Inmilitary terminology, anoutpost is a location wheredetachments ofmilitary personnel are stationed at a distance from the mainarmed force orformation in a region.[1] 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 asmall military base orsettlement in an outlyingfrontier, limit, political boundary or in another country.[2] Its oldest known use dates to the 16th century: "station when on duty, a fixed position or place" (1590s), from Frenchposte, meaning "place where one is stationed."[citation needed]
Outposts can take many different forms, but share the features of being enclosed or otherwise separated from their environment and being regularly staffed by some sort of protective force. In some cases, these outposts develop satellite communities such as mining towns or frontier settlements in the area that outpost protects.[3]: 441–442
Military outposts, most recently referred to as combat outposts (COPs), served as a cornerstone ofcounterinsurgency doctrine inIraq andAfghanistan. 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 forceinsurgents to operate elsewhere.[4] Combat outposts were almost unanimously described in positive terms by defense analysts and military officers as a means through which to carry out its counterinsurgency efforts.[5] Types of outposts are used in almost every war in low supply regions as the can protect supply routes and key points.
