What aspect of operations focuses on achieving and maintaining control over operational areas?

The correct answer emphasizes that access is crucial for achieving and maintaining control over operational areas. Control over these areas is essential for effective military operations, as it allows commanders to dictate the terms of engagement and secure key terrain or resources. Gaining access to specific operational zones enables forces to establish a foothold, conduct operations, and influence the situation in their favor.

Through access, units can execute reconnaissance, logistics, and offensive or defensive actions, thereby ensuring that they can maintain the required control to fulfill their mission objectives. By establishing access, forces can also manage the flow of information and resources, further solidifying their operational effectiveness.

The other options relate to important aspects of military operations but do not specifically capture the essence of control in the same way access does. Coordination refers to the interaction between different units or agencies to work towards a common objective. Synchronization is about aligning actions in time and space to produce a coherent operational effect. Integration involves combining various elements and capabilities to operate as a unified force. While all these elements are vital for operational success, they do not focus explicitly on the aspect of achieving control over operational areas as directly as access does.