text: Chapter 4
  Sustainment Operations During Crisis
  This chapter provides an overview of Army operations during crisis. This chapter discusses
  sustainment planning considerations, considerations for forcible entry operations, and
  describes roles and responsibilities of organizations for sustainment operations by echelon
  during crisis.
  SECTION I – OVERVIEW OF ARMY OPERATIONS DURING CRISIS
  4-1. A crisis is an emerging incident or situation involving a possible threat to the United States, its citizens,
  military forces, or vital interests that develops rapidly and creates a condition of such diplomatic, economic,
  or military importance that commitment of military forces and resources is contemplated to achieve national
  and/or strategic objectives importance that commitment of military forces and resources is contemplated to
  achieve national objectives (JP 3-0). A crisis may be the result of adversary actions or indicators of imminent
  action, or it may be the result of natural or human disasters. During a crisis, opponents are not yet using lethal
  force as the primary means for achieving their objectives, but the situation potentially requires a rapid
  response by forces prepared to fight to deter further aggression. When directed, the Army provides a JFC
  with capabilities to help deter further provocation and sufficient combat power to maintain or reestablish
  conventional deterrence.
  4-2. Crisis response operations are characterized by actions to protect friendly forces and indicate the intent
  to execute subsequent phases of a planned operation. With the transition from shaping to deterrence, the
  theater Army shifts to refining contingency plans and preparing estimates for landpower based on CCDR
  guidance.
  ARMY SUPPORT TO THE JOINT FORCE DURING CRISIS
  4-3. The military supports unified action partners during crisis by providing flexible deterrent and response
  options. A flexible deterrent option (FDO) is a planning construct intended to facilitate early decision making
  by developing a wide range of interrelated responses that begin with deterrent-oriented actions carefully
  tailored to create a desired effect.
  4-4. A flexible response option (FRO) is a military capability specifically task organized for effective reaction
  to an enemy threat or attack and adaptable to the existing circumstances of a crisis. FDOs and FROs occur
  across the diplomatic, informational, military, and economic instruments of national power. They are most
  effective when integrated and implemented in a simultaneous manner.
  4-5. FDOs are preplanned, deterrence-oriented actions carefully tailored to bring an issue to early resolution
  without armed conflict, and they can be initiated before or after unambiguous warning of threat action.
  Examples of Army contributions to joint FDOs include—
  • Command and control headquarters—establishment of a field army or deployment of a corps or
  division.
  • Deploying a security force assistance brigade to establish liaison capability or conduct security force
  assistance.
  • Building or expanding infrastructure and increasing sustainment capacity to facilitate RSOI.
  4-6. FROs can be employed in response to aggression by adversaries, and they are intended to facilitate early
  decision making by developing a wide range of actions carefully tailored to produce desired effects. Army
  contribution examples to joint FROs include—
  • Airborne or air assault units positioned to conduct joint forcible entry.
  • A maneuver brigade drawing APS.
  • Port opening to receive the joint force.
  • Multi-domain task force to respond to adversary antiaccess and area denial activities.
  • SOF to conduct foreign internal defense, direct action, or special reconnaissance.