AFDD 2-1.9, page 69

59 armor attrited” as an MOE without understanding why that measure is relevant to objectives. Observable means that existing intelligence collection methods can measure it. Only MOE and SI are associated with OA and higher levels of assessment. They are qualitative, sometimes subjective measures, independent of MOP or other empirical measures that determine whether indirect effects and the objectives they lead to are being accomplished. Qualitative means primarily that judgment must be made in the absence of meaningful quantitative measures (see Figure 4.1 for a notional example). Military personnel tend to be less comfortable with these than with more empirical measures, since they are generally trained to regard their profession as more of a science than an art, but often the numbers themselves involved in quantitative measures can deceive. Seemingly “scientific” quantitative measures are often poorer representations of what should happen in the battlespace than more qualitative measures, like “enemy armor units A, B, and C not offering larger than platoon sized resistance to forces closing on Phase Line X until at least day Y.” Such a measure may be much more relevant to the friendly scheme of maneuver, be easier to collect against, and be easier for commanders to act upon. It is often easier, especially at the higher levels of assessment, to choose qualitative measures that are logically tied to