IPB

Question 1

Area of Interest

Answer 1

Geographical area from which information and intel are required to execute successful tactical operations

Question 2

Area of Influence

Answer 2

Geographical area where a CDR is directly capable of influencing operations by maneuver or fire support systems

Question 3

Step 1: Define the OE (OUTPUTS)

Answer 3

Area of Operations (AO)
Area of Interest (AI)
Area of Influence (AoI)
Define Threats

Question 4

Step 1: Define the OE

Answer 4

Identifies for further analysis of significant characteristics of the OE that may influence friendly COAs and CMD decisions

Question 5

Intelligence Preparation of the Battlefield

Answer 5

Identify gaps
establish initial intel requirements
constraints on potential friendly COAs
Id key aspect of OE
running estimates
Develop enemy COAs (MDCOA & MLCOA)

Question 6

IPB Definition

Answer 6

systematic process of analyzing the mission variables of enemy, terrain, weather, and civil considerations in an area of interest to determine their effects on operations

Frame the problem

Question 7

importance of IPB

Answer 7

Understand the OE

Visualize the end state and potential solutions to solve problems

Describe it to their staffs

Question 8

Four Steps of IPB

Answer 8

Step 1: Define the OE

Step 2: Describe environmental effects on operations

Step 3: Evaluate threats

Step 4: Determine Threat COAs

Question 9

SO What of Step 1

Answer 9

clearly defining for the commanders what the relevant characteristics of the areas of interest are

Success: results in saving time and effort by focusing only on those characteristics that will influence friendly COAs and CMD decisions

Question 10

Area of Operations (AO)

Answer 10

defined by the joint force commander

Should be large enough to accomplish missions and protect forces

Comprised of an external boundary

Question 11

ASCOPE

Answer 11

Area

Structures

Capabilities

Organizations

People

Events

Question 12

PMESII

Answer 12

Political

Military

Economic

Social

Information

Infrastructure

Question 13

STEP 2: Describe Environmental Effects of Operations

Answer 13

Determines how the characteristics affect friendly/enemy operations

Focus on capabilities of each force

Staff determines the impact and effects on friendly and enemy force actions on the population

Question 14

Desired End State of Step 2

Describe the Operational Environment

Answer 14

Identify how the OE influences friendly and enemy COAs.

Question 15

STEP 2: Describe the OE Outputs

Answer 15

Terrain analysis (MCOO)

Weather and illumination data

ASCOPE or PMESSII Matrix

Question 16

Obstacles

Answer 16

Natural or Man-made obstruction designed to disrupt, fix, turn, or block the movement of an opposing force

Question 17

Avenues of Approach

Answer 17

Air or ground routes used by an attacking force leading to its objective

Offensive tasks

Defensive operations

Question 18

Key Terrain

Answer 18

Any locality or area the seizure or retention of which affords a marked advantage

Evaluated by assessing the impact of its control by either force

Question 19

Decisive Terrain

Answer 19

Key terrain whose seizure and retention is mandatory for successful mission accomplishment and has an extraordinary impact of the mission

Question 20

Modified Combined Obstacle Overlay (MCOO)

Answer 20

Is a graphic product that portrays the effects of natural and urban terrain on military operations

Normally depicts military significant aspects of the terrain and other aspects of the terrain that can affect mobility

Severely restricted, restricted, and unrestricted terrain

Question 21

OAKOC

Answer 21

Obstacles

Avenues of Approach

Key Terrain

Observation and fields of fire

Cover and concealment

Question 22

Step 3: Evaluate the Threat

Answer 22

Determines threat force capabilities and the doctrinal principles and TTP threat forces prefer to employ

Question 23

STEP 3: Evaluate the threat OUTPUT

Answer 23

Threat Template

Capability Statement

High Value Target List (HVTL)

Question 24

So What of STEP 3: Evaluating the Threat

Answer 24

is enhancing the commander’s understanding of regular, irregular, catastrophic, or disruptive threat force with the AI

Success results in threat COAs developed in the next step of IPB to reflect what the threat is capable of and trained to do in similar situations

Question 25

Steps in STEP 3: Evaluate the Threat

Answer 25

1. Identify threat capabilities
2. Update or create threat models

Question 26

STEP 4: Determine Threat Course of Action (COA)

Answer 26

Identifies and describes threat COAs that can influence friendly operations

Question 27

STEP 4: Determine the Threat COA Outputs

Answer 27

Update HVTL

SITEMP

Narrative
MLCOA
MDCOA

Question 28

Desired End State of STEP 4: Determine the Threat COA

Answer 28

Development of graphic overlays and narratives for each possible enemy COA that has been identified.

Question 29

So What of Step 4: Determine the Threat COA

Answer 29

Determining the enemy COAs necessary to aid the development of friendly COAs

Success results in the friendly commander avoiding being surprised with an unanticipated enemy actions

Question 30

Six step process for Threat COA Development

Answer 30

Identify likely objectives and end state

Identify the full set of COAs available to the threat

Evaluate and prioritize each threat COA

Develop each COA in the amount of detail time allows

Identify HVTs for each COA

Identify initial collection requirements for each COA

Question 31

COAs are

Answer 31

Suitable
Feasible
Acceptable
Distinguishable
Consistent with threat doctrine

Question 32

Define COA

Answer 32

Is a broad potential solution to an identified problem

A good COA

• Should defeat all feasible Enemy COAs
• Provide flexibility to meet unforeseen events
• Position force for sequels/ follow on missions