Which of the following is NOT one of the four types of offensive operations?

The correct answer, indicating which option is not one of the four types of offensive operations, is defense. In military doctrine, offensive operations are aimed at defeating and destroying enemy forces, securing terrain, and achieving specific objectives, whereas defensive operations are designed primarily to protect friendly forces and sustain their positions against enemy attacks.

The four types of offensive operations typically recognized are movement to contact, attack, exploitation, and pursuit. Each of these types is focused on taking the initiative against the enemy and is geared towards seizing the advantage in a combat situation. For example, movement to contact is a method used to find and close with the enemy, attack focuses on engaging the enemy forces directly, exploitation aims to take advantage of a breakthrough, and pursuit seeks to capture or destroy an enemy force in retreat.

In contrast, defense is a critical operation in military tactics, but it is designed to protect rather than to aggress, making it distinct from the offensive operations listed. Therefore, identifying defense as not being one of the four types of offensive operations is accurate and demonstrates an understanding of the distinctions between offensive and defensive military strategies.