ADP 3-90, page 20

Chapter 2 2-2 ADP 3-90 31 July 2019 MISSION VARIABLES 2-4. Upon receipt of a mission, Army leaders filter relevant information categorized by the operational variables into the categories of the mission variables for use during mission analysis. Incorporating an analysis of the operational variables with the mission variables ensures Army leaders understand the context in which they perform their missions. 2-5. The mission variables describe the conditions in which commanders and staffs execute the art and science of tactics. An analysis of these mission variables is critical during the military decision-making process. Commanders consider each variable during the operations process. (See ADP 3-0 for additional information on the mission variables.) THE ARMY’S TACTICAL DOCTRINAL TAXONOMY 2-6. Figure 2-1 shows the taxonomy of the Army’s tactical doctrine for the four elements of decisive action and their subordinate operations or tasks. While an operation’s primary element is offense, defense, stability, or defense support of civil authorities, different units involved in that operation may be conducting different types and subordinate variations of operations. Commanders rapidly shift emphasis from one element to another to maintain tempo and keep enemy forces off balance. Maintaining tempo and flexibility through transitions contributes to successful operations. 2-7. Commanders perform enabling operations to help in the planning, preparation, and execution of any of the four elements of decisive action. Enabling operations are never decisive operations. Commanders use enabling operations to complement current operations or to transition between phases or element of decisive action. 2-8. The tactical mission tasks listed at the bottom of figure 2-1 describe both actions and purposes. The tactical mission tasks have specific military definitions different from those found in common English. (See FM 3-90-1 for detailed information on individual tactical mission tasks listed in figure 2-1.) 2-9. The elements of decisive action are not discrete, mutually exclusive operations. Tactical missions can contain elements of the offense, defense, and stability or defense support of civil authorities. The lower the echelon, the less a formation can focus on more than one of the elements. During large-scale combat operations, it is unlikely that units performing close combat also conduct stability tasks. WARFIGHTING FUNCTIONS 2-10. A warfighting function is a group of tasks and systems united by a common purpose that commanders use to accomplish missions and training objectives (ADP 3-0). The warfighting functions provide an intellectual organization of common capabilities available to commanders and staffs to achieve objectives and accomplish missions. In 2008, the Army established six warfighting functions that linked to the joint functions established in JP 3-0. The Army defines each of these six warfighting functions:  The command and control warfighting function is the related tasks and a system that enable commanders to synchronize and converge all elements of combat power (ADP 3-0).  The movement and maneuver warfighting function is the related tasks and systems that move and employ forces to achieve a position of relative advantage over the enemy and other threats (ADP 3-0). Direct fire and close combat are inherent in maneuver.  The intelligence warfighting function is the related tasks and systems that facilitate understanding the enemy, terrain, weather, civil considerations, and other significant aspects of the operational environment (ADP 3-0).  The fires warfighting function is the related tasks and systems that create and converge effects in all domains against the adversary or enemy to enable operations across the range of military operations (ADP 3-0). Mission Variables Mission Enemy Terrain and weather Troops and support available Time available Civil considerations