The Operational Environment (OE) remains as it has always been: complex. The interaction of the many variables within the environment, including human behavior, assures both fog and friction. The current operational environment presents ambiguity, with multiple layers of complexity, challenging the Army with requirements beyond traditional warfighting skills and training. Capturing the key strategic conditions is fundamental to understanding the requirements of current and future military operations.
The OE depiction on the wiki is organized into three broad areas with sub-categories:
The current and future operational environment will be characterized by multiple actors, adaptive threats, chaotic conditions, and advanced-technology-enabled actors seeking to dominate the information environment. The Army must be operationally adaptive to address these complex challenges and defeat adversaries operating within this environment.
Through 2040, the Army will face a range of OEs and simultaneous decisive action operations will be the norm within these environments. Sequential operations with clearly defined phases will not suffice. Shaping conflict, post-conflict/failed state, humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, and support and reconstruction operations will occur simultaneously. Such operations will require increase coordination/integration with a range of civilian organizations, both domestic and international. U.S. forces will be required to interact with and to protect nongovernment organizations (NGOs), private voluntary organizations (PVOs), and humanitarian organizations more than ever before
Please share your expertise across these areas. Your contributions will be considered as the G2 moves forward to define the Operational Environment of 2040.