Outpost (military)
{{Short description|Military post}}
{{Other uses|Outpost (disambiguation){{!}}Outpost}}
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File:COP Keating, in Nurestan.jpg in Nurestan Province, Afghanistan]]
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In military terminology, an outpost is a location where detachments of military personnel are stationed at a distance from the main armed force or formation in a region. Outposts are usually located in remote or sparsely populated areas, positioned to observe and defend against unauthorized intrusions and surprise attacks, serving as the first line of defense. The station occupied by such troops, usually a small military base or settlement in an outlying frontier, limit, political boundary or in another country. Outposts can also be called miniature military bases based on size and number of troops it houses.[http://www.thefreedictionary.com/outpost Dictionary meaning: Outpost]; TheFreeDictionary; An online Dictionary and Thesaurus Oldest known use is from the 16th century "station when on duty, a fixed position or place," 1590s, from French poste "place where one is stationed,"
Recent military use
Military outposts, most recently referred to as combat outposts (COPs), served as a cornerstone of counterinsurgency doctrine in Iraq and Afghanistan. These permanent or semi-permanent structures, often located in or near populated areas, enabled military forces to secure key lines of communication or infrastructure, secure and co-opt the populace, assist the government in restoring essential services, and force insurgents to operate elsewhere.Seidel, S. B. (2010). Planning Combat Outposts to Maximize Population Security. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Retrieved from
See also
References
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Category:International relations theory
Category:Military intelligence collection
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