ATP-5-0-2-1 Staff Reference Guide Volume 1 Download
Page 91 of 440
Planning 07 December 2020 ATP 5-0.2-1 75 INTELLIGENCE PREPARATION OF THE BATTLEFIELD 2-240. IPB is an iterative process consisting of four steps: (1) define the operational environment, (2) describe environmental effects on operations, (3) evaluate the threat, and (4) determine threat COAs. The intelligence officer leads the staff through the IPB process. 2-241. The outputs, or products, from the IPB process are the intelligence staff's running estimates. These estimates are continuously updated based on changes in the operating environment. The other staff sections assist the intelligence staff in developing the IPB products required for planning. IPB supports the MDMP, targeting, and other warfighting functions. This section is primarily derived from FM 2-0 and ATP 2-01.3 (see table 2-20 on pages 75–76 for an overview of the IPB process). Table 2-20. Intelligence preparation of the battlefield steps ATP 2-01.3 Step 1. Define the operational environment Identify the limits of the commander’s AO: • Generally identified by higher headquarters. • Identified by the operations officer. Identify the limits of the commander’s AOI: • Intelligence officer recommends changes. • Commander approves or disapproves. • Higher headquarters approves or disapproves. Identify significant characteristics within the AO and AOI for further analysis: • Enemy. • Terrain. • Weather. • Civil Considerations. Evaluate current operations and holdings to determine additional information needed to complete IPB: • Staff identifies information gaps. • Staff develops assumptions for information gaps. Initiate process necessary to acquire the information needed to complete IPB: Staff sections submit requests for information and IC. Note. An operational environment encompasses physical areas and factors of the air, land, maritime, space, and cyberspace, and the information environment. IPB applies to the full range of Army operations. Ensure to consider all domains when defining the operational environment. Step 2. Describe environmental effects on operations Describe how the threat can affect friendly operations (IBP products—threat overlay, threat description table): • Regular. • Irregular. • Hybrid. Describe how terrain can affect friendly and threat operations (IPB products—MCOO, terrain effects matrix): • Observation and fields of fire. • Avenues of approach. • Key terrain. • Obstacles. • Cover and concealment.