What criteria is given as guidance from the commander, as to when you WILL break contact from an enemy force?

• A. Engagement criteria
• B. Disengagement criteria
• C. Withdrawal criteria
• D. Ceasefire criteria

Answer: (B)

Disengagement criteria define the conditions under which a unit will cease contact with an opposing force and break away. They establish when it’s necessary to disengage, retreat, or reposition to keep losses manageable and to reorient for a safer or more advantageous position. This is different from engagement criteria, which tell you when to initiate or continue fighting; withdrawal criteria concern leaving a location or mission area, and ceasefire criteria are about stopping all combat, usually through negotiation or a pause, not the tactical decision to break contact. So, when the plan specifies the moment to break contact with the enemy, that guidance is disengagement criteria.