Battlespace awareness

Definition
Battlespace awareness (BA) is a practice of military philosophy that is used as a valuable asset by joint component and force commanders, to predict courses of action before employing troops into a prescribed area of operation (AO). It utilizes the intelligence preparation asset to assist the commander in being "aware" of recent, current, and near term events in his battlespace.

It is based around its knowledge and understanding obtained by the an intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) system. It is another methodical concept used to gain information about the operational area &mdash; the environment, factors, and conditions, including the status of friendly and adversary forces, neutrals and noncombatants, weather and terrain &mdash; that enables timely, relevant, comprehensive and accurateassessments. It has become an effective concept for conventional and unconventional operations in successfully projecting, or protecting, a military force, and/or completing its mission.