ATP-5-0-2-1 Staff Reference Guide Volume 1 Download
Page 95 of 440
Planning 07 December 2020 ATP 5-0.2-1 79 to identify the effect these variables may have on operations can hinder decision making and result in an ineffective IC strategy and targeting effort. 2-245. In addition to understanding friendly and enemy forces, defining significant characteristics of an operational environment is essential to completing IPB. Factors such as culture, languages, social (tribal) affiliations, and operational and mission variables can be equally important. Once approved by the commander, this information becomes the command's initial intelligence requirements and focuses the command's initial IC efforts and the remaining steps of the IPB process (see figure 2-16 for a depiction of Step 1 of the IPB process and how it sets the basis for continuing to Step 2 of the IPB process). Figure 2-16. Step 1 of the IPB process 2-246. An area of operations is an operational area defined by a commander for land and maritime forces that should be large enough to accomplish their missions and protect their forces. Also called AO (JP 3-0). The AO comprises an external boundary that delineates the AO from adjacent units and includes subordinate unit AOs. A subordinate unit AO may be contiguous or noncontiguous. Figure 2-17 on page 80 depicts an AO. To describe the physical arrangement of forces in time, space, and purpose, commanders can designate the following: The deep area is where the commander sets conditions for future success in close combat (ADP 3-0). The close area is the portion of the commander's area of operations where the majority of subordinate maneuver forces conduct close combat (ADP 3-0). The consolidation area is the portion of the land commander's area of operations that may be designated to facilitate freedom of action, consolidate gains through decisive action, and set conditions to transition the area of operations to follow on forces or other legitimate authorities (ADP 3-0).