text: Area Defense
  Figure 9-6. Example area defense
  9-50. The mission variables—most importantly time—determine how closely units can synchronize their
  supporting efforts with their main efforts. Units conduct supporting efforts designed to regain the initiative
  by limiting an attacking enemy force’s options and disrupting an enemy force’s plan. Supporting efforts
  prevent enemy forces from massing and creating windows of opportunity for the conduct of the main effort.
  This allows defending forces to defeat attacking enemy forces in detail. Units also employ supporting efforts
  to disrupt enemy operations by attacking enemy command posts at critical stages in a battle or by striking
  and eliminating key enemy elements and capabilities. This could be river crossing equipment and supplies in
  regions that contain numerous unfordable rivers. Reconnaissance and security operations are normally
  components of the echelon’s shaping operations and supporting efforts.
  9-51. Gaining and maintaining enemy contact in the face of an enemy force’s determined efforts to destroy
  friendly information collection assets is vital to the success of defensive actions. As an enemy force’s attack
  begins, defending units strive to identify the locations and capabilities of committed enemy units, to
  determine the enemy’s intent and direction of attack, and to gain time to react. Initially, defending units
  accomplish these goals in their security areas. The sources of this type of intelligence include reconnaissance
  and security forces, intelligence units, special operations forces, and aviation elements. Battalions and
  companies are increasingly able to access combat information provided by technical means belonging to
  higher echelons, such as UAS and signals intelligence, to provide the required reaction time. Units ensure
  the distribution of a COP throughout their forces during the battle as a basis for subordinate commanders’
  actions. Units use the information available, in conjunction with military judgment, to determine the point at
  which enemy forces commit to a given COA.
  9-52. Units’ security forces seek to disrupt enemy reconnaissance forces and mask dispositions, capabilities,
  and intent of their defending forces. This occurs simultaneously with friendly information collection assets
  helping to determine an enemy forces’ chosen COA. Ideally, security area engagements cause enemy forces
  to conduct a movement to contact against friendly prepared defenses.
  9-53. Security forces use every opportunity to gain information, delay, and disrupt the enemy. Their
  commanders prepare to pass through or around MBA forces as quickly as possible by using multiple passage