The Operational Environment
IV-13
3. Capabilities. Capabilities are key functions and services within
societies. Relevant capabilities may include, but are not limited to, administration, safety,
emergency services, food distribution, agricultural systems, public works and utilities,
health, public transportation, electricity, economics, and commerce. Sewage, water,
electrical, academic, trash, medical, and security infrastructure are some of the essential
services that may be relevant. Capabilities often impact the security and quality of life of
relevant aspects of the population and can sometimes impact decisions among the populace
about whether to behave in a manner that assists a government or insurgency. It is
important to realize the interdependence each of these capabilities have upon one another,
as well as upon other factors within the ASCOPE evaluation. Electricity affects the ability
to bring in information and fresh water; water affects the ability to maintain sewage,
prevent disease, and maintain quality of life for the population. These factors are all
interdependent upon one another, and any action taken against one capability must be
measured by the JFC for the impact this action will have on other capabilities or factors.
4. Organizations. Organizations can be religious, fraternal, criminal,
media, patriotic or service, and community watch groups. They include media,
international organizations, NGOs, merchants, squatters, and other groups. Insurgents,
counterinsurgents, and the population are not the only relevant actors within the OE, and
the JFC works to understand the impact on the OE of those organizations that are important.
5. People. Analysts consider historical, cultural, ethnic, political,
economic, and humanitarian factors when examining the people within the OE.
Understanding who is where within the OE will almost always be a relevant factor in the
decision cycles of each relevant actor. For example, areas where people and insurgents
may transit, retreat, evade, or hide may have relevance. Knowing where squatters, the
homeless, refugees, displaced persons, and outcast groups are and why they are there may
also be relevant. The information environment has increased the ability of diaspora
population living abroad to have a direct effect on the attitude, finances, behavior, and
support of the population within the OE. The JFC should consider the attitude and beliefs
of this external (to the OE) population and how they affect internal behavior.
6. Events. Events are routine, cyclical, planned, or spontaneous
activities that affect the OE. Some examples are planting and harvest seasons, elections,
changes in government, key leader succession, economic reforms, political reforms,
holidays, observances, anniversaries of key historical events, riots, and trials. Events may
spur an increase or decrease in insurgent attacks. For example, insurgents may escalate
violence to prevent an election, or insurgent activity may decrease during a harvest season
as they assist the population. Combat operations, including indirect fires and deployments
and redeployments, also affect the OE. JIPOE helps determine which events are relevant
and how events help shape the behavior of relevant actors. Some factors to consider may
be the political, economic, psychological, environmental, and/or legal implications of each
event.
(b) Information Environment