Outpost (military)

A military outpost is detachment of troops stationed at a distance from the main force or formation, usually at a station in a remote or sparsely populated location, positioned to stand guard 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.

[1] 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," 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.

[2] 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.