FM-3-81 Maneuver Enhancement Brigade Download
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Maneuver Enhancement Brigade 09 November 2021 FM 3-81 1-13 Economic. The economic variable encompasses individual behaviors and aggregate phenomena related to the production, distribution, and consumption of resources. The support area may include challenges associated with the production or availability of key materials and resources. Social. The social variable describes the cultural, religious, and ethnic makeup within an operational environment and the beliefs, values, customs, and behaviors of society members. Societies are comprised of structured and overlapping groups and institutions, each with relative statuses and roles that support, enable, and provide opportunity to achieve personal or community expectations. Important characteristics of a social system include population demographics, migration trends, and diversity of religious and ethnic groups. Understanding these complex interrelationships in a society is vitally important for successful military missions. Information. The information variable describes the nature, scope, characteristics, and effects of individuals, organizations, and systems that collect, process, disseminate, or act on information. Information involves the access, use, manipulation, distribution, and reliance on information technology systems, both civilian and military, by an entity (state or nonstate). Understanding existing communication infrastructure in an operational environment ultimately controls the flow of information to the population and military and/or paramilitary forces and influences local and international audiences. Communication availability can act as a leveling function with regard to mitigating military technical advantages to a surprising extent. Military units must understand and engage in the information environment to achieve their objectives. Infrastructure. Infrastructure comprises the basic facilities, services, and installations needed for the functioning of a community or society. The support area may have challenges associated with specific deficiencies in the basic infrastructure. Opportunities in the form of improvements to existing infrastructure and specific new projects might be added. Units in the support area provide a detailed understanding of infrastructure by subcategories in the context of combat operations and stability. The degradation or destruction of infrastructure impacts the entire operational environment. This variable also reflects the infrastructure sophistication of an operational environment. Physical environment. The defining factors are complex terrain and urban settings (super- surface, surface, and subsurface features), weather, topography, hydrology, and environmental conditions. Operations in the support area may have challenges due to natural and man-made obstacles. Insights into environmental considerations are also a concern (see ATP 3-34.5). Opportunities in the form of existing routes, installations, and resources might be added. A broad understanding of the physical environment can be accomplished through geospatial engineering, which is discussed in detail in ATP 3-34.80 and JP 2-03. Time. The variable of time influences military operations within an operational environment in terms of the decision—cycles, operating tempo, and planning horizons. Support area operations might have challenges associated with completing required CA-related plan missions in the time allotted because of the impact on perceptions of civilians during stability tasks. Opportunities in the form of potential to accelerate priority projects might be added for the positive effect it would have on civil considerations and the perception of mission success. MISSION VARIABLES 1-59. Analysis of the operational environment in terms of the operational variables provides the relevant information that commanders can use to frame operational problems. While such analysis improves situational understanding at all levels, land operations require more specific information. When commanders receive a mission, they require a more detailed mission analysis focused on their specific situation.