text: Direct Methods for Countering Insurgencies
  Figure 9-1. The capability spectrum of counterinsurgency conflict
  9-14. As part of developing understanding, counterinsurgents must identify the conditions that exist in
  particular regions that lead to instability or allow the insurgency to impact the environment. Commanders
  must decide where to focus actions and priorities to impact the conditions in a designated area for tactical
  or operational reasons. In many instances, commanders specify a preparation phase or shape phase of the
  shape-clear-hold-build-transition framework which clarifies the period of time, series of tasks, and effects
  to be achieved before counterinsurgents begin taking deliberate action against insurgents. Whether phasing
  is used or not, preparation of the environment is an absolute requirement to achieve conditions to progress
  along the shape-clear-hold-build-transition framework.
  SHAPE
  9-15. Shaping operations involve identifying which areas in an operational environment exhibit conditions
  that counterinsurgents can impact to change the capability differential between insurgents and
  counterinsurgents. Commanders choose where to execute operations in the shape-clear-hold-build-
  transition framework based on a host nation’s ability (and unified action partners’ abilities if the host
  nation’s capabilities are still being built) to impact the root causes of the insurgency, alter or eliminate the
  conditions which allow the insurgency to exist in that area, or isolate the insurgents from the population.
  During preparation, commanders and staffs execute include information collection on the components of an
  insurgency. An initial census in towns or cities using biometrics data collection devices is the most
  effective tool to establish initial accountability for everyone. Additional information collection includes the
  specific root cause or causes in the particular area, the expectations of the host-nation population, and the
  capability of host-nation institutions such as government, security, and rule of law. Commanders and staffs
  conduct disruption operations to impact an insurgency’s ability to influence an operational environment.
  Counterinsurgents may conduct deception operations while preparing for shape-clear-hold-build-transition
  framework operations to force the insurgency to alter its course of action. While preparing to execute the
  shape-clear-hold-build-transition framework, counterinsurgents (and whenever possible the unified action
  and host-nation partners) conduct information operations. Counterinsurgents conduct information
  operations aimed at the insurgency, the insurgency’s support mechanisms (both internal and external to the
  country), the host-nation population, and host-nation institutions such as governance and security functions.
  9-16. U.S. ground forces do not prepare for the shape-clear-hold-build-transition framework in isolation.
  Elements of the unified action partners are essential in shaping the area, the population, and the insurgency
  for future operations. In some instances, the area indicated for shape-clear-hold-build-transition framework
  operations may not be suitable for some partners to directly operate in, but other unified action partners