text: Chapter 1
  Figure 1-3. Army operations along the competition continuum
  1-44. The range of military operations categories should not be confused with tactical tasks or activities.
  Rather, they describe general characteristics of military operations and activities, not the details of their
  execution. Some operations listed under one category are routinely conducted within major operations
  characterized by another. For example, noncombatant evacuation operations may be conducted during
  peacekeeping operations, or security force assistance activities may be performed during large-scale combat
  operations. Regardless of the operations, Army forces conduct offensive, defensive, stability, and defense
  support of civil authorities operations simultaneously. The preponderance of which type of operation is being
  performed depends on the objectives and character of the operation. This focus will shift and change as
  operations move either direction along the competition continuum.
  MILITARY ENGAGEMENT AND SECURITY COOPERATION
  1-45. Military engagement and security cooperation comprise all military activities that involve other
  nations; they are intended to shape the security environment. Military engagement and security cooperation
  include programs and exercises that the United States conducts with other nations to increase readiness,
  improve mutual understanding, and improve interoperability with treaty partners or potential coalition
  partners. These activities are designed to support a combatant commander’s objectives within the theater
  security cooperation plan. The theater army is the primary Army echelon directing and coordinating these
  operations. When directed to, divisions and corps provide forces and echelons of command and control to
  support exercises or training events. Military engagement and security cooperation encourage regional
  stability that supports U.S. interests. These activities may be long term, such as training teams and advisors
  assisting land forces, or short term, such as multinational exercises. They generally do not include combat,
  although terrorist attacks against deployed forces are possible, and forward deployed forces are at risk should
  deterrence fail. Policy, regulations, and security cooperation plans, rather than doctrine, typically govern
  these activities. Military engagement and security cooperation activities are usually conducted bilaterally,