Operational Environment

Question 1

Identify the operational variables that make up PMESII-PT

Answer 1

Political, Military, Economic, Social, Information, Infrastructure, Physical Environment, Time

Question 2

What is the Political OE variable

Answer 2

Institutions of governance, the ability to enforce the rule of law & those structures or elements which provide public services.

Question 3

What is the Military OE variable

Answer 3

Equipment, manpower, military doctrine, training levels, resource constraints, & leadership issues. Military leadership is especially important.

Question 4

What is the Economic OE variable

Answer 4

Individual behaviors related to the production, distribution, & consumption of material goods & services, through both formal & informal economies.

Question 5

What is the Social OE variable

Answer 5

Traditional, religious, & ethnic composition within an OE. A social system consists of the people, groups, & institutions that exhibit shared identity, behaviors, values, & beliefs. Important characteristics of a social system include population demographics, migration trends, urbanization, standards of living.

Question 6

What is the Information OE variable

Answer 6

Nature, scope, characteristics, & effects of individuals, organizations, & systems that collect, process, disseminate, or act on information. Information involves the access, use, manipulation, distribution, & reliance on data, media, & knowledge systems

Question 7

What is the Infrastructure OE variable

Answer 7

Basic facilities, services, & installations needed for the functioning of a community or society

Question 8

What is the Physical Environment OE variable

Answer 8

Physical circumstances & conditions that influence the execution of operations throughout the domains of air, land, sea, & space. The defining factors are complex terrain & urban settings (subsurface, surface, & super-surface features), weather, topography, hydrology, & environmental conditions.

Question 9

What is the Time OE variable

Answer 9

Influences military operations in terms of the decision-cycles, operational tempo, & planning horizons. It may also influence endurance or protraction of operations since popular support for extended operations may diminish over time.

Question 10

What is the Culture OE variable

Answer 10

Does not neatly fit within any of the PMESII-PT variables, but is just as important as all the other variables. The shared values, beliefs, behaviors, norms, &
material artifacts members of a society use to cope with their
physical & social environments.

Question 11

Identify the cultural impacts of the OE

Answer 11

Influences how people make judgments about what is right & wrong, assess what is important & unimportant, categorize things, & deal with things that do not fit into existing categories. Provides framework for rational thought & decisions. May make mistakes that unintentionally offend the local
populace. The enemy will attempt to publicize these
unintentional offensive actions in order to solidify its own
people’s mistrust

Question 12

Identify cultural norms that can be force multipliers

Answer 12

Local gestures, proper greetings, what is considered respectful/disrespectful, role of women, what is sacred, how to ask for things, personal space/eye contact.

Question 13

Identify the combatant actors

Answer 13

An individual engaged in fighting during a war or military conflict.

Question 14

What can combatants be subdivided into

Answer 14

Lawful & Unlawful

Question 15

Lawful Combatants

Answer 15

individuals authorized by a government authority to engage in hostilities, & may be a member of a regular armed force or an irregular force. They must be commanded by a person responsible for subordinates, & must have fixed distinctive emblems recognizable at a distance, such as uniforms. Finally, they must carry arms openly, & conduct combat operations according to the Law of War (LOW). If captured, lawful combatants are entitled to Prisoner of War (POW) status & humane treatment in accordance with the articles of the Third Geneva Convention.

Question 16

Unlawful Combatants

Answer 16

individuals who participate in hostilities without governmental authorization to do so. For example, civilians who attack a downed airman are unlawful combatants, just as are insurgents, terrorists, & criminals. Unlawful combatants who engage in hostilities violate the LOW & become lawful targets for engagement by U.S. forces in accordance with their rules-of-engagement (ROE). In addition to being wounded or killed, when captured, unlawful combatants may be tried as war criminals for their LOW violations.

Question 17

Identify the non combatant actors

Answer 17

An individual in an area of combat operations, who is not armed & is not participating in any activity in support of any forces or factions involved in combat.

Question 18

Identify the hybrid threats within OE

Answer 18

The
diverse & dynamic combination of regular & irregular
military forces along with terrorist, criminal, & cyber
elements all unified to achieve mutually benefiting effects.

Question 19

Who do hybrid threats attack

Answer 19

May not only attack traditional military targets, but may also simultaneously attack social, economic, information, and infrastructure targets as well, using all available means at their disposal.

Question 20

What weapons are included in future threat capabilities

Answer 20

Military grade and COTS: small arms, indirect fire, MANPODS, airborne weapon platforms. ISR, IED, EFP, CBRNE, EW, Cyber, etc.

Question 21

DIME

Answer 21

Diplomatic, Informational, Military, Economic

Question 22

What is Strategic Environment

Answer 22

The set of global conditions, circumstances, & influences that affect the employment of all elements of US national power. The SE contains multiple potential Oes.

Question 23

What is Operational Environment

Answer 23

A composite of the conditions, circumstances, & influences that affect the employment of military forces & bear on the decisions of the unit commander. In short, the operational environment consists of all the conditions, circumstances, & influences that affect military operations.

Question 24

5 Characteristics of future OE

Answer 24

1. Increased velocity & momentum of human interaction & Events. 2. Potential for overmatch. 3. Proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. 4. Spread of advanced cyberspace & counter-space capabilities. 5. Demographics & operations among populations, in cities, & in complex terrain.