Wrap Up: Operational & Mission Variables

The Mission Variables we all learn in basic training: METT-TC

Mission

Enemy

Troops

Terrain & Weather

Time Available

Civilian Considerations

The Operational Variables are used in IPB (intelligence preparation of the battlefield). They are known by the acronym PMESII-PT:

Political

Military

Economic

Social

Information

Infrastructure

Physical Terrain

Time

PMESII-PT (The Operational Variables) are evaluated in a framework of the Civil Considerations, called ASCOPE:

Area

Structure

Capabilities

Organizations

People

Events

Note that ASCOPE (which is used to evaluate the Operational Variables) is a framework of “Civil Considerations” (the “C” in METT-TC (Mission Variables)). And Both METT-TC and PMESII-PT have aspects of terrain (“Physical Terrain” or “Terrain and Weather”).

Thus, both sets of variables are closely related when analyzing an area.

And now it’s time for your Weekly Dose Of Doctrine Quiz: https://forms.gle/6btxiTSesweCq6eA6

Sources for this week: ADP 1-01 (Army Doctrine Primer), FM 6-0 and ATP 2-01.3 (IPB)