FM 5-0, The Operations Process - Federation of American Scientists

Preparation
4-25. Operational area security focuses on protecting areas, routes, or installations. During preparation,
operational area security focuses on protecting assembly areas and securing routes required for task
organization, sustainment, or positioning units for upcoming operations.
MANAGE TERRAIN
4-26. Terrain management is the process of allocating terrain by establishing areas of operation,
designating assembly areas, and specifying locations for units and activities to deconflict activities
that might interfere with each other. Terrain management is an important activity during preparation as
units reposition and stage prior to execution. Commanders assigned an area of operations manage terrain
within their boundaries. Through terrain management, commanders identify and locate units in the area.
Staffs can then deconflict operations, control movements, and deter fratricide as units get in position to
execute planned missions. Commanders also consider the civilians and civilian organizations located in
their area of operations.
COORDINATE AND CONDUCT LIAISON
4-27. Coordinating and conducting liaison helps ensure that military leaders internal and external to the
headquarters understand their unit’s role in the upcoming operation and are prepared to execute it. In
addition to military forces, many civilian organizations may operate in the operational area. Their presence
can affect and are affected by the commander’s operations. Continuous coordination and liaison between
the command and civilian organization helps to build unity of effort—coordination and cooperation toward
common objectives, even if the participants are not necessarily part of the same command or
organization—the product of successful unified action (JP 1). (See FM 3-07 and JP 3-08 for detailed
discussions on interagency, intergovernmental organization, and nongovernmental organization
coordination.)
4-28. During preparation, commanders coordinate with higher, lower, adjacent, supporting, and supported
units and civilian organizations. Coordination includes the following:
• Sending and receiving liaison teams.
• Establishing communication links that ensure continuous contact during execution.
• Exchanging SOPs.
• Synchronizing security operations with ISR plans to prevent breaks in coverage.
• Facilitating civil-military coordination among those involved.
4-29. Establishing and maintaining liaison is vital to external coordination. Liaison provides a means of
direct communications between the sending and receiving headquarters. It may begin with planning and
continue through preparing and executing, or it may start as late as execution. Available resources and the
need for direct contact between sending and receiving headquarters determine when to establish liaison.
Establishing liaisons with civilian organizations is especially important in stability operations because of
the variety of external organizations and the inherent coordination challenges. (See FM 6-0 for doctrine on
liaison.)
CONTINUE TO BUILD PARTNERSHIPS AND TEAMS
4-30. Conducting full spectrum operations requires commanders to shape civil conditions in concert with
other military and civilian organizations within an operational area. In some circumstances, commanders
have an established command or support relationship with these organizations. In other instances, they will
not. In those instances where commanders lack a formal command or support relationship with an
organization, they seek unity of effort. (See paragraph 4-46.) They try to build partnerships and teams with
these organizations to develop common goals, including local political leaders, host-nation police and
security forces, and nongovernmental organizations. Capable and cooperative civilian organizations
substantially enhance military operations by performing complementary civil functions that inform and
assist the population and add legitimacy to the mission.
4-31. Building partnerships and teams with organizations begin early in planning, is a key activity of
preparation, and continue throughout execution. Civilian organizations, including those of the host nation,
26 March 2010 FM 5-0 4-5