Tactical Variables – A Tool for Mission Analysis

Abstract

Military operations have an evolving character that responds to the changes in the nature of the conflict. The basic nature of the operation is given by the operational themes. These have a major impact on related military activities and on their tactical tasks. The commander at the tactical level, in order to achieve the end state of the operation, must fully understand the mission, respect the superior’s intent and perceive the conditions, circumstances and influences of each individual characteristic element of the assigned area of operation. The instruments to achieve this status of comprehension are tactical variables (Mission, Enemy, Terrain and Weather, Troops available, Time available, Civil considerations - METT-TC). The aim of the article is to describe tactical variables, which at the tactical level serve as the tool for mission analysis.