text: Chapter 2
  area of interest always encompasses aspects of the air, cyberspace, and space domains, since capabilities
  resident in all three enable and affect operations on land.
  Deep, Close, Rear, and Support Areas
  2-75. In their assigned AOs, Army commanders designate deep, close, rear, and support areas to describe
  the physical arrangement of forces in time, space, and focus. These areas are typically defined by the
  boundaries assigned by the higher echelon headquarters. A boundary is a line that delineates surface areas
  for the purpose of facilitating coordination and deconfliction of operations between adjacent units,
  formations, or areas (JP 3-0). Boundaries may require adjustment based on actual and projected rates of
  maneuver or changes to the situation. Paragraphs 2-76 through 2-81 provide a summary of the geographic
  areas. (See Appendix C for a detailed description of the areas within a unit AO and the interrelationships of
  those areas among echelons.)
  Deep Area
  2-76. The deep area is where the commander sets conditions for future success in close combat (ADP 3-0).
  Operations in the deep area involve efforts to prevent uncommitted enemy forces from being committed in a
  coherent manner. A commander’s deep area generally extends beyond subordinate unit boundaries out to the
  limits of the commander’s designated AO. The purpose of operations in the deep area is often tied to setting
  conditions for future events in time and space. Operations in the deep area might disrupt the movement of
  operational reserves or prevent enemy forces from employing long-range fires. Planning for operations in the
  deep area includes considerations for information collection, airspace control, joint fires, obstacle
  emplacement, maneuver (air and ground), special operations, and information and supporting deception
  operations. Field army, corps, and division deep areas often overlap. Commanders coordinate and de-conflict
  operations in these areas through the use of control measures (for example, phase lines, fire support
  coordination line, kill boxes) and by target and target sets. (See ATP 3-94.2 for a more detailed description
  of deep operations.)
  Close Area
  2-77. The close area is the portion of the commander’s area of operations where the majority of subordinate
  maneuver forces conduct close combat (ADP 3-0). Commanders plan to conduct decisive operations using
  maneuver and fires in the close area, and they position most of the maneuver force in it. In the close area,
  depending on the echelon, one unit may conduct the decisive operation while others conduct shaping
  operations to fix a specific enemy formation or defeat remnants of by-passed or defeated enemy forces.
  Planning for operations in the close area includes fire control measures, movement control measures,
  maneuver, and obstacle emplacement. Operations in the close area are inherently lethal because they often
  involve direct fire engagements with enemy forces seeking to mass direct, indirect, and aerial fires against
  friendly forces. The field army and corps close area includes the AOs of committed division and separate
  maneuver brigades. The division close area is primarily where BCTs operate.
  Rear Area
  2-78. The rear area is that area in a unit’s AO extending forward from its rear boundary to the rear boundary
  of the area assigned to the next lower level of command. It is an area where most forces and assets locate that
  support and sustain forces in the close area. Rear operations include—
  * Security.
  * Sustainment.
  * Terrain management.
  * Movement control.
  * Protection.
  * Infrastructure development.
  2-79. Similar to a rear area, JFCs establish a JSA. A joint security area is a specific area to facilitate
  protection of joint bases and their connecting lines of communications that support joint operations (JP 3-10).
  Corps and divisions have rear areas that expand during offensive operations. The field army’s rear area is