text: Chapter 5
  AREA SECURITY
  5-120. Area security is a type of security operation conducted to protect friendly forces, lines of
  communications, and activities within a specific area (ADP 3-90). The BCT conducts area security to
  preserve the commander’s freedom of maneuver, ability to move reserves, positioning of fire support assets,
  and to provide effective command and control and conduct sustainment operations. Area security degrades
  the enemy’s ability to affect friendly actions in a specific area by denying the enemy’s use of an area for its
  own purposes. Area security is essential to all operations, particularly operations in asymmetric environments
  during stability tasks. Area security enables military support to local governance, reconstruction efforts, rule
  of law, and the development of legitimate security forces. BCTs conduct area security to establish security
  around base camps, critical infrastructure, airfields, facilities, main supply routes (MSRs), lines of
  communication, terrain features, towns, equipment, and high-value assets. Offense, defense, and stability
  tasks support area security.
  5-121. Area security is largely concerned with consolidating gains. Area security is typically phased and
  ranges in scale. Upon completion or during the execution of a large-scale ground combat operation, area
  security initially works to defeat bypassed enemy units that could constitute a means for further resistance or
  impact sustainment operations. As that enemy is defeated, actions transition to the defense of the local
  population, and finally, stability operations. Effectively, area security establishes the initial basis for wide
  area security.
  5-122. Army forces perform area security to ensure freedom of action and to deny enemy forces the ability
  to disrupt operations. Commanders combine reconnaissance tasks and offensive, defensive, and stability
  operations to protect friendly forces, populations, infrastructure, and activities critical to mission
  accomplishment. Army forces integrate with partner military, law enforcement, and civil capabilities to
  establish and maintain security. The Army’s ability to establish control is critical to consolidating gains in
  the wake of successful military operations.
  5-123. The commander may task subordinate units to conduct the following to support area security operations:
  * Area, route, or zone reconnaissance.
  * Screen.
  * Offensive and defensive tasks (within capabilities).
  * Route and convoy security.
  * Security for high-value assets.
  * Route or convoy security of critical lines of communications.
  * Checkpoint operations to monitor or control movement.
  * Patrol to cover gaps between secured perimeters.
  * Maintaining an observable presence.
  EXECUTION CONSIDERATIONS
  5-124. When conducting an area security mission, the security force prevents threat, ground reconnaissance
  elements from directly observing friendly activities within the area the force is securing. Within capabilities,
  the security force prevents threat, ground maneuver forces from penetrating the defensive perimeters.
  5-125. The commander can have the subordinate troops employ a variety of techniques, such as observation
  posts, battle positions, ambushes, and combat outposts, to accomplish the security mission. A reserve or quick
  reaction force enables the commander to react to unforeseen contingencies. The Cavalry squadron can
  execute ambushes and preemptive strikes with greater precision using the intelligence assets available to the
  BCT. Figure 5-16 is an example of a BCT Cavalry squadron conducting area security of a village.
  5-126. METT-TC (I) determines the required augmentation for the Cavalry squadron. Of particular
  importance is the need for such assets as aviation, maneuver forces, engineers, intelligence operations assets,
  Armor, Infantry, and military police. Early warning of threat activity is paramount in area security missions
  and provides the commander with time and space to react to threats. Failure to conduct continuous
  reconnaissance may create a vulnerable seam where the enemy can execute an infiltration or attack.