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Executive Summary xvii of operations) on a temporary basis. Operational areas have physical dimensions comprised of some combination of air, land, maritime, and space domains. JFCs define these areas with geographical boundaries, which help commanders and staffs coordinate, integrate, and deconflict joint operations among joint force components and supporting commands. Joint Operations Across the Range of Military Operations The range of military operations is another fundamental construct that provides context. Military operations vary in scope, purpose, and conflict intensity across a range that extends from military engagement, security cooperation, and deterrence activities to crisis response and limited contingency operations and, if necessary, to major operations and campaigns. Military Operations and Related Missions, Tasks, and Actions In general, a military operation is a set of actions intended to accomplish a task or mission. Although the US military is organized, trained, and equipped for sustained, large-scale combat anywhere in the world, the capabilities to conduct these operations also enable a wide variety of other operations as well. Examples of military operations include stability operations; civil support; foreign humanitarian assistance (FHA); recovery; noncombatant evacuation (NEO); peace operations (PO); combating WMD; chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear consequence management; foreign internal defense (FID); counterdrug (CD) operations; combating terrorism; COIN; and homeland defense (HD). Phasing a Joint Operation A phase is a definitive stage of an operation or campaign during which a large portion of the forces and capabilities are involved in similar or mutually supporting activities for a common purpose. Phasing, which can be used in any operation regardless of size, helps the JFC organize large operations by integrating and synchronizing subordinate operations. Phasing helps JFCs and staffs visualize, design, and plan the entire operation or campaign and define requirements in terms of forces, resources, time, space, and purpose.