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Chapter 3 3-2 ADP 3-90 31 July 2019 CONCENTRATION 3-5. Concentration is massing the effects of combat power in time and space at the decisive point to achieve a single purpose. Concentration requires the coordination of unified action partner capabilities in multiple domains to create opportunities that enable offensive land operations. Information systems provide relevant information that helps commanders determine when to concentrate their forces. By massing combat power rapidly along converging axes and synchronizing the effects of supporting assets in multiple domains, attackers overwhelm enemy forces. Commanders adopt the tactics for the situation, protect the force, and sustain the attack’s tempo. 3-6. To protect their forces before they concentrate, commanders apply joint assets to prevent enemy detection and interdiction. They request ground, air, maritime, space, and cyberspace resources to delay, disrupt, or destroy enemy reconnaissance capabilities. Commanders may keep their forces concentrated after a successful attack to take advantage of their momentum or disperse them to avoid becoming vulnerable to enemy counteraction. SURPRISE 3-7. Commanders surprise enemy forces by attacking at a time or place or in a manner for which enemy forces did not prepare or expect. Commanders achieve surprise by showing enemy forces what they expect to see while actually doing something different. Surprise delays enemy reactions, overloads and confuses enemy command and control systems, induces psychological shock, and reduces the coherence of an enemy force’s defense. Correct assessment of an enemy commander’s intent and a clear sense of timing are necessary to achieve surprise. 3-8. Operational and tactical surprise complement each other. Operational surprise creates the conditions for successful tactical operations. Tactical surprise can cause an enemy force to hesitate or misjudge a situation, creating operational opportunities. Effective commanders exploit surprise before an enemy force realizes what is happening and can effectively react. 3-9. Modern surveillance and warning systems, the availability of commercial space-based imagery products, and global commercial news and social networks make surprise more difficult to achieve than in the past. Commanders deceive an enemy force as to the nature, timing, and objective of an attack by using bad weather, seemingly impassable terrain, and military deception to shape enemy perceptions. Airborne, air assault, and special operations forces attacks—combined with strikes by Army and joint fires against objectives an enemy force regards as secure—create disruptive or debilitating cognitive effects on enemy soldiers and commanders. The VII and XVIII Corps’ turning movement into the flank and rear of the Iraqi Republican Guard during OPERATION DESERT STORM is a historical example of achieving operational surprise during the offense. TEMPO 3-10. Tempo is the relative speed and rhythm of military operations over time with respect to the enemy (ADP 3-0). Controlling tempo is necessary to retain the initiative. An attack that achieves results more quickly than enemy forces can respond disrupts enemy plans. Maintaining a high tempo requires initiative on the part of subordinates within their commander’s intent. Mission orders allow subordinates the flexibility to react swiftly to opportunities and threats and maintain a high tempo. 3-11. Commanders adjust tempo continuously. The flexibility of any tactical situation, sustainment realities, or enemy actions affect tempo. Rapid tempo demands quick decisions informed by accurate running estimates. Maintaining rapid tempo continually creates opportunities and reduces friendly vulnerabilities. Maintaining rapid tempo also denies enemy forces the chance to rest or synchronize the employment of their combat power. 3-12. By increasing tempo, commanders maintain momentum. They plan for rapid transitions and ensure sustainment operations do not prevent premature culmination of the offense. Attackers shift combat power quickly to widen penetrations, exploit exposed flanks, and reinforce successes. Friendly forces attack in depth with fires and maneuver to destroy or disrupt an enemy commander’s ability to command and control enemy