During a stability operation, your unit encounters a civilian in distress. What should be the next steps using the ABCD Model?

Using the ABCD Model—Assess, Balance, Communicate, and Decide—the correct approach in this situation is to first assess the situation before taking action.

Assessing allows you to gather important information about the civilian's condition and the surrounding environment. This includes determining the nature of the distress, potential threats to safety, and the resources available to provide assistance. Jumping straight to providing medical assistance or reporting the incident without a thorough assessment could lead to misjudgments about the best course of action, potentially putting both the civilian and your unit at risk.

By following the assessment step, you ensure a more informed and effective response, which is crucial during stability operations where the complexity of the situation requires careful consideration before acting. After assessing, you can balance the needs of the civilian with the operational priorities of your unit, communicate effectively with team members, and then decide on the best course of action to take.