Tactical Tasks Flashcards
Ambush
A surprise attack by fire from concealed positions on a moving or temporarily halted enemy.
Attack by fire
Fires (direct or indirect) to destroy the enemy from a distance, normally used when the mission does not require or support occupation of the objective.
Block
To deny the enemy access to a given area or to prevent enemy advance in a given direction or an avenue of approach. It may be for a specified time.
Breach
To break through or secure a passage through a natural or enemy obstacle.
Bypass
To maneuver around an obstacle, position, or enemy force to maintain the momentum of an advance.
Canalize
The use of existing or reinforcing obstacles or fires to restrict enemy operations to a narrow zone.
Contain
To stop, hold, or surround enemy forces or to keep the enemy in a given area and prevent his withdrawing any part of his forces for use elsewhere
Defeat
To disrupt or nullify the enemy commander’s plan and overcome his will to fight, thus making him unwilling or unable to pursue his adopted course of action.
Destroy
Physically rendering an enemy force combat-ineffective unless it is reconstituted.
Disrupt
To integrate fires and obstacles to break apart an enemy’s formation and tempo, interrupt his time table, or cause premature commitment or piecemealing of his forces.
Exploit
Take full advantage of success in battle and follow up initial gains; offensive actions that usually follow successful attack and are designed to disorganize the enemy in depth.
Feint
An offensive action involving contact with the enemy to deceive him about the location or time of the actual main offensive action.
Fix
To prevent the enemy from moving any part of his forces either from a specific location or for a specific period of time by holding or surrounding them to prevent their withdrawal for use elsewhere.
Interdict
An action to divert, disrupt, delay or destroy the enemy’s surface military potential before it can be used effectively against friendly forces.
Neutralize
To render the enemy or his resources ineffective or unusable.
Penetrate
To break through the enemy’s defense and disrupt his defensive system.
Reconnoiter
To obtain visual observation or other methods, information about the activities and resources of an enemy or potential enemy.
Rupture
To create a gap in enemy defensive positions quickly.
Support by fire
Where a force engages the enemy by direct fire to support a maneuvering force using overwatch or by establishing a base of fire. The supporting force does not capture enemy forces or terrain.
Suppress
A tactical mission task that results in the temporary degradation of the performance of a force or weapon system below the level needed to accomplish its mission.
Clear
The removal of enemy forces and elimination of organized resistance in an assigned zone, area or location by destroying, capturing or forcing the withdrawal of enemy forces that could interfere with the unit’s ability to accomplish its mission.
Control
To maintain physical influence by occupation or range of weapon systems over the activities or access in a defined area.
Occupy
To move onto an objective, key terrain or other man-made or natural terrain area without opposition, and control the entire area.
Recconnoiter (Terrain-Oriented)
To secure data about the meteorological, hydrographic or geographic characteristics of a particular area.
Retain
To occupy and hold a terrain feature to ensure it is free of enemy occupation or use.
Secure
To gain possession of a position or terrain feature, with or without force, and to prevent its destruction or loss by enemy action. The attacking force may or may not have to physically occupy the area.
Seize
To clear a designated area and gain control of it.
Breach (Friendly-Oriented)
To break through or secure a passage through a natural or friendly obstacle.
Cover
Offensive or defensive actions to protect the force.
Disengage
To break contact with the enemy and move to a point where the enemy cannot observe nor engage the unit by direct fire.
Displace
To leave one position and take another. Forces may be displaced laterally to concentrate combat power in threatened areas
Exfiltrate
The removal of personnel or units from areas under enemy control.
Follow
The order of movement of combat, combat support, and combat service support forces in a given combat operation.
Guard
To protect the main force by fighting to gain time while also observing and reporting information.
Protect
To prevent observation, engagement or interference with a force or location.
Screen
To observe, identify and report information and only fight in self-protection.
Asses the population
To evaluate the situation and attitudes of the civil population inhabiting the area of operations; this will likely be an ongoing task that friendly forces use to determine how and to what extent its own or enemy actions or environmental events are likely to affect the actions of the population.
Build/restore infrastructure
To construct, rebuild, or repair local infrastructure (roads, bridges, power/sewage plants, etc.) usually after a natural disaster or after major operations are complete, in order to win local support/cooperation and/or to support friendly force operations.
Coordinate with civil authorities
To harmonize military activities with those of other (nonmilitary) government agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and national or local host nation government entities in order to achieve unity of effort and facilitate meeting objectives.
Enable civil authorities
To support or assist local or national host nation government or other civil entities to effectively govern in their respective jurisdictions or to carry out other legitimate functions.
Engage civil authorities
To interact with, coordinate with, and influence host nation civil authorities or members of the local population (with or without official titles) who can direct or influence popular attitudes or actions.
Influence the population
To persuade the civil population of the area of operations to support or cooperate with operations by friendly forces or at least to accept the friendly force presence in the area of operations.
Liason with civil authorities
To maintain communication (including personal contact) with key members of US Government agencies, host nation government entities, and nongovernmental organizations to ensure mutual understanding and unity of purpose or action.
Transfer to civil control
The handover of civil government responsibilities from friendly force military authorities to civil authorities. Civil authorities may include representatives of US Government agencies, intergovernmental organizations, and/or host nation government entities.
