FM 100-5 Operations - Survival Ebooks Military Manuals Survival ...

WWW.SURVIVALEBOOKS.COMFM 100-5in their leaders and fellow soldiers. Trust is the basicbond of leadership. Good leaders occupy a positionof special trust and confidence in the eyes of their soldiers.A motivated soldier in the hands of a competentleader, loyal to and supported by his fellow soldiers,can accomplish the most difficult of missions.Wars are fought and won by soldiers, not machines.The human dimension of war will be decisive in thecampaigns and battles of the future, just as in the past.Soldiers are the heart and soul of the Army. Leadersmold them, discipline their efforts, supply them resources,and give them direction. But, in the end, it issoldiers who do the job. Ultimately, soldiers makethe difference.THE PHYSICAL DIMENSIONThe four major physical elements of the environmentof operations are geography, terrain, weather,and infrastructure. These greatly affect Army operationswithin the physical dimension. They form animportant component of the planning tool—METT-T.The combinations of effects of the physical elementsare infinite. Good commanders have an eye for ground,understand the effects of weather, and can turn a toughenvironment to advantage. They use the IPB processto help them understand the environmental conditionsof the physical dimensions on military operations.Factors of the physical dimension normally affectthe time required to accomplish a mission. For example,the time necessary to move a large, armoredforce over dry, open terrain may increase dramaticallyafter a day of heavy rain. Factors such as drainage,soil composition, and vehicle characteristics affectmovement. Infrastructure availability may increaseor decrease time required for operations. A well-establishedroad net may greatly aid movement towardor away from the enemy but limit lateral movement ifthe roads are built on berms. The physical environmentmay include operations in an NBC environment,as well as night and limited visibility conditions. Thesedimensions must be considered in operations planning.The net effect may be a decrease in the commander’sability to maneuver against the enemy.GEOGRAPHYCommanders may operate over many different terraintypes within a single geographic area. The Army mustbe able to operate in any geographic area. Each areapresents a unique set of physical characteristics andrequires a unique set of operational and tactical guidelines.A human factor is also associated with geography.Populations in an area of conflict may directlyaffect the commander’s operations. The will of thepeople, their urbanization and industrial efforts, theiragricultural underpinnings, their social and culturalpredilections, their political leanings, and, from a tacticalperspective, their physical movement during conflict,may all impact.Mountain OperationsLight forces and aviation units can operate moreeffectively than heavy forces in mountainous regionsbecause their movement is less limited by the terrain.Effective communications and air operations are importantfactors in obtaining the advantage in mountainousregions. FM 90-6 discusses mountain combat.Jungle OperationsThe features of jungles and swamps combine torestrict movement, observation, fields of fire, signalsystems, battlefield surveillance, and target acquisition.The use of advanced technology navigation deviceshelps overcome these challenges. Air operationsare very important in the jungle environment. Theyfacilitate troop movement and provide a degree of firepowernot otherwise available due to the shortenedfields of fire and thick vegetation. FM 90-5 discussesjungle warfare.Desert OperationsAll types of forces can operate in desert environments.Armored, mechanized, and aviation forces areespecially suitable. The lack of prominent terrain featurescomplicates land navigation and requires the useof dead reckoning and advanced technology navigationdevices. This environment has a debilitating effecton soldiers who are not properly trained and acclimated.It induces mental fatigue, impaired perception,and possible depression that can overwhelm unpreparedsoldiers. The impact on machines can beeven more severe unless commanders establish appropriatemaintenance programs. FM 90-3 discusses combatin desert areas.Cold Weather OperationsThe weather conditions in extremely cold areasmake operations for friendly and enemy forces difficult.Special training is required to acclimate soldiers.Leaders must ensure that troops and their equipmentare protected from the physical effects of extremely14-3