text: Chapter 8
  EXPLOITING THE INITIATIVE
  8-43. A secure operational environment enables unified action partners to capitalize on their unique
  capabilities—thus exploiting the initiative gained in earlier operations. Governmental, nongovernmental, and
  other actors must be unified in purpose for this to be effective. Effective civilian-military teaming starts with
  the development of shared goals, aims, and objectives and a unity of purpose, which leads to a relationship
  of shared trust and a unity of effort. The BCT commander’s responsibilities include creating and fostering
  this dynamic and culture among organizations.
  8-44. Unity of effort is more than working with other U.S. Governmental agencies. Political leaders,
  governmental agencies, security forces, and local businesses are examples of host-nation actors that a BCT
  works with during operations focused on stability. The BCT also leverages relationships with host-nation
  actors to develop their understanding of the information environment and to answer information
  requirements.
  8-45. Actors that encompass unified action partners are not limited to host nation and interagency personnel.
  The BCT’s area of operations may include allied and multi-national forces. Understanding capabilities,
  constraints and limitations, and command relationships amongst the allied and multi-national forces facilitate
  the mission preparation and execution of operations in a constantly changing operational environment. The
  BCT cannot conduct successful operations focused on stability without building relationships. Each actor
  brings expertise, perspective, resources and capabilities that are necessary to ensure stability operations tasks
  are accomplished and that they achieve the end state for the operation.
  STABILIZING THE ENVIRONMENT
  8-46. Operations focused on stability seek to stabilize the environment enough so that the host nation can
  begin to resolve the root causes of conflict and state failure. During consolidation of gains, these operations
  will focus on security and stability operations tasks to establish conditions that support the transition to
  legitimate authorities. Initially, this is accomplished by performing the minimum essential stability operations
  tasks of providing security, food, water, shelter, and medical treatment. Once conditions allow, these tasks
  are a legal responsibility of U.S. Army forces. However, the BCT commander may not need to have the BCT
  conduct all of these essential tasks. Other military units or appropriate civilian organizations may be available
  to adequately perform these tasks. As the operational environment and time allow, the effort will transition
  to the more deliberate of execution of the six stability operations tasks.
  SECTION III – STABILITY OPERATIONS
  8-47. A stability operation is an operation conducted outside the United States in coordination with other
  instruments of national power to establish or maintain secure environment and provide essential
  governmental services, emergency infrastructure reconstruction, and humanitarian relief (ADP3-0). The
  BCT executes operations focused on stability operations tasks against destabilizing factors by establishing
  unity of effort among diverse organizations, and then task organizing and partnering with other elements to
  mitigate sources of instability. (See ADP 3-0, ADP 3-07, FM 3-07, ADRP 1-03, and ATP3-07.5 for
  additional information.)
  SIX STABILITY OPERATIONS TASKS
  8-48. U.S. Army forces often seek to stabilize an area of operations by performing stability operations tasks.
  A single action taken by a BCT or partnered element can support multiple stability operations tasks because
  they are interrelated and interdependent. Each stability operations task carries unique considerations, but
  actions taken affect each differently. The BCT plans, prepares, executes, and assesses operations to determine
  impacts on the area of operations as positively, negatively or neutral considering long-term and short-term
  effects. In operations focused on stability, planning and assessing require significant analysis supported
  through information collection activities (see chapter 5) focused on identifiable indicators within and external
  to the BCT’s area of operations. As the commander considers each stability operations task within the context
  of the stability principles, the BCT staff analyzes measures of performance (MOPs) and measures of