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The Understand to Prevent (U2P) process arises from the changing nature of armed conflict, which is prompting NATO forces to adapt to new challenges. U2P argues that military effort must shift away from crisis response and towards persistent, modulated engagement that seeks to manage conflict, prevent violence and build peace. The new challenges presented by contemporary hybrid conflicts require smart responses by NATO's military operators and planners to be able to act in the gray zone between war and peace. Key is the need for military actors to develop a common understanding with others working towards the same ends and, where possible, to design with them complementary preventive actions and structures. To apply this new approach, military actors must extend their competences to become capable in the non-violent management of conflict as well as war-fighting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]