text: Targeting Integration
  Intelligence Preparation of the Battlefield
  7-12. IPB includes preparing templates that portray threat forces and assets unconstrained by the
  environment. The intelligence cell adjusts threat templates based on terrain and weather to create situational
  templates that portray possible threat COAs. These situational templates allow the intelligence to identify
  HVTs. The IO officer works with the intelligence cell throughout IPB to identify threat information-related
  capabilities and vulnerabilities and other key groups in the area of operations. These capabilities and
  vulnerabilities become IO-related HVTs.
  Targeting Guidance
  7-13. Issued within the commander’s guidance is targeting guidance. This guidance describes the desired
  effects the commander wants to achieve. IO targeting focuses on HVTs that support critical, information-
  related threat capabilities that underpin their objectives and are vulnerable to friendly IO exploitation.
  7-14. The IO officer develops input to targeting guidance based on the initial mission and available and
  anticipated IRCs. The IO officer identifies the functions, capabilities, or units to be attacked; the effects
  desired; and the purpose for the attack. The IO officer uses the targeting guidance to select IO-related HPTs
  from among identified HVTs. These HPTs are confirmed during COA analysis.
  7-15. Targeting guidance is developed separately from IO objectives. IO objectives are generally broad in
  scope. They encompass all IO weighted efforts (attack, defend, stabilize). The IO officer develops
  recommendations for targeting guidance that supports achieving objectives.
  7-16. When developing IO input to the targeting guidance, the IO officer considers the time required to
  achieve effects and the time required to determine results. Some IRCs require targeting guidance that allows
  for the acquisition, engagement, and assessment of targets while the unit is preparing for the overall operation.
  For example, the commander may want to psychologically and electronically isolate the enemy’s reserve
  before engaging it with fires. Doing this requires electronic attack of threat command and control systems
  and military information support operations (MISO) directed at the threat 24 to 48 hours before lethal fires
  are initiated. Successfully achieving IO objectives for this phase of the operation requires targeting guidance
  that gives IO-related targets the appropriate priority.
  COURSE OF ACTION DEVELOPMENT
  7-17. Feasible COAs, that integrate the effects of all elements of combat power, are developed by the staff.
  The IO officer prepares a scheme of IO that identifies objectives and IRC tasks for each COA. The IRC tasks
  are correlated with targets on the HVT list. A single IRC or multiple IRCs can be planned against a single
  HVT.
  7-18. For each COA, the IO officer identifies HVTs that will support attainment of an IO objective. IO-
  related HVTs that subsequently support friendly IO objectives, and that can be engaged by IRCs,
  become HPTs. The targeting team also performs target value analysis, coordinates and deconflicts targets,
  and establishes assessment criteria. The IO officer participates in each of these tasks.
  Target Value Analysis
  7-19. The targeting team performs target value analysis for each COA the staff develops. The initial sources
  for target value analysis are target spreadsheets and target sheets. Target spreadsheets (target folders) identify
  target sets associated with adversary functions that could interfere with each friendly COA or that are key to
  adversary success. IO-related targets can be analyzed as a separate target set or incorporated into other target
  sets. The IO officer establishes any IO-specific target sets. Each target set is assigned a priority based on its
  contribution to the success of a friendly objective, its impact on an enemy or adversary COA, and friendly
  capability to service the target.
  7-20. The targeting team uses target spreadsheets during the war game to determine which HVTs to attack.
  The IO officer ensures that target spreadsheets include information on threat capabilities and IO-related
  HVTs and that the IO target set, if designated, is assigned a value appropriate to IO’s relative importance to