How is deception used in ABCT defense (feints, misdirection)?

• A. Feints and decoys mislead the enemy about the main defensive effort, preserving strength for the real defense.
• B. Deception is never used in defense.
• C. Deception is used to reveal the main defensive posture to allied forces.
• D. Deception is used only to test enemy reactions but has no strategic value.

Answer: (B)

Deception in defense is about shaping the enemy’s decisions by presenting a false picture of where the strongest defense will be. Feints and decoys pull the attacker toward a noncritical axis or tempo, drawing resources and attention away from the real defensive effort. While the true defense is held back as a ready, concealed reserve, it can strike or counterattack at the decisive point when the enemy committing to the feint has moved their forces into a vulnerable position. In ABCT operations, this blends with reconnaissance, fires, and mobility—using fake positions, staged movements, and other tells to create uncertainty about the actual defensive posture. The goal is to preserve the main defensive strength for the moment that matters while the enemy is misled about where the primary fight will occur. Deception has clear strategic value, and it’s about concealment and influence, not revealing positions to allies or merely testing reactions.