ADP 3-90, page 44

Chapter 3 3-4 ADP 3-90 31 July 2019 respond to changes in the situation. Understanding and using commonly understood control measures enable commanders and staffs to develop and publish clear and concise mission orders, as well as direct tactical actions quickly, with minimal communication during execution. ASSAULT POSITION 3-20. An assault position is a covered and concealed position short of the objective from which final preparations are made to assault the objective. Final preparations include short halts to coordinate the final assault, reorganizing to adjust to combat losses or to adjust the attacking force’s dispositions. Final preparations can also involve technical activities, such as engineers performing their final prepare-to-fire checks on obstacle clearing systems and the crews of plow- or roller-equipped tanks removing their locking pins. An assault position may be located near a final coordination line or a probable line of deployment. ASSAULT TIME 3-21. The assault time is the moment to attack the initial objectives throughout the geographical scope of the operation. A higher echelon headquarters imposes this time during the offense to achieve simultaneous results. It is similar to the time on target control method for fire mission processing used by the field artillery. A commander uses it instead of a time of attack because of the different distances that different elements of the force must traverse, known obstacles, and differences in unit tactical mobility. ATTACK BY FIRE POSITION 3-22. An attack by fire position is the general position from which a unit performs the tactical task of attack by fire. The purpose of these positions is to mass the effects of direct fire systems from one or multiple locations on the enemy. An attack by fire position does not indicate the specific site. An attack by fire position normally applies to company-size and smaller units. ATTACK POSITION 3-23. The attack position is the last position an attacking force occupies or passes through before crossing the line of departure. An attack position facilitates the deployment and last minute coordination of an attacking force before it crosses the line of departure (LD). (See paragraph 3-31 for a discussion of the LD.) It is located on the friendly side of the LD and offers cover and concealment. Whenever possible, units move through their attack positions without stopping. If a unit occupies an attack position, it stays there for the shortest amount of time possible to avoid offering the enemy a target. AXIS OF ADVANCE 3-24. An axis of advance is the general area through which the bulk of a unit’s combat power must move. When developing an axis of advance, a commander also establishes bypass criteria. Bypass criteria are measures established by higher echelon headquarters that specify the conditions and size under which enemy units and contact may be avoided. A commander uses an axis of advance—  First, to direct the bypass of locations that could delay the progress of an advancing force, such as known contaminated areas.  Second, to indicate that a force is not required to clear the AO as it advances. The force will need to clear the axis in accordance with specified bypass criteria.  Third, to indicate to a unit involved in offensive encirclement, exploitation, or pursuit operations the need to move rapidly toward an objective. BATTLE HANDOVER LINE 3-25. The battle handover line is a designated phase line where responsibility transitions from the stationary force to the moving force and vice versa. The common higher echelon commander of two forces establishes a battle handover line after consulting both commanders. The stationary commander determines the location of the line. The battle handover line is forward of the forward edge of the battle area (FEBA) in the defense or the forward line of own troops (FLOT) in the offense. The commander draws it to keep the