text: Chapter 3
  3-60. Units anticipate the reasons listed in paragraph 3-58, plan a pause to replenish combat power, and
  phase their operations accordingly before subordinate forces reach their culminating points. Simultaneously,
  units attempt to prevent enemy forces from knowing when friendly forces become overextended.
  TRANSITION TO DEFENSIVE OPERATIONS
  3-61. Once offensive actions begin, the attacking unit tries to sense when subordinates reach, or are about to
  reach, their culminating points. Before they reach them, units transition to a focus on defensive operations.
  They have more freedom to choose where and when to halt an attack if they sense that subordinate forces are
  approaching culmination. Units plan future activities to aid the defense, minimize vulnerability to attack, and
  facilitate renewal of the offense as the force transitions to branches or sequels of ongoing operations. For
  example, to prevent overburdening the extended LOCs that units should manage when and how they begin
  to transition to prevent a LOC bottleneck.
  3-62. Units anticipate the ending of unit offensive actions by preparing branches and sequels and transmitting
  them to subordinates via orders. These orders include the time or circumstances under which the current
  offense transitions to a defensive operation, the missions and locations of subordinate units, and control
  measures. As units transition from an offensive focus to a defensive focus, they—
  * Maintain contact and surveillance of enemy forces by combining reconnaissance units and
  surveillance assets to develop the information required to plan future actions.
  * Establish a security area and local security measures.
  * Position artillery assets to ensure the support of security forces.
  * Position forces for probable future employment.
  * Maintain or regain contact with adjacent friendly units in a contiguous assigned area and ensure
  that units remain capable of mutual support in a noncontiguous assigned area.
  * Transition engineer effort by shifting emphasis from mobility to countermobility and survivability.
  * Consolidate and reorganize.
  * Explain the rationale for transitioning from the offense to their Soldiers.
  * Emplace protective obstacles.
  * Resupply with fuel and ammunition.
  * Occupy defensible terrain.
  3-63. Units reorganize and resupply during transitions. This requires a transition in the sustainment effort
  with a shift in emphasis from ensuring the force’s ability to move forward to ensuring the force’s ability to
  defend on its chosen location (by increasing forward stocks of construction, barrier, and obstacle material
  and ammunition). A transition is often a time when units can perform equipment maintenance. Additional
  assets may also be available for casualty evacuation and medical treatment because of a reduced tempo of
  operations.
  3-64. Units should not wait too long to transition from the offense to the defense as subordinate forces
  approach their culminating points. Without prior planning, transitioning to defensive actions after reaching a
  culminating point is extremely difficult. There are several reasons for this:
  * Defensive preparations are hasty, and forces are not adequately disposed for the defense.
  * Defensive reorganization requires more time than an enemy force may allow.
  * Usually attacking forces approaching culmination find themselves dispersed across the width and
  depth of their assigned areas with reduced combat power.
  * The shift to the defense requires a psychological adjustment. Soldiers who have become
  accustomed to advancing must now halt and operate defensively on new and often unfavorable
  terms.
  3-65. Units can use two techniques when transitioning to a defensive operation. The first technique is for the
  leading elements to commit forces and push forward to claim enough ground to establish a security area
  anchored on defensible terrain. A security area is that area occupied by a unit’s security elements and includes
  the areas of influence of those security elements (ADP 3-90). The main force moves forward or rearward as
  necessary to occupy key terrain and institutes a hasty defense that progresses into a deliberate defense as time