text: Chapter 8
  (cid:122) Concentrates and orients forces on the enemy.
  (cid:122) Redirects BCT assets from current stability operations tasks to area security operations.
  (cid:122) Establishes a main battle area (MBA).
  (cid:122) Evacuates or secures critical facilities, organizations, and equipment with limited forces.
  (cid:122) Reconfigures sustainment operationsto align with defensive operations.
  (cid:122) Informs partners of the change in operations and the plan to conduct stability operations tasks with
  limited resources.
  (cid:122) Conducts a battle handover when required with successor within the time constraints of the new
  mission.
  (cid:122) Ensures the mind-set of subordinate leaders and Soldiers has transitioned to the defense.
  8-318. Transitioning from supporting stability operations tasks to a retrograde normally occurs if civil strife
  escalates and the sources of instability are more overwhelming than the BCT and unified action partners can
  mitigate. The primary objective is for the BCT to preserve its forces, and gain time allowing conditions to
  change so that the BCT can continue its follow-on mission. The presence of the enemy, analyzed with time
  available, dictate what form of retrograde the BCT conducts. (See chapter 7 for additional information.)
  TRANSITION TO THE CONDUCT OF OFFENSIVE OPERATIONS
  8-319. The BCT commander or higher command may order an offensive action such as an attack or
  movement to contact. The BCT commander and subordinate commanders must quickly orient their forces
  for the offense. (See chapter 6 for additional information.) This may include—
  (cid:122) Releasing Cavalry forces from current stability operations tasks to conduct reconnaissance and
  security operations tasks to seize the initiative.
  (cid:122) Concentrating forces in preparation for offensive actions.
  (cid:122) Securing critical facilities, organizations, and equipment with limited forces.
  (cid:122) Reconfiguring sustainment operations to align with theoffense.
  (cid:122) Informing partners of the change in operations.
  (cid:122) Conducting a battle handover when required with successor within the time constraints of the new
  mission.
  (cid:122) Ensuring the mind-set of subordinate leaders and Soldiers has transitioned to the offense.
  TRANSITIONS DURING SECURITY FORCE ASSISTANCE
  8-320. Transitions during SFA are dependent upon the conditions within the operational environment.
  Transitions are initially identified during planning using a comprehensive approach. Transitions can occur
  simultaneously or sequentially in different levels or war and in separate echelons, to include having
  potentially at the tactical level, transitions for different units within the BCT’s area of operations. For
  example, a major transition can include a battalion or company in the beginning of an initial response phase
  being the supported unit with the FSF transitioning to the supported unit later on in the phase. At this point
  in the transformation phase, the area in which the battalion or company conducts SFA will expand. This
  expansion can occur multiple times during the transformation phase, which is based on conditions, especially
  the capability and capacity of FSF. The BCT commander, to facilitate flexibility, visualizes and incorporates
  branches and sequels into the overall plan to enable transitions. Unless planned, prepared for, and executed
  efficiently, transitions can reduce the tempo of the operation, slow its momentum, and surrender the initiative.