ASCOPE/PMESII

P M E S I I
Military/ Infra
Political Police Economic Social structure Information

Military Areas
Political Areas (District Economic areas Social Areas (parks Irrigation networks, Radio/TV/newspapers(
(Coalition/LN bases,
A Boundary, Party (bazaars, shops, and other meeting water tables, medical where people gather for
historic ambush/IED
affiliation areas) markets) areas) coverage word-of-mouth)
sites)
Areas

Military/Police Social Structures Infrastructure

Political Structures Economic Structures Info Structures
buildings (police HQ, (Churches, Structures (roads,
S (town halls, (banks, markets, (Cell/Radio/TV towers,
Military HHQ restaurants, bars, bridges, power lines,
government offices) storage facilities) print shops)
locations) etc.) walls, dams)
Structures

Economic
Military Capabilities Infrastructure Info Capabilities
Political Capabilities Capabilities (access Social Capabilities
(security posture, Capabilities (Ability to (Literacy rate,
C (Dispute resolution, to banks, ability to (Strength of local &
strengths and build/maintain roads, availability of
Insurgent capabilities) withstand natural national ties)
weaknesses) walls, dams) media/phone service)
disasters)
Capabilities

Economic Infrastructure
Political Organizations Military Organizations Social Organizations Info Organizations
Organizations Organizations
(Political parties and (What units of military, (tribes, clans, (NEWS groups,
O (Banks, large land (Government
other power brokers, police, insurgent are families, youth influential people who
holders, big ministries, construction
UN, ) present) groups, NGO/IGO) pass word)
businesses) companies)
Organizations

Military People Economic People

Political People Social People Infrastructure People Info People (Media
(Leaders from (Bankers,
P (Governors, councils, (Religious leaders, (Builders, contractors, owners, mullahs, heads
coalition, LN and landholders,
elders) influential families) development councils) of powerful families)
insurgent forces) merchants)
People

Infrastructure Events
Info Events (IO
Political Events Military Events (kinetic Economic Events Social Events (road/bride
campaigns, project
(elections, council events, loss of (drought, harvest, (holidays, weddings, construction, well
E openings, CIVCAS
meetings) leadership, operations) business open/close) religious days) digging, scheduled
events)
maintenance)
Events
 P M E S I I

Political Military/Police Economic Social Infrastructure Information

A
Areas

S
Structures

C
Capabilities

O
Organizations

P
People

E
Events
Civil Environment Factors and Relevance
Civil Considerations Operational Variables Factors Relevance
What are the factors in the Civil How will each factor affect the
Environment that will significantly friendly forces?
affect friendly forces (positively
and negatively)?
Political

Military

Economic
AREAS
Social

Information

Infrastructure

This template is used with each “component” of ASCOPE.  i.e. one 
template for Areas, another template for Structures, another 
template for Capabilities, etc.
 Key Influences
Key Influences Motivations and Goals Abilities, Capabilities, Means Potential Impact on Friendly Ops / Objectives
 Operational Culture Matrix
How do people in the What are the economic What is the way people How do people in the How do cultural beliefs
culture use the exchange systems and organize themselves and culture determine shape people’s
environment? the formal and informal distribute power and authority and behavior?
economies that the status? leadership?
culture uses?
(Physical
Environment) (Economy) (Social Structure) (Political Structure) (Belief Systems)

Cultural Factors Affecting MAGTF Operations

 (In)Stability Factors
Grievances:
What are the core grievances and societal
vulnerabilities identified in your civil
considerations (From perception data)?
Resiliencies:
What processes, relationships, or institutions
enable the society to function normally and
peacefully? Are there any previous resiliencies
that have been or are being undermined (From
perception data)?
Events:
Potential situations that could contribute to an increase
in instability (From ASCOPE/PMESII)?
Events:
What potential or anticipated future situations could
create an opening for key influences to further
reinforce stability (From ASCOPE/PMESII)?
Key influences - Means and
Motivations:
What are the influencers, the means and
motivations that contribute to an increase of
instability (From ASCOPE/PMESII)?
Key influences: Means and
Motivations:
What key influences in the society preserve and
strengthen stability? What means do they possess,
what are the motives, and what actions are taken
(From ASCOPE/PMESII)?
 Source of Instability Analysis Matrix

Instability Criteria SOI?  Prioritization

Potential Sources  Is the SOI a 
Does this issue  Does this issue disrupt  Does the issue 
of Instability Does this issue increase  Priority 
decrease support for  the normal  meet  any 
support for malign  Grievance for 
the Govt / legit  functioning of  Instability 
actors? Explain. the local 
governance? Explain. society? Explain. criteria?
populace?

For those issues 
If the issue 
that are SOIs,
Drawing from the  If yes, explain how the  meets 
prioritize them 
CPB, list all  potential SOI decreases  If yes, explain how the  instability 
If yes, explain how the  based on 
potential Sources  support for the  potential SOI disrupts  criteria, it may 
potential SOI increases  whether the SOI 
of Instability  government /  the normal functioning  be considered a 
support for malign actors is also a priority 
(SOIs) legitimate governance  of society Source of
grievance for the 
institutions Instability
populace
 Source of Stability (Resiliencies) Analysis Matrix

Impact to 
Stability Criteria SOS 
mission

Potential Sources  Does this issue 
Does this increase  Does the issue 
of Stability Does this issue decrease  increase societal and  Do we need to 
support for the Govt /  meet any 
support for malign  institutional capacity  support this 
legit governance?  Stability 
actors? Explain. and capabilities?  SOS?
Explain. criteria?
Explain.

Determine 
If yes, explain how the  If yes, explain how the  If the issue  whether the SOS 
Drawing from the 
potential SOS increases  If yes, explain how the  potential SOS increase  meets Stability  is needed for 
CPB, list all 
support for the  potential SOS decreases  societal and  criteria, it is  mission success  
potential Sources 
government /  support for malign actors institutional capacity  considered a  and/or whether 
of Stability (SOS)
legitimate governance  and capabilities Resiliency we need to 
institutions reinforce it
 Activity Design Worksheet
Stability Criteria  Design Principles Resources Select

Is Activity Realistic or should 
Culturally & Politically Appropriate
Leverage Support from other Org.
Short‐term vs. Long Term Results

Accountability & Transparency

Leverage Existing Resiliencies
Does the  Does the 
Does the activity 
Identify Possible Activities activity  activity 

Local Ownership

it be done?
increase 

Sustainability

Personnel
increase  decrease 

Expertise 
Flexibility
Money
institutional and 

Time
(Insert SOI /SOS Objective  support for  support for 
societal capacity 
here) government /  malign 
and capability? 
governance?  actors? 
Explain.
Explain. Explain.

Based on the 
Explain how the 
stability criteria, 
ID potential activities that  activity will 
Explain how  Explain how the  design 
contribute to achieving SOI /  increase support
the activity will  activity will increase  Refine the proposed activity  Determine  principles & 
SOS objective.  Input each  for the 
decrease  institutional and  to make it meet as many  resource resource 
activity separately in this  government 
support for  societal capacity  Design Principles as possible. requirements. availability, 
column and proceed across  and/or legitimate 
malign actors. and capability. should the 
each row to ascertain viability. governance 
activity be 
institutions.
implemented.
 Tactical Stability Matrix
Analysis Design
Source of Causes Causes MOE MOE Data MOP MOP Data
Objective Activities
Instability (Perception) (Systemic) Indicators Sources Indicators Sources
 Monitoring & Evaluation Matrix
Measure of Performance Measure of Effect
SOI Activity MOE Objective
MOP Indicator Status Baseline Change
Indicator

Baseline
Output Impact
Data for
Indicators Indicators Change in
Taken from Taken from Status of Impact Taken from
related to related to Baseline
the TSM the TSM selected Indicator the TSM
selected selected Data
activity identified
activity on the activity on
on the TSM
TSM the TSM
Stable Civil Environment Narrative

Describe Stable Civil Environment: Describe Civil/Social Norms:

Processes, relationships, and institutions that keep a society stable. Customs and Practices often reflect deeper aspects of the culture. It
is the lens which people perceive the world.

example: example:
 Legitimate judicial system  Family/Tribal affiliation
 Political persuasions  Greetings
 Livelihood  Concept of time
 Acceptable violence levels  Historical / Mythical Events
 Acceptable corruption levels  Gift/taboos Honor
 “Normal” civil activities
 “Abnormal” civil activities