FM-3-81 Maneuver Enhancement Brigade Download
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Chapter 4 4-2 FM 3-81 09 November 2021 Terrain masking of electromagnetic signatures. Terrain allowing observation of ground and air avenues into the AA. Sanctuary from enemy medium-range artillery fires. 4-4. Establishing a support area includes grouping units into base camps and designating base clusters as necessary for common defense. Terrain management should facilitate current and future operations. Poor terrain management can result in congestion, interruption of tactical traffic patterns, and degradation of SPO. The failure to follow basic rules of coordination can cause disruption and create combat identification hazards. Good terrain management enhances operations. Figure 4-1 provides an example of an established support area with multiple base camps. Legend: ACP air control point ASR alternate supply route CCP communications control point DC dislocated civilian DHA detainee holding area MP military police MSR main supply route NAI named area of interest SUST sustainment TCF tactical combat force Figure 4-1. Example of an established division support area 4-5. Having an assigned AO assigned and facilitates the movement of units and the use of fires. It restricts units that are not assigned responsibility for the AO from moving through the AO without coordination. It also restricts outside units from firing into or allowing the effects of its fires to affect the AO. Both of these restrictions can be relaxed through coordination with the owning unit. It facilitates the movement and fires of the unit assigned responsibility for, or owning, the AO. In selected situations, subordinate AOs may be created to facilitate the movement of sustainment convoys or maneuver forces through the support AO. 4-6. Within the support area, the MEB commander conducts the tactical coordination and integration of land and air units while employing firepower and maneuvering forces for positional advantage in relation to