Theoretical and practical aspects of operational environment in planning operations

The operational environment has eight dimensions. Each of them affects the way they combine, create sequences and perform military operations. Commanders should change and coordinate the organization of forces, apply different capacities and support missions, and all of that with the aim to deal successfully with a complex environment. Operations are planned, prepared and performed in complex conditions and under the influence of different circumstances and factors. The operational environment is the set of conditions in which the forces are used in an operation on the basis of the commander's decision and it affects its final outcome. The success of an operation depends on the success in the simultaneous integration of all instruments of national power in the multidimensional sphere of the operational environment. Therefore, the operational environment has a physical, military, timely, political, social, economic, technological and informational dimension. Due to its continuous internal dynamics and mutual interaction, the degree of effect of the mentioned dimensions is different and time variable with respect to projection, sustainability and overall results of the forces used. Comprehension of the operational environment is crucial for the outcome of an operation. The dimensions of the operational environment are analyzed in the Doctrine of the Serbian Armed Forces Operations, the Army Doctrine and the Instructions for Operational Planning and Functioning of the Commands in the Serbian Armed Forces, while in other doctrinal documents they are not analyzed in great detail. There are certain differences in the mentioned documents in defining the contents, which are the subject of further consideration in this paper