IPB

Question 1

What are the steps of IPB?

Answer 1

Step 1: Define the operational environment
Step 2: Describe environmental effects on operations
Step 3: Evaluate the Threat
Step 4: Determine threat COA

Question 2

Why is IPB important?

Answer 2

IPB is essential in helping the commander understand, visualize, and describe the OE, make and articulate decisions, and assess military operations.

Question 3

UVD in IPB

Answer 3

Understand:
Involves analyzing the mission variables in a given operational environment

Visualize Operations:
Involves developing situational understanding, determining end state, envisioning the sequence of events the force must ensure to achieve the end state

Describe Operations:
After commanders visualize an operation, they communicate their vision to the staff and subordinate commands using the staff products developed during IPB

Question 4

What is IPB?

Answer 4

The systematic process of analyzing the mission variable of enemy, terrain, weather, and civil considerations in an area of interest to determine their effect on operations.

Question 5

Where does IPB start?

Answer 5

Starts with S2 preparing for IPB during the generate intelligence task and framing the problem task of ADM

Question 6

What does IPB result in?

Answer 6

Results in the production of intelligence products that are used during MDMP to help develop friendly COAs and decision points.

Conclusions and Products are critical to planning information collection and targeting operations.

Question 7

What does IPB do?

Answer 7

Gaps Identifies critical gaps in the commander’s knowledge about the OE

Initial Intel Requirements Gaps guide the initial intelligence requirements

Assumptions IPB Products enable the commander to assess facts about the OE and make assumptions (Running Estimates)

Constraints The description of the OE helps identify constraints on friendly COAs

Terrain & aspects Identifies key aspects of the OE like AoA, EA, LZs, that the staff can integrate into friendly COAs and running estimates

Threat COA -> Friendly COA IPB develops threat COA models which are the basis for friendly COAs

Question 8

What are the IPB products?

Answer 8

Initial PIR
MCOO
HVT List
Unrefined Event Temp and Matrices
Understanding of threat COG

Question 9

Step 1 of IPB: Define the OE

Answer 9

Determine the AO and AI (interest)
Determine the area of intelligence responsibility
ID general characteristics of the AO that can influence the mission
ID Gaps in current intelligence holdings, translate them into requirements

Question 10

Step 1 outputs:

Answer 10

AO
AI
AOI

Question 11

Area of Operation (AO)

Answer 11

An operational area defined by a commander for land and maritime forces that should be large enough to accomplish their mission and protect their forces.
o Should be large enough to accomplish missions and protect forces
o Has a contiguous or noncontiguous boundary
o Unassigned AO areas are called “deep areas”

Question 12

Area of Influence (AI)

Answer 12

A geographical area wherein a commander is directly capable of influencing operations by maneuver or fire support systems normally under the commander’s command or control.
o Includes area inside and outside the AO.

Question 13

Area of Interest (AOI)

Answer 13

The area of concern to the commander, including the Area of influence, areas adjacent thereto, and extending into enemy territory.
o AOI also includes areas occupied by threat forces who could jeopardize mission accomplishment.
o Usually larger than the Area of Interest that directly impacts the AO, so it must be monitored
o Established by CDR with input from S2 and S3 (using analysis of METT-TC)
o May include staging areas (ENY CCA, Artillery, Reinforcements, Reserves)

Question 14

IPB step 1 enemy

Answer 14

Definition: Hostile party against which the use of force is authorized.

Analysis includes the known enemy and other threats to mission success (political, religious, economic, personal motivations)

Question 15

IPB terrain analysis

Answer 15

OAKOC
Natural and manmade
Hydrology, vegetation, climate

Question 16

IPB weather

Answer 16

WVTCPH

Wind (limits effectiveness / aviation, equipment)
Visibility (BMNT, Sunrise/sunset, EENT, Moonrise, moonset.
Temperature (high low), affects IR – thermal inversion
Cloud Cover (Limits illumination, affects ISR, thermal, aviation)
Precipitation (Affects movement, visibility, equipment, ops, civilian activities)
Humidity (Affects sensors, personnel movement)

Question 17

IPB Civil Considerations

Answer 17

ASCOPE – PMESII-PT Crosswalk

Question 18

The “so what” of IPB Step 2: Describe environmental effects on operations

Answer 18

ID’ing characteristics in the AoI that affect friendly and threat operations

Good descriptions of the environmental effects allow the commander to quickly choose and exploit terrain, wx, and civil considerations

Question 19

How can the threat impact friendly operations?

Answer 19

Helps determine how the terrain, wx, civil affects enemy

Question 20

What is terrain analysis?

Answer 20

The evaluation of geographic information on natural and manmade features of the terrain

OAKOC

Question 21

Define obstacles

Answer 21

Natural or manmade, designed or employed to disrupt, fix, turn, or block movement

Question 22

Avenues of Approach

Answer 22

Air or ground routes used by an attacking force leading to its objective
Offensive: available for counterattack, withdrawal, or movement of reinforcements
Defensive: support enemy offensive capabilities and avenues that support the movement and commitment of friendly reserves

Question 23

Mobility Corridor

Answer 23

Based on terrain constrictions
Where forces are canalized because of terrain restrictions
Best corridors are unrestricted terrain that allow a unit to move in its preferred formation
Irregular forces are less impacted by obstacles and terrain

Question 24

Key Terrain

Answer 24

Any area where the seizure or retention affords a marked advantage
High ground often key terrain because of OBS FF
Draws or wadis can be key terrain in wide open areas
Urban environments = bridges, chokepoints, intersections
Seize, retain, or deny (to the enemy) can help accomplish the mission
Decisive terrain – seizure / retention is mandatory for the mission

Question 25

Modified Combined Obstacle Overlay (MCOO)

Answer 25

A graphic product that portrays the effects of natural and urban terrain on military operations Shows AoAs, mobility corridors, obstacles, mobility classifications, and key terrain

Question 26

Mobility classifications

Answer 26

Severely restricted, restricted, unrestricted

Question 27

ASCOPE

Answer 27

Describes how civil considerations in an AO influence military operations

Question 28

What does IPB Step 3: Evaluate the threat, accomplish?

Answer 28

Determines Threat force capabilities Their doctrinal principles Preferred threat TTPs

Question 29

What is the end state of IPB step 3

Answer 29

``` Threat model that accurately portrays how threat forces normally execute operations and how they reacted to similar situations in the past. Order of battle DOCTEMP Capability Statement HVTL ```

Question 30

The "so what" of Step 3 of IPB

Answer 30

Enhances Commander’s understanding of threat Assists in development of threat COAs in next step Failure = o Lack of intel needed for planning o Threat will surprise the friendly force with unaccounted for capabilities o Staff wastes time and effort planning against false threat capabilities

Question 31

Examples of Capability Statements

Answer 31

“The threat has ADA capabilities to counter RW support during infiltration operations" “The terrorists have the ability to conduct multiple car bombings simultaneously”

Question 32

Goals vs Objectives (Enemy)

Answer 32

Goal: Influence population to protest against government o Focused on desired end state Objective: Deny FOM along all MSRs to U.S. and HN security forces o Focused on the tasks you need to accomplish

Question 33

What does a DOCTEMP/Threat TEMP show?

Answer 33

Depicts how the enemy will fight without regard to terrain or weather effects

Question 34

Define High Value Target (HVT)

Answer 34

An asset that the ENEMY commander requires for the successful completion of a mission

Question 35

Define High Pay of Target (HPT)

Answer 35

A target whose loss to the enemy will significantly contribute to the success of the friendly COA

Question 36

The "so what" of step 4 of IPB: Determine the threat COA

Answer 36

Determining ECOAs is necessary to the development of friendly COAs Success allows Friendly CDR to avoid being surprised with unanticipated enemy actions Failure results o In surprise on friendly forces o ENY may exploit opportunities that friendly forces do not anticipate.

Question 37

What are the two step of Step 4: Determine the threat COA

Answer 37

Develop Threat COAs | Develop EVENT TEMP and Matrix

Question 38

What are the steps for Threat COA Dev?

Answer 38

1) ID likely objectives and endstate 2) ID Full set of COAs available to the threat 3) Evaluate and prioritize each threat COA 4) Develop each COA in the amount of detail time allows 5) ID HVTs for each COA 6) ID initial collection requirements for each COA COAs are suitable, feasible, acceptable, unique, and consistent with threat doctrine

Question 39

Define objective

Answer 39

A Clearly defined decisive, and attainable goal toward which every operation is directed

Question 40

Define end state

Answer 40

A set of required conditions that define achievement of the commander’s objectives

Question 41

Parts of the enemy SITEMP?

Answer 41

THREAT TEMPLATE + ENVIRONMENT = ECOA (SITEMP)

Question 42

What are the primary types of situation overlays?

Answer 42

ENY In Offense ENY in Defense Irregular forces conducting guerrilla or terror ops

Question 43

Parts of a a threat ENE COA

Answer 43

ENY Situation, mission, objectives, end state, task org, capabilities, vulnerability, Decision Points, Decisive Point / COG, CDR’s intent for WFF

Question 44

What is an event template

Answer 44

A graphic overlay used to confirm or deny ECOAs.

Question 45

what does an event template provide?

Answer 45

A guide used during COA analysis to describe ENY actions Helps develop the information collection overlay Helps Friendly ID which COA the ENY adopts Always accompanied by an EVENT MATRIX

Question 46

An event template always includes?

Answer 46

o Time-Phase Lines o NAIs o ENY Decision Points

Question 47

What is an event matrix?

Answer 47

A Table that associates the NAI and ENY decision points with indicators to help determine which COA will be adopted

Question 48

Output of IPB step 1: Define the OE

Answer 48

AO/AI/AOI | Define Threat

Question 49

Output of IPB Step 2: Describe Environmental Effects on Operations

Answer 49

Identify how the operational environment influences friendly and threat COAs. MCOO Wx Impact Chart ASCOPE/PMESII-PT

Question 50

Output of IPB Step 3: Evaluate the Threat

Answer 50

ORBAT DOCTEMP/Threat Template Capability Statement HVTL

Question 51

Output of IPB Step 4: Determine Threat COA:

Answer 51

HVTL SITEMP MLCOA MDCOA