Tactical Tasks

Question 1

A surprise attack by fire from concealed positions on a moving or temporary halted enemy. (Is fundamentally a type of attack, enemy oriented and is planned and executed accordingly)

Answer 1

Ambush

Question 2

fires (direct and indirect) in the physical domains and/or through the information environment to engage the enemy from a distance to destroy, fix, neutralize or suppress. (Closely resembles the task of support by fire. the difference is that one unit conducts the support by fire task to support another unit so it can maneuver against the enemy)

Answer 2

fires (direct and indirect) in the physical domains and/or through the information environment to engage the enemy from a distance to destroy, fix, neutralize or suppress. (Closely resembles the task of support by fire. the difference is that one unit conducts the support by fire task to support another unit so it can maneuver against the enemy)

Question 3

to deny the enemy access to an area or prevent the enemy advance in a direction or along an avenue of approach. (Differs from the tactical task fix because a blocked enemy can still move in another direction, it just cannot advance. A fixed enemy force cannot move)

Answer 3

Block

Question 4

to break through or secure a passage through an obstacle

Answer 4

Breach

Question 5

to maneuver around an obstacle, position or enemy force to maintain the momentum of the operation while deliberately avoiding combat with an enemy force

Answer 5

bypass

Question 6

to restrict enemy movement to a narrow zone by the use of existing or reinforcing obstacles, fires or friendly maneuvers

Answer 6

Canalize

Question 7

to stop, hold or surround enemy forces or cause the enemy to center activity on a given front and prevent the withdrawal of any part of the enemies forces for use elsewhere. (allows for some enemy movement within the designated area)

Answer 7

Contain

Question 8

to change, debase, or otherwise alter information from its original or correct form or version by intentionally introducing errors or alterations, thereby rendering it useless

Answer 8

corrupt

Question 9

to manipulate an enemy into believing and acting upon something that is not true for a selected period of time and/or at a particular location to create a friendly advantage

Answer 9

deceive

Question 10

to disrupt or nullify the enemy commanders plan and overcome the will to fight, thus making the enemy commander unwilling or unable to pursue the adopted course of action and yield to the friendly commanders will

Answer 10

defeat

Question 11

to diminish the effectiveness or efficiency of an enemy’s C2 systems, communications systems, and/or information collection efforts or means; lower the morale of an enemy unit; reduce a targets worth or value; and/or impair an enemy’s decision making capabilities

Answer 11

degrade

Question 12

to hinder or prevent the enemy from using terrain, space, personnel, supplies, facilities and/or specific capabilities

Answer 12

deny

Question 13

to physically render an enemy force combat ineffective unless it can be reconstituted or render a target or capability so damaged that it can neither function as intended nor be restored to a usable condition

Answer 13

destroy

Question 14

What is the difference between destroy and defeat? (EOTT)

Answer 14

destruction of the enemy force normally leads to their defeat, but defeat does not necessarily require destruction

Question 15

to employ or integrate fires and obstacles in order to break apart an enemy’s formation and tempo, interrupt the enemy’s timetable, or cause premature commitment or the piecemealing of enemy forces

Answer 15

disrupt

Question 16

to employ, to the greatest possible advantage, the success achieved in a military operation or enemy information that has come into friendly hands. it extends the initial success of the attack by preventing the enemy from disengaging, withdrawing and reestablishing an effective defense

Answer 16

exploit

Question 17

contact with the enemy to deceive the enemy about the location or time of the actual main offensive action. (this is the counterpart to the type of attack)

Answer 17

feint

Question 18

to prevent the enemy from moving any part of the enemy’s 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

Answer 18

fix

Question 19

to cause the enemy to behave in a manner favorable to friendly forces

Answer 19

influence

Question 20

to divert, disrupt, delay or destroy the enemy’s surface military potential before it can be used effectively against friendly forces

Answer 20

interdict

Question 21

to seal off – both physically and psychologically – an enemy from sources of support, deny the enemy freedom of movement, and prevent that enemy force from having contact with other enemy forces

Answer 21

isolate

Question 22

to render the enemy or enemy resources ineffective or unusable

Answer 22

neutralize

Question 23

to break through the enemy’s defense and disrupt the enemy’s defensive system

Answer 23

penetrate

Question 24

to obtain, by visual observation or other methods, information about the activities and resources of an enemy or adversary.

Answer 24

reconnoiter

Question 25

movement to a position where the maneuver force can engage the enemy by direct fire in support of another maneuvering force

Answer 25

support by fire

Question 26

the transient or temporary degradation of an opposing force or the performance of a weapons system below the level needed to fulfill its mission objectives

Answer 26

suppress

Question 27

to remove enemy forces and eliminate organized resistance in an assigned zone, area or location by destroying, capturing or forcing the withdrawal of enemy forces that could interfere with the units ability to accomplish its mission

Answer 27

clear

Question 28

to maintain physical influence by occupation or range of weapons systems over the activities or access in a defined area

Answer 28

control

Question 29

to prevent an enemy units withdrawal from or reinforcement to a position

Answer 29

cordon

Question 30

to move onto an objective, key terrain or other area without opposition and control the entire area

Answer 30

occupy

Question 31

to secure data, by visual observation or other methods, about the meteorological, hydrographic or geographic characteristics of a particular area

Answer 31

Reconnoiter (TOTT)

Question 32

to occupy and hold a terrain feature to ensure it is free of enemy occupation or use

Answer 32

retain

Question 33

to gain possession of a position, terrain feature, piece of infrastructure or civil asset, with or without force, and prevent its destruction or loss by enemy action. The attacking force may or may not have to physically occupy the area

Answer 33

secure (TOTT)

Question 34

to clear a designated area and gain control of it. (Differs from occupy in that this tactical tasks occurs in the face of enemy opposition)

Answer 34

seize

Question 35

to conduct offensive and defensive actions independent of the main body to protect the covered force and develop the situation

Answer 35

cover

Question 36

to break contact with the enemy and move to a point where the enemy cannot observe nor engage friendly forces by direct fire

Answer 36

Disengage

Question 37

displace

Answer 37

to leave one position to take another while remaining in contact with the enemy

Question 38

exfiltrate

Answer 38

to remove personnel or units from areas under enemy control by stealth

Question 39

follow and assume

Answer 39

a second committed force follows a force conducting an offensive operation and is prepared to continue the mission if the lead force is fixed, attrited, or unable to continue. (this second force is not a reserve force)

Question 40

follow and support

Answer 40

a committed force follows and supports a lead force conducting an offensive operation

Question 41

guard

Answer 41

to protect the main force by fighting to gain time while also observing and reporting information

Question 42

protect

Answer 42

to prevent observation by engagement with or interference from an adversarial or enemy force, system, capability or location

Question 43

screen

Answer 43

to observe, identify and report information, and only fight in self protection

Question 44

advise

Answer 44

to improve the individual and unit capabilities and capacities of host nation security forces through the development of personal and professional relationships between United States and host nation forces

Question 45

assess the population

Answer 45

to evaluate the nature, situation and attitudes of a designated population or elements of the population inhabiting the area of operations

Question 46

assist

Answer 46

to provide designated support or sustainment capabilities to host nation security forces to enable them to accomplish their objectives

Question 47

Build/restore infrastructure

Answer 47

to construct, rebuild or repair local infrastructure to support the host nation and gain or maintain the cooperation of the local population

Question 48

contain (POTT)

Answer 48

to prevent or halt elements of a population or designated party from departing or projecting physical influence beyond a defined area

Question 49

control (POTT)

Answer 49

to use physical control measures and information related capabilities to influence elements of a population or designated actors to respond as desired

Question 50

coordinate with civil authorities

Answer 50

to interact with, maintain communication, and harmonize friendly military activities with those of other interorganizational agencies and coalition partners to achieve unity of effort

Question 51

cordon (POTT)

Answer 51

to temporarily prevent movement to or from a prescribed area

Question 52

enable civil authorities

Answer 52

to support or assist the host nation government and designated interorganizational agencies in providing effective governance

Question 53

exclude

Answer 53

to prevent or halt elements of a population or designated party from entering or projecting physical influence into a defined area

Question 54

influence

Answer 54

to persuade the local population, including potential and known adversaries, within the operational area to support, cooperate with, or at least accept the friendly force presence, and to dissuade the local population from interfering with operations

Question 55

Train

Answer 55

to teach designated skills or behaviors to improve the individual and unit capabilities and capacities of host nation security forces

Question 56

transition to civil control

Answer 56

to handover civil government and security responsibilities from friendly force military authorities to legitimate civil authorities