ATP-3-09-24 The Field Artillery Brigade Download
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30 March 2022 ATP 3-09.24 4-1 Chapter 4 Employment: How the Field Artillery Brigade Fights This chapter describes FAB employment. The chapter begins by describing how the FAB defines its operational environment. Then describes the operational framework for the FAB by describing how the FAB executes strike and counterfire operations. It describes how the FAB provides support to the corps in defensive operations, offensive operations, and consolidation of gains. The chapter concludes with a brief description on consolidation of gains. DEFINING THE OPERATIONAL ENVIRONMENT 4-1. The operational environment is a composite of the conditions, circumstances, and influences that affect the employment of capabilities and bear on the decisions of the commander (JP 3-0). The FAB commander considers more than the enemy's military forces and other combat capabilities; the FAB commander uses experience, professional knowledge, and understanding of the situation to visualize and change the operational environment as current operations transition to future operations. OPERATIONAL VARIABLES 4-2. Operational variables are those aspects of an operational environment, both military and nonmilitary, that may differ from one operational area to another and affect operations. Operational variables describe not only the military aspects of an operational environment, but also the population's influence on it. 4-3. Using Army design methodology, planners analyze an operational environment in terms of eight interrelated operational variables: political, military, economic, social, information, infrastructure, physical environment, and time. These operational variables are referred to as, PMESII-PT. MISSION VARIABLES 4-4. Upon receipt of an order, Army leaders filter information from operational variables into mission variables during mission analysis. They use the mission variables to refine their understanding of the situation. 4-5. The mission variables consist of METT-TC. Incorporating the analysis of the operational variables with METT-TC ensures that Army leaders consider the best available information about the mission. THREATS AND HAZARDS 4-6. For every operation, threats are a fundamental part of the operational environment. A threat is any combination of actors, entities, or forces that have the capability and intent to harm United States forces, national interests, or the homeland. Threats may include individuals, groups of individuals (organized or not organized), paramilitary or military forces, nation-states, or national alliances. Commanders and staffs must understand how current and potential threats organize, equip, train, employ, and control their forces. They must identify, monitor, and assess threats as they adapt and change over time. 4-7. Hazards also exist as a condition of the operational environment with the potential to cause injury, illness, death, damage to or loss of equipment or property; or mission degradation. The FAB commander and the staff must understand how CBRN hazards could create adverse impacts on operations due to accidental or deliberate release.