This manual, Army Techniques Publication ATP 2-01.3 Intelligence Preparation of the Battlefield March 2019, is the current doctrine on how to systematically evaluate the effects of significant characteristics of the operational environment (OE) for specific missions.
This publication—
Describes how the commander and staff examine mission variables to understand how these variables may affect operations.
Discusses intelligence preparation of the battlefield (IPB) as a critical component of the military decision-making process, how IPB supports decision making, and the integrating processes and continuing activities.
Facilitates a common understanding, foundational concepts, and methods of the IPB process.
The principal audience for ATP 2-01.3 is tactical Army commanders and staffs. Commanders and staffs of Army headquarters serving as a joint task force or a multinational headquarters also refer to applicable joint or multinational doctrine related to IPB. Trainers and educators throughout the Army also use this publication.
This manual applies to intelligence activities conducted outside the United States. Intelligence activities conducted inside the United States, as well as those that target U.S. persons and groups outside the United States, invoke additional requirements and intelligence oversight rules. To the extent any of the activities described in this publication are conducted inside the United States, or target U.S. persons or groups outside the United States, consult the judge advocate for assistance.
ATP 2-01.3 applies to the Active Army, the Army National Guard/Army National Guard of the United States, U.S. Army Reserve, unless otherwise stated.
The IPB process is unique—it impacts the range of military operations, is relevant across all echelons, and is the fundamental element used in all planning and decision making. IPB serves as the initial framework for analysis of the battlefield in all operations.
The revision of this publication addresses complex OE in which U.S. forces will operate across all domains (air, land, space, maritime, and cyberspace) and the information environment and worldwide. The goal of this revision is to—
Highlight staff processes and products to assist commanders and staffs in identifying when and where to leverage friendly capabilities in the scope of an operation.
Add some unique considerations for IPB supporting certain missions not addressed in the 2014version of this publication.
ATP 2-01.3 updates and describes the fundamentals of IPB. It contains eight chapters and four appendixes.