text: Security Operations
  5-109. The following are a list of defensive tasks Cavalry units could conduct within capability during
  defensive cover missions:
  * Detect, report, and destroy all enemy elements attempting to pass through the cover, both ground
  and aerial, and provide the protected force commander early warning of enemy activities.
  * Conduct counterreconnaissance to destroy or defeat all enemy reconnaissance elements.
  * Maintain observation of avenues of approach that affect the protected forces’ mission.
  * Maintain contact with the protected force and other forces operating on its flanks.
  * Maintain contact with enemy forces, and report activity in the assigned area.
  * Locate and identify the lead elements that indicate the enemy’s main attack, as prescribed in the
  enemy’s order of battle based upon the IPB (when facing an echeloned enemy force).
  * While displacing, determine the direction of enemy movement, maintain contact, and report
  threat activities.
  * While displacing, impede and harass the enemy to provide the protected force commander with
  additional time and maneuver space.
  * Cause the enemy main body to deploy prematurely, and then, report their direction of travel.
  * Deny ground observation, and prevent direct fire against the main body.
  * Deny the enemy information about the size, strength, composition, and location of the main battle area.
  * Determine enemy strengths, weaknesses, and disposition, and exploit opportunities until main
  body forces are committed.
  Planning and Execution Considerations for Defensive Cover Missions
  5-110. The planning and execution considerations are applicable to all types of defensive cover. Usually,
  the division or corps commander uses a BCT or designates a reconnaissance and security BCT as the
  foundation covering force. The commander reinforces and augments it with combat power to increase the
  length of time it can fight the covering force battle and to give it the capability to destroy larger enemy forces.
  The amount of augmentation the covering force receives depends upon the intent of the main body
  commander (see figure 5-15, page 5-35). The BCT commander always designates reserves to seize the
  initiative during the early stages of an enemy attack.
  5-111. The main body commander designates the forward and rear boundaries of the security force with
  PLs. Normally, the lateral boundaries of the security area are extensions of the main body boundaries. The
  rear boundary of the security force is the BHL, which is within range of the main body artillery. The BCT
  commander designates additional control measures as needed to control the operation.
  5-112. The BCT commander assigns an area of operations to each subordinate. Covering force missions
  delay and defeat enemy forces to allow maximum time for the main body to prepare and execute offensive
  or defensive tasks. If certain terrain is crucial to the operation, the commander may assign battle positions to
  TFs. Subordinate commanders have the same options in the deployment of their units. If the terrain and
  situation permit, the covering force boundaries are extensions of the boundaries of corresponding main body
  units to simplify the battle handover.
  5-113. The BCT conducts zone reconnaissance or movement to contact to the forward PL in the security
  area. The BCT may be required to fight through enemy resistance to establish control over the security area.
  If the unit encounters heavy enemy resistance, the main body commander orders the covering force to occupy
  a new defensive line and conducts the cover. Planning for such contingencies is critical to the success of the
  covering force mission.
  5-114. Battle handover and passage of lines are inherent in the conduct of defensive cover. Battle handover
  and passage of lines may not occur simultaneously for all covering force units. As some units begin passage,
  others may still be taking advantage of offensive opportunities in other parts of the security area. The BCT
  prepares to continue fighting in those portions of the security area where forces are successful to set up
  offensive opportunities for the main body. Disengagement criteria established by the division or BCT
  commander dictate when covering force units may begin battle handover and passage of lines.