What are lines of operation and lines of effort, and how do they function in LSCO design?

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In LSCO design, two interconnected lines organize how you apply power: lines of operation map the geographic path your forces take to connect actions in time and space toward an objective, while lines of effort synchronize activities across multiple capabilities and domains to achieve strategic ends, often without fixed geographic movement.

Lines of operation focus on moving and fighting along physical routes, linking actions across space and time so you drive toward a chosen objective—tempo, decisive points, and maneuver along terrain matter here. Lines of effort, on the other hand, align what you do across capabilities—military, political, information, economic, and diplomatic—to press toward the same end, even if your teams aren’t moving to the same location. This synchronization ensures that different actions reinforce each other and collectively shape the outcome.

So the best choice reflects both ideas: connecting actions in time and space toward an objective, and synchronizing across capabilities to achieve strategic ends, often without fixed geographic movement.