Tactical Tasks

Question 1

Ambush

Answer 1

A surprise attack by fire from concealed positions on a moving or temporarily halted enemy.

Question 2

Attack by fire

Answer 2

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.

Question 3

Block

Answer 3

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.

Question 4

Breach

Answer 4

To break through or secure a passage through a natural or enemy obstacle.

Question 5

Bypass

Answer 5

To maneuver around an obstacle, position, or enemy force to maintain the momentum of an advance.

Question 6

Canalize

Answer 6

The use of existing or reinforcing obstacles or fires to restrict enemy operations to a narrow zone.

Question 7

Contain

Answer 7

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

Question 8

Defeat

Answer 8

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.

Question 9

Destroy

Answer 9

Physically rendering an enemy force combat-ineffective unless it is reconstituted.

Question 10

Disrupt

Answer 10

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.

Question 11

Exploit

Answer 11

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.

Question 12

Feint

Answer 12

An offensive action involving contact with the enemy to deceive him about the location or time of the actual main offensive action.

Question 13

Fix

Answer 13

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.

Question 14

Interdict

Answer 14

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

Question 15

Neutralize

Answer 15

To render the enemy or his resources ineffective or unusable.

Question 16

Penetrate

Answer 16

To break through the enemy’s defense and disrupt his defensive system.

Question 17

Reconnoiter

Answer 17

To obtain visual observation or other methods, information about the activities and resources of an enemy or potential enemy.

Question 18

Rupture

Answer 18

To create a gap in enemy defensive positions quickly.

Question 19

Support by fire

Answer 19

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.

Question 20

Suppress

Answer 20

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.

Question 21

Clear

Answer 21

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.

Question 22

Control

Answer 22

To maintain physical influence by occupation or range of weapon systems over the activities or access in a defined area.

Question 23

Occupy

Answer 23

To move onto an objective, key terrain or other man-made or natural terrain area without opposition, and control the entire area.

Question 24

Recconnoiter (Terrain-Oriented)

Answer 24

To secure data about the meteorological, hydrographic or geographic characteristics of a particular area.

Question 25

Retain

Answer 25

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

Question 26

Secure

Answer 26

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.

Question 27

Seize

Answer 27

To clear a designated area and gain control of it.

Question 28

Breach (Friendly-Oriented)

Answer 28

To break through or secure a passage through a natural or friendly obstacle.

Question 29

Cover

Answer 29

Offensive or defensive actions to protect the force.

Question 30

Disengage

Answer 30

To break contact with the enemy and move to a point where the enemy cannot observe nor engage the unit by direct fire.

Question 31

Displace

Answer 31

To leave one position and take another. Forces may be displaced laterally to concentrate combat power in threatened areas

Question 32

Exfiltrate

Answer 32

The removal of personnel or units from areas under enemy control.

Question 33

Follow

Answer 33

The order of movement of combat, combat support, and combat service support forces in a given combat operation.

Question 34

Guard

Answer 34

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

Question 35

Protect

Answer 35

To prevent observation, engagement or interference with a force or location.

Question 36

Screen

Answer 36

To observe, identify and report information and only fight in self-protection.

Question 37

Asses the population

Answer 37

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.

Question 38

Build/restore infrastructure

Answer 38

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.

Question 39

Coordinate with civil authorities

Answer 39

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.

Question 40

Enable civil authorities

Answer 40

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.

Question 41

Engage civil authorities

Answer 41

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.

Question 42

Influence the population

Answer 42

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.

Question 43

Liason with civil authorities

Answer 43

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.

Question 44

Transfer to civil control

Answer 44

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.