text: Stability
  Note. The need to maintain transparency of the BCT’s intentions during area security operations
  is a factor when balancing operations security with information release. Release authority for
  information—to include foreign disclosure rules—must be fully understood by commanders and
  staffs within the BCT. The public affairs and information operations officers (see FM 3-61 and
  FM 3-13, respectively) lead the coordination and synchronization processes within the BCT.
  Release authority for information rests with the commander at the appropriate level.
  8-146. Multinational staffs result in additional security problems. Each nation has different access to U.S.
  information systems. Maintaining operations security with multinational staff members is difficult and
  sometimes the security rules restrict the ability of multinational partner staff officers to contribute. The chief
  of staff and foreign disclosure officer at division level develop workarounds when required. One such
  workaround is to provide the multinational staff officer a U.S. assistant to get on a U.S. securedinformation
  system to ensure the multinational staff officer has the information needed to contribute. The division
  assistant chief of staff, signal establishes and maintains two separate sets of different information systems
  when this occurs. (See ATP 3-91 and ATP 6-02.75 for additional information.)
  MOVEMENT AND MANEUVER
  8-147. During the conduct of stability-focused operations, the BCT plans its area security movement and
  maneuver simultaneously with offensive and defensive movement and maneuver, though with an extensive
  emphasis on security and engagement skills (negotiation, rapport building, cultural awareness, and critical
  language phrases). Movement and maneuver within the BCT area of operations is normally decentralized to
  the battalion and company. Through economy of force, the BCT commander determines the right mix of
  forces to quickly transition between operations as the situation requires. During area security operations, the
  commander plans for future movement within the BCT’s area of operations and as required, in adjacent areas
  of operation. The BCT’s lethal capabilities make the execution of area security operations possible even if
  the probability of combat is remote. When new requirements develop the BCT commander plans for the
  shifting of priorities when the need arises.
  Fire and Movement
  8-148. The application of fire and movement lends itself to several offensive and defensive operations (for
  example,search and attack, cordon and search, and area defense) within the civil security and civil control
  stability operations tasks. Across the range of military operations, the BCT and its subordinate units play a
  major role in ensuring the outcome of these stability operations tasks. The BCT and its subordinate units are
  useful in the conduct of other stability operations tasks (for example,security cooperation) because of their
  deterrence value and the flexibility and labor the BCT provides to the division or higher-level commander.
  Mobility and Countermobility
  8-149. Mobility (see chapter 6) and countermobility (see chapter 7) operations are key enablers to area
  security operations. In stability focused area security operations, mobility operations allow civilian traffic
  and commerce to continue or resume. Resuming normal civilian activities in the BCT’s area of operations is
  an important objective within stability focused area security operations. Countermobility operations
  indirectly support stability focused area security operations in regard to offensive and defensive operations.
  8-150. Mobility operations focus on keeping ground lines of communications open for both civilian and
  military activities and on reducing the threat of mines and other unexploded ordnance to the same. During
  area security operations, the commander and staff develop the countermobility plan concurrently with the
  fire support plan and defensive scheme of maneuver, guided by the commander’s intent. When combat
  engineer support falls under the mobility and countermobility tasks, it can include—
  (cid:122) Constructing combat roads and trails.
  (cid:122) Breaching existing obstacles (including minefields).
  (cid:122) Marking minefields, including minefield fence maintenance.
  (cid:122) Clearing mines and debris from roads.