text: The Brigade Combat Team and the Operational Environment
  environment is generally described by three conditions: permissive, uncertain, or hostile. (See JP 3-35 for
  more information.)
  2-145. Force employment plans and schedules drive deployment planning, and execution preparation
  requirements and movement timelines. Deployment operations provide forces ready to execute the supported
  commander’s orders. Deployment plans and schedules align with the operation plans/orders and support the
  associated force movement requirements,allowing for predeployment preparations.
  2-146. During planning, four principles apply to the broad range of activities encompassing deployment.
  They are—precision,synchronization,knowledge,and speed:
  (cid:122) Precision applies to every activity and piece of data.
  (cid:122) Synchronization of those activities required to close the force successfully.
  (cid:122) Knowledge upon which decisions are made.
  (cid:122) Speed,the proper focus is on the velocity of the entire force projection process,from planning to
  force closure.
  2-147. The end state of the deployment plan is to synchronize deployment activities to facilitate
  employment execution. The steps used in planning and preparation include analyze the mission, structure
  forces,refine deployment data,prepare the force,and schedule movement. Successful deployment planning
  will require knowledge of the unit’s deployment responsibilities, an understanding of the total deployment
  process,and an intellectual appreciation of the link between deployment and employment.
  Predeployment Activities
  2-148. When ordered to deploy,the BCT task organizes,echelons,and tailors its units based on the assigned
  mission and available lift and other resources. Higher echelon plans determine the command,
  communications, intelligence, and logistics relationships. Some modifications to existing operations plans
  will normally be necessary. These plans should also specify any joint and combined operations relationships,
  if known. Within the division plan, the BCT commander prioritizes lift requirements consistent with the
  mission variables of METT-TC and establishes the sequence in which the BCT’s units deploy relative to the
  movement of other forces and other Services. Maximum use of in-theater intelligence sources is essential.
  Sources include special operations forces area assessments,the country team,and higher headquarters.
  2-149. Echeloning is organizing and prioritizing units for movement. Echelons are often divided into
  elements such as advance parties,initial combat forces,follow-on forces,and closure forces. Each echelon
  has a designated echelon commander. Tailoring is the adding to or subtracting from planned task
  organizations based upon a mission analysis,available transportation,pre-positioned assets,and host-nation
  support. Task organizing is the temporary grouping of forces to accomplish a certain mission. Task
  organizing and echeloning occur during initial planning.
  2-150. Force tailoring is the process of determining the right mix of forces and the sequence of their
  deployment in support of a joint force commander. Forcetailoring is situational dependent and occurs after
  mission analysis by the higher headquarters commander and staff. The BCT commander tailors the force
  after mission analysis, identifying initial strategic lift, pre-positioned assets, and host nation or contract
  services or assets.
  2-151. Following the receipt of a mission,the BCT prepares its personnel and equipment for deployment
  through preparation for overseas movement activities. These activities ensure deploying units meet all
  requirements associated withdeployment into another theater of operation as directed by Army regulations
  and local authorities.
  Movement
  2-152. Deployment includes preparing or moving the BCT, its equipment, and supplies to the area of
  operations in response to a crisis or natural disaster. The movement phase in the Army process is discussed
  in two segments—fort-to-port and port-to-port. The Army relies on United StatesTransportation Command
  to provide the strategic lift or surface movement to and from the POE:
  (cid:122) Fort-to-port. Units deploying with the BCT complete their preparation for overseas movement
  based on the mobilization plan and the joint task force’s time phased deployment list. Units update