ADP 3-90, page 32

Chapter 2 2-14 ADP 3-90 31 July 2019 MANEUVER 2-61. Maneuver is the employment of forces in the operational area, through movement in combination with fires and information, to achieve a position of advantage in respect to the enemy (JP 3-0). For the Army, maneuver is movement in conjunction with fires. A position of relative advantage is a location or the establishment of a favorable condition within the area of operations that provides the commander with temporary freedom of action to enhance combat power over an enemy or influence the enemy to accept risk and move to a position of disadvantage (ADP 3-0). It is possible for this position of relative advantage to exist in any or all the dimensions of the information environment—physical, informational, and cognitive. Maneuver creates and exposes enemy vulnerabilities to the massed effects of friendly combat power. A commander employs elements of combat power in symmetrical and asymmetrical ways to attain positional advantages over an enemy force and then exploits those positions of relative advantage. MEETING ENGAGEMENT 2-62. A meeting engagement is a combat action that occurs when a moving force, incompletely deployed for battle, engages an enemy at an unexpected time and place. A friendly force can encounter a stationary or moving enemy force. A meeting engagement does not require both forces be surprised. The force making unexpected contact is the one conducting a meeting engagement. Such encounters often occur in small-unit operations when reconnaissance has been ineffective. The force that reacts first to the unexpected contact generally gains an advantage over its enemy. 2-63. A meeting engagement may also occur when opponents are aware of each other and both decide to attack to obtain a tactical advantage. Additionally, a meeting engagement may occur when one force attempts to deploy into a hasty defense while the other force attacks before its opponent can organize an effective defense. No matter how the force makes contact, seizing the initiative is the overriding imperative. Prompt execution of battle drills at platoon level and below, and standard actions on contact for larger units, can give that initiative to the friendly force. MOVEMENT 2-64. In the context of Army tactics, movement is the positioning of combat power to establish the conditions for maneuver. To direct movement, Army forces use movement techniques, use movement formations, and conduct battle drills to mitigate the risk of making contact with the enemy before maneuvering. Battle drills are rehearsed and well understood actions made in response to common battlefield occurrences. They require a “go” order instead of a plan. MUTUAL SUPPORT 2-65. Mutual support is that support which units render each other against an enemy, because of their assigned tasks, their position relative to each other and to the enemy, and their inherent capabilities (JP 3-31). In Army doctrine, mutual support is a planning consideration related to force disposition, not a command relationship. Commanders consider mutual support when task-organizing forces, assigning AOs, and positioning units. Mutual support has two aspects—supporting range and supporting distance. 2-66. Mutual support exists between two or more units or positions when they can support each other with direct or indirect fires, thus preventing an enemy from engaging one unit or position without being fired on from one or more adjacent units or positions. When a mutual support relationship exists between two or more units moving in relation to each other, those units can maneuver to obtain positional advantage over an enemy force engaging another unit. In the offense, a commander maneuvers subordinate forces to ensure some degree of mutual support between them. 2-67. In the defense, commanders select tactical positions to achieve the maximum degree of mutual support. Mutual support increases the strength of defensive positions, prevents an enemy force from attempting to defeat the defending friendly forces in detail, and helps prevent infiltration. When friendly forces are static, supporting range equals supporting distance.