Bypass criteria are

• A. Measures established by higher echelon headquarters that specify the conditions and size under which enemy units and contact may be avoided.
• B. The conditions under which friendly forces must break contact
• C. The focus and tempo of reconnaissance
• D. The reconnaissance objective

Answer: (A)

Bypass criteria are guidelines issued by higher headquarters that tell you when you may avoid enemy contact by bypassing or maneuvering around a threat. They specify the conditions and the size of enemy forces under which avoidance is acceptable, helping to preserve forces, maintain tempo, and prioritize efforts on more important tasks. In practice, if enemy strength is low, he is not blocking a critical objective, and routes or terrain allow safe passage, a unit can bypass rather than fight. This concept is distinct from breaking contact after contact, the focus and tempo of reconnaissance, or the reconnaissance objective, which are different aspects of operations.