JP 1-02, Department of Defense Dictionary for Military and Associated Terms, defines Unified Action (UA) as the synchronization, coordination, and/or integration of the activities of governmental and nongovernmental entities with military operations to achieve unity of effort. To this end United States Joint Forces Command (USJFCOM) embarked on a multi-year project to carry forward the principles of UA through concept development and experimentation. The project, called Unified Action, intersected with and supported the development of this overview pamphlet and a series of five other handbooks (listed on page iv). This was completed through the concept development and experimentation capabilities residing within USJFCOM as a part of a command initiative, directed from the Office of the Secretary of Defense, to build partnership capacity and assist with the implementation of National Security Presidential Directive 44 (NSPD-44). The UA project focused on two lines of operations (LOO) to achieve its objectives. The first line included limited objective experiments contributing to the implementation of the DOD work plan to support NSPD-44. Products of this included the military component to revisions of the United States Government (USG) Draft Planning Framework, the Implementation Planning Annex, and the Interagency Management System (IMS) Operations Guide. The second line of operation included spiral events to produce the series of handbooks and overview. The products of both LOO were developed and validated through a rigorous process of experimentation that was conducted with military and civilian partners across the USG. The authors of the IMS Handbook as well as of the functional handbooks developed them in close coordination with, and significant input from both civilian and military experts in the respective fields that the handbooks cover. The authors also regularly vetted the content with these experts to assure currency and accuracy of both theory and practice. As a result, both the IMS Handbooks as well as the functional handbooks represent the current state of best practices in the both functional areas for reconstruction and stabilization operations, and the conduct of the IMS. In conventional warfare one objective is to destroy the infrastructure that the adversary uses to support its combat effort. In today's conflict a principal objective is to win the confidence of the population and convert the adversary to become a partner to contribute to stability. The preservation and development of the critical infrastructure to function effectively to serve the needs of its population is an important component in winning the confidence and support of the population. Thus the judgment on how to limit the destruction of infrastructure is important to support rapid post-conflict recovery. Once the combat mission is achieved, recent experience (Operation ENDURING FREEDOM (OEF)/Operation IRAQI FREEDOM (OIF)) has demonstrated that the same military units conducting the combat will likely remain to initiate the post-conflict reconstruction program. It is this initial post-conflict period with less than permissive security conditions for civilians that the military may bear significant responsibility for reconstruction efforts. The purpose of these handbooks is to provide guidance for military planners during the reconstruction period. The military will also continue to contribute to reconstruction of critical infrastructure and support the provision of essential services to the population throughout the stability operations period.