force from gaining access
  to them. Often operating from their own home or village, rural insurgents often move to camps if security
  does not permit them to remain at home. Insurgent camps are chosen with a view toward easy access to the
  target population, access to a friendly or neutral border, prepared escape routes, and good observation of a
  counterinsurgency force’s approach routes. When counterinsurgency operations force the insurgents from
  their preferred base camps, insurgents tend to establish camps in rugged inhospitable areas that are not
  easily penetrated. Like counterinsurgency in urban areas, remote counterinsurgency operations must focus
  on both locating and eliminating insurgents and on severing the supportive element of the population from
  providing supplies and intelligence to them.
  7-68. Operations in remote areas typically call for use of combat outposts that are linked to the local
  population. Commanders and staffs consider three perspectives (the population, insurgents, and
  counterinsurgents) when choosing combat outpost locations. Establishing an outpost close to the local
  population does not serve to advance the counterinsurgency’s goals without certain factors. These
  include—
  * Gaining acceptance of the local civilian leadership.
  * Maintaining a constant presence in the community.
  * Maintaining constant communications with the local community to provide immediate
  emergency assistance.
  * Maintaining situational understanding and an awareness of any changes in the population’s
  patterns of life. This includes movement of outsiders (such as visitors, merchants, nomads, or
  seasonal labor).
  7-69. Operations in remote areas may include civil affairs, defense support of civil authorities, intelligence,
  population and resources control, and advisory assistance operations. Most remote operations are long term
  and continuous. They are initially directed at disrupting the insurgent’s operations and then destroying the
  insurgent armed forces. Counterinsurgents destroy the insurgent infrastructure as quickly as possible.
  7-70. Initially, strong combat and sustainment forces establish secure operational bases. Counterinsurgents
  may conduct remote area operations in areas with little or no population to interdict infiltration routes.
  Counterinsurgents make maximum use of special equipment to provide continuous coverage of suspected
  areas and routes. Firepower and combat forces, with air assault capabilities, should be prepared to quickly
  attack identified targets. Because remote area operations can stress the capability of land forces to make