When describing the impact of the operational environment, what perspective must be developed first?

Developing a geospatial perspective first is crucial when examining the impact of the operational environment. This perspective involves an understanding of geographical factors, terrain, climate, and resource distribution, which can significantly affect military operations and decision-making. By analyzing the operational environment through a geospatial lens, leaders gain insights into how physical locations, features, and movement can dictate the effectiveness of strategic and tactical decisions.

Understanding the geographical context helps in assessing potential challenges and opportunities encountered during operations. It provides leaders with a foundational grasp of the environment in which they operate, allowing for informed planning and execution of initiatives. Once the geospatial perspective is established, other dimensions, such as the systems perspective, adversarial perspective, and friendly forces perspective, can be developed based on the established geographical context. This sequential analysis ensures a comprehensive understanding of the operational environment.