Which of the following is NOT considered an offensive task?

The task that is not considered an offensive task is indeed defense. In military operations, offensive tasks are designed to seize, retain, and exploit the initiative to defeat the enemy, whereas defensive tasks focus on resisting or repelling enemy attacks, thereby protecting friendly forces and preserving their capabilities.

Offensive tasks include movement to contact, where forces close with the enemy to develop the situation; attack, involving proactive engagements to destroy or neutralize enemy forces; and pursuit, which aims to catch and destroy enemy forces that are in retreat. Each of these tasks is aimed at maintaining offensive momentum and leveraging initiative on the battlefield.

In contrast, defense is inherently a reactive measure, aimed at countering enemy actions rather than initiating engagements. This fundamental difference in purpose and approach to operations clearly categorizes defense as a non-offensive task.