The decision-making process is an essential aspect of the Joint Intelligence Preparation of the Operational Environment (JIPOE), which impacts the Course of Action (COA)undertaken during a threat. JIPOE focuses on providing firsthand analytical intelligence to ascertain the enemy's probable target and strategize immediate and future course of action. The Operational Environment (OE) in the joint force provides a holistic approach on the course of action undertaken during a mission to determine the adversary's strengths and weaknesses and how other relevant factors, such as weather, climate, socio-cultural aspects, the location would have a projected effect on the military assignment outcome ( Department of Defense, 2014) . JIPOE's evaluation of the operational environment is crucial as it visualizes and highlights the adversary defensive and offensive strategies to coordinate action in the joint force properly. The paper will expound on an analytical perspective underlined in the JIPOE to evaluate the adversary's capabilities in terms of informational, political, economic, and military options as well as how individuals would utilize the information as a future SGM.
JIPOE Assessment of the Adversary's Political, Informational, Military, and Economic Options.
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JIPOE assessment tool gives the U.S. military-technical prowess plus developed faculties to outmatch their potential adversaries. To contend both regular and irregular threats, Joint Force Commander has to employ this decisive tool to over-match enemies' abilities to possibly project ranges of outcomes for a particular task. For a holistic view, JIPOE does not solely depend on military efforts but also includes in-depth scrutiny of both direct and indirect consequences of the information, social, political, economic, and the infrastructure effects on the course of action ( Cunningham, 2020) . For the social dimension, analysis of the OE encompasses socio-cultural welfare, public approval, stability, which impact directly on military planning. The political environment forms diplomatic and unconventional means of solving conflict, with extremists' groups sometimes going to war would be the only solution. In analyzing the economics of the region, the JIPOE identifies trade relationships, embargo, microeconomic stability to integrate into the COAs. Also, infrastructure includes the adversary's technical capacity to apply military technologies, which determines the level of engagement. With military targets, initiation of operations requires high-value target identification regarding the informational background of the adversary, including their capabilities: vulnerabilities, decisive points, shortcomings, Centre of gravity, and possible COAs ( Department of Defense, 2014) .
Influence of JIPOE to Future SGM
As future Sergeant Major, I recognize the usefulness of JIPOE, in planning combat actions. Understanding the broader range of consequences is essential for drafting a practical framework for the joint force ( Department of Defense, 2014) . The information gathered in the JIPOE facilitates supporting command staff to examine the adversary's potential and further determine whether they threaten friendly forces or influence the accomplishment of combat action. As a strategic planner, the information will enable me to forecast possible outcomes to project the correct set of measures under the operational environment dimension. Each conflict or battleground is different; thus, as future SGM, it requires sharp analytical skills to make sound decisions for my unit as well as utilize the JIPOE assessment tool to come up with a plan that meets combat action objectives.
Conclusion
Categorically, JIPOE is a crucial element in decision-making as it offers beforehand intelligence for potential mission analysis. Also, before engaging in any military assignment, strategic planning of all possible outcomes will provide insight into whether a nation should go to war or use other means of intervention. Moreover, the application of JIPOE in operation planning supports the commanders and other keynote military staff to visualize various angles in operational environment aspects.
References
Cunningham, G. K. (2020). Designing Effective Military Strategies under Uncertainty. Parameters, 50(2), 51-59. Retrieved from https://search.proquest.com/openview/bb2abe7e78bef020dbe50dad13293922/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=32439
Department of Defense. (2014, May 21). Joint Intelligence Preparation of the Operational Environment (JP 2-01.3). Retrieved from https://fas.org/irp/doddir/dod/jp2-01-3.pdf
