FM 3-90 appendix B

Attack-by-fire is a tactical mission task
in which a commander uses direct fires,
supported by indirect fires, to engage an
enemy without closing with him to destroy,
suppress, fix, or deceive him.

Breach is a tactical mission task in which the unit employs all
available means to break through or secure a passage through an
enemy defense, obstacle, minefield, or fortification.

Bypass is a tactical mission task
in which the commander directs his
unit to maneuver around an obstacle,
position, or enemy force to maintain
the momentum of the operation
while deliberately avoiding combat
with an enemy force.

Clear is a tactical mission task
that requires the commander to remove
all enemy forces and eliminate
organized resistance within an
assigned area.

Control is a tactical mission task that requires the commander
to maintain physical influence over a specified area to prevent its
use by an enemy or to create conditions necessary for successful
friendly operations.

Counterreconnaissance is a tactical mission task that encompasses
all measures taken by a commander to counter enemy reconnaissance
and surveillance efforts. Counterreconnaissance is not a
distinct mission, but a component of all forms of security operations.

Disengage is a tactical mission task where a commander has his
unit break contact with the enemy to allow the conduct of another
mission or to avoid decisive engagement.

Exfiltrate is a tactical mission task where a commander removes
soldiers or units from areas under enemy control by stealth,
deception, surprise, or clandestine means.

Follow and support is a tactical mission task in which a committed
force follows and supports a lead force conducting an offensive
operation.

Occupy is a tactical mission task that involves moving a
friendly force into an area so that it can control that area. Both the
force’s movement to and occupation of
the area occur without enemy opposition.

Reduce is a tactical mission task that involves the destruction
of an encircled or bypassed enemy force.

Retain is a tactical mission task in
which the commander ensures that a terrain
feature controlled by a friendly force
remains free of enemy occupation or use.

Secure is a tactical mission task that involves preventing a unit,
facility, or geographical location from being damaged or destroyed
as a result of enemy action.

Seize is a tactical mission task
that involves taking possession of a
designated area by using overwhelming
force.

Support-by-fire is a tactical mission task in which a maneuver
force moves to a position where it can engage the enemy by direct
fire in support of another maneuvering force.

Block is a tactical mission task
that denies the enemy access to an
area or prevents his advance in a direction
or along an avenue of approach.

Block is also an engineer obstacle effect that integrates fire
planning and obstacle effort to stop an attacker along a specific avenue
of approach or prevent him from passing through an engagement
area.

Canalize is a tactical mission
task in which the commander restricts
enemy movement to a narrow
zone by exploiting terrain coupled
with the use of obstacles, fires, or
friendly maneuver.

Contain is a tactical mission
task that requires the commander
to stop, hold, or surround enemy
forces or to cause them to center
their activity on a given front and
prevent them from withdrawing
any part of their forces for use elsewhere.

Defeat is a tactical mission task that occurs when an enemy
force has temporarily or permanently lost the physical means or the
will to fight. The defeated force’s commander is unwilling or unable
to pursue his adopted course of action, thereby yielding to the
friendly commander’s will and can no longer interfere to a significant
degree with the actions of friendly forces. Defeat can result
from the use of force or the threat of its use.

Destroy is a tactical mission task that physically renders an enemy
force combat-ineffective until it is reconstituted. Alternatively, to
destroy a combat system is to damage it so badly that it cannot perform
any function or be restored to a usable condition without being
entirely rebuilt.

Disrupt is a tactical mission
task in which a commander integrates
direct and indirect fires, terrain,
and obstacles to upset an enemy’s
formation or tempo, interrupt
his timetable, or cause his forces to
commit prematurely or attack in a
piecemeal fashion.

Disrupt is also an engineer obstacle
effect that focuses fire planning
and obstacle effort to cause the
enemy to break up his formation and
tempo, interrupt his timetable, commit
breaching assets prematurely,
and attack in a piecemeal effort.

Fix is a tactical mission
task where a commander prevents
the enemy from moving
any part of his force from a specific
location for a specific period.

Fix is also an engineer obstacle
effect that focuses fire planning and
obstacle effort to slow an attacker’s
movement within a specified area,
normally an engagement area.

Interdict is a tactical mission task where the commander prevents,
disrupts, or delays the enemy’s use of an area or route.

Isolate is a tactical mission task
that requires a unit to seal off—both
physically and psychologically—an enemy
from his sources of support, deny him
freedom of movement, and prevent him
from having contact with other enemy
forces.

Neutralize is a tactical mission task
that results in rendering enemy personnel
or materiel incapable of interfering
with a particular operation.

Suppress is a tactical mission task that results in the temporary
degradation of the performance of a force or weapon system below
the level needed to accomplish its mission.

Turn is a tactical mission task
that involves forcing an enemy element
from one avenue of approach or
movement corridor to another.

Turn is also a tactical obstacle effect that integrates fire planning
and obstacle effort to divert an enemy formation from one
avenue of approach to an adjacent
avenue of approach or into
an engagement area.