Intelligence Preparation of the Battlefield - Federation of American ...

What Is It?
FM 34-130
For example, the situation may not require an analysis of all threat forces within the AI.
Perhaps only selected areas within the command’s AO require detailed analysis due to the
assigned mission or other factors of METT-T. Some geographical areas or threat forces
within the AO may require only a summary type evaluation of their effects or capabilities.
Identify the amount of detail required on each area of the battlefield or each threat force to
support planning by consulting with the commander and the remainder of the staff. Prioritize
your efforts to produce the amount of detail required within the available time. Backwards
plan the IPB process and determine how much time you can reasonably devote to each step to
meet the commander’s timelines. See scenario 3 in Chapter 3 for an example.
EVALUATE EXISTING DATA BASES AND IDENTIFY INTELLIGENCE GAPS
Not all the intelligence and information required to evaluate the effects of each characteristic
of the battlefield and each threat force will be in the current data base. Identifying the gaps
early allows you to initiate action to collect the intelligence required to fill them.
Identify and prioritize the gaps in the current holdings, using the commander’s initial
intelligence requirements and intent to set the priorities. You should also identify any gaps
which cannot be filled within the time allowed for IPB. Discuss with the commander and the
remainder of the staff the gaps you do not expect to be filled and formulate reasonable
assumptions to fill them.
COLLECT THE REQUIRED INTELLIGENCE AND MATERIALS
Initiate collection or requests for intelligence to fill intelligence gaps to the level of detail
required to conduct IPB. Include collection against all identified significant characteristics of
the battlefield, not just threat forces, in priority order.
Continuously update the IPB products as you receive additional intelligence. Inform the
commander if you confirm assumptions made during the initial mission analysis and IPB
process. If any assumptions are denied, re-examine the evaluations and decisions on which
they were based.
Ideally, intelligence operations enable you to develop the perception of the battlefield and the
threat to completely match the actual situation on the battlefield. In reality, intelligence will
never eliminate all of the unknown aspects or uncertainties which concern a commander and
his staff. Be prepared to fill gaps with reasonable assumptions.
Describe the Battlefield’s Effects
Definition: The determination of how the battlefield environment affects both threat and friendly
Example:
operations.
“General Eisenhower, after the Pas de Calais area, the best available landing sites are along
the coast of Normandy. Our best chances of a favorable combination of moonlight, tides,
and weather is in late May and early June.”
An S2 tells his commander, “Sir, terrain and weather best accommodate offensive operations
in the western part of the region. The best avenue of approach (AA) is number 3, but AAs 1
and 4 are also good. AA 2 is unsuitable since it requires use of terrain within the neutral
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