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To advance to contact is an action to conduct an offensive operation designed to gain or re-establish contact with the enemy.

To ambush is an action to conduct a surprise attack by fire from concealed positions on a moving or temporarily halted enemy.

To arrest is an effect to seize and hold a person under authority of law.

Fires employed to destroy the enemy from a distance, normally used when the mission does not dictate or support occupation of the objective. This task is usually given to the supporting element during the offensive and as a counterattack option for the reserve during defensive operations.

A tactical task assigned to a unit that requires it to deny the enemy access to a given area or to prevent enemy advance in a given direction or an avenue of approach. It may be for a specified time. Units assigned this mission may have to retain terrain and accept decisive engagement.

A tactical task where any means available are employed to break through or secure a passage through an enemy defense, obstacle, minefield, or fortification.

A tactical task that involves manoeuvring around an obstacle, position, or enemy force to maintain the momentum of advance. Bypassed obstacles and enemy forces are reported to higher HQ.

A tactical task used to restrict operations to a narrow zone by the use of obstacles, fires, and/or unit manoeuvring or positioning.

To capture is an effect to gain possession of specified personnel, materiel, or information.

A tactical task to remove all enemy forces from a specific location, area, or zone.

To stop, hold or surround an Enemy/Threat or to cause him to focus his effort on a given front and prevent him withdrawing some or all of his force for use elsewhere.

To control is an effect to maintain physical influence over a specified area to prevent its use by an enemy.

Attack by a part or all of a defending force against an enemy attacking force, for such specific purposes as regaining ground lost or cutting off or destroying enemy advance units, and with the general objective of denying to the enemy the attainment of his purpose in attacking. In sustained defensive operations, it is undertaken to restore the battle position and is directed at limited objectives.

Currently, there is no standard approved definition within NATO or Canadian doctrine. Reference D provides a useful definition of attack by fire which adequately conveys the same essence: Fires (direct and indirect) employed to destroy the enemy from a distance, normally used when the mission does not dictate or support occupation of the objective. This task is usually given to the supporting element during the offensive (see also support by fire position) and as a counter-attack option for the reserve during defensive operations. An attack by fire is not done in conjunction with a manoeuvring force. When assigning this task, the commander must specify the intent of fire.

To cover is an effect to provide security for the main force by intercepting, engaging, delaying, disorganizing, or deceiving the enemy, while also observing and reporting information, before he can attack, observe or defend. The covering force operates beyond the fire support of the main force, and operates independently of the main force.

Deception is an action that is included in the special category of tactical activities that is ordered by 'conduct ... in order to...'

To defeat is an effect to diminish the effectiveness of the enemy, to the extent that he is either unable to participate in combat or at least cannot achieve his intent: a. The measure of success is that the enemy is unable to significantly interfere with friendly forces. b. This task is not very useful below BG level, where other tactical tasks are better utilized, e.g. destroy, neutralize.

To trade space for time by slowing down the enemy's momentum and inflicting maximum damage on the enemy without, in principle, becoming decisively engaged.

To demonstrate is an effect to deceive the enemy by making a show of force without seeking contact.

To deny is an effect to prevent enemy use of a specified thing.

A tactical task to physically render an enemy force combat-ineffective unless it is reconstituted.

To disengage is an action to break contact with the enemy.

A tactical task or obstacle effect (that integrates fire planning and obstacle effort) that breaks apart an enemy's formation and tempo, interrupts the enemy's time table, causes premature commitment of forces, and/or splinters their attack.

To envelop is an action to pass around or over the enemy's defensive position to secure objectives to the enemy's rear.

To escort is an action to accompany and protect.

To exfiltrate is an effect to withdraw through or around enemy positions without detection.

To conduct exploitation is an effect to indicate an offensive operation that usually follows a successful attack and is designed to disorganize the enemy in depth.

To feint is an action or an effect to deceive the enemy by seeking contact but avoiding decisive engagement. Feints are used to cause the enemy to react in three possible ways: to employ reserves improperly; to shift supporting fires; and/or to reveal defensive fires.

A tactical task in which actions are taken to prevent the enemy from moving any part of his forces from a specific location and/or for a specific period of time by holding or surrounding them to prevent their withdrawal for use elsewhere.

An operation in which a committed force follows a force conducting offensive operations and is prepared to continue the mission of the force it is following when that force is fixed, attrited, or otherwise unable to continue. Such a force is not a reserve but is committed to accomplish specified tasks.

An operation in which a committed force follows and supports the mission accomplishment of a force conducting an offensive operation. Such a force is not a reserve but is committed to accomplish any or all of these tasks: destroy bypassed units, relieve in place any direct pressure or encircling force that has halted to contain the enemy; block movement of enemy reinforcements; secure lines of communications; guard prisoners, key areas, and installations; secure key terrain; and control refugees.

A security element whose primary task is to protect the main force by fighting to gain time, while also observing and reporting information.

To infiltrate is an effect to move a force into or through areas under enemy control without detection.

Using fire support or manoeuvre forces: 1. To seal off an area by any means, to deny use of a route or approach. 2. To carry out a tactical task to prevent, hinder, or delay the use of an area or route by Enemy/Threat forces.

A tactical task given to a unit to seal off (both physically and psychologically) an enemy from its sources of support, to deny an enemy freedom of movement, and prevent an enemy unit from having contact with other enemy forces. An enemy must not be allowed sanctuary within its present position.

To locate is an effect to determine the position of a specified thing. Identifying the enemy is an implied task when locating; any requirement to track the enemy position must be made clear.

To render enemy personnel or material incapable of interfering with a particular operation.

A tactical task in which a force moves onto an objective, key terrain, or other manmade or natural terrain area without opposition and controls that entire area.

In land operations, a form of offensive which seeks to break through the enemy's defence and disrupt the defensive system.

To pursue is an effect to catch or cut off a hostile force attempting to escape, with the aim of destroying it. The measure of success is that the enemy force is destroyed. A limitation can be given as to how or where the unit can accomplish contact.

To recover is an effect to extract a friendly force element or materiel from a location not under friendly control, with or without force.

An operation in which, by direction of higher authority, all or part of a unit is replaced in an area by the incoming unit. The responsibilities of the replaced elements for the mission and the assigned zone of operations are transferred to the incoming unit. The incoming unit continues the operation as ordered.

A tactical task to occupy and hold a terrain feature to ensure it is free of enemy occupation or use.

An operation in which a force out of contact moves away from the enemy.

A security element whose primary task is to observe, identify and report information; it only fights in self-protection.

A tactical task to gain possession of a position or terrain feature, with or without force, and to deploy in a manner which prevents its destruction or loss to enemy action.

A tactical task to clear a designated area and obtain control of it.

A tactical task by which a manoeuvre element moves to a position on the battlefield where it can engage the enemy by direct fire. The manoeuvre element does not attempt to manoeuvre to capture enemy forces or terrain.

To suppress is an effect to temporarily degrade an enemy capability to enable a friendly action. The effect is temporary and usually only lasts while the friendly force is firing.

To turn is an effect to force an enemy from one direction of advance to another.

A tactical task where a force in contact plans to disengage from the enemy and move in a direction away from the enemy.

This task verb is used for units within the main defensive area and is designed to deceive the enemy into believing he is gaining success. Ultimately, the effect of this task is position the enemy for destruction.