text: Chapter 2
  Note. METT-TC (I) represents the mission variables that leaders use to analyze and understand a
  situation in relationship to the unit’s mission. The first six variables are not new. However, the
  pervasiveness of information and its applicability in different military contexts requires leaders to
  continuously assess various aspects of information during operations. Because of this, I has been
  added to the METT-TC mnemonic. Informational considerations, expressed as a parenthetical
  variable, is an important component of each variable of METT-TC that leaders must understand
  in developing an understanding of a situation and the relevant portions of the OE. (See FM 3-0.)
  INTELLIGENCE AND UNDERSTANDING AN OPERATIONAL ENVIRONMENT
  2-45. Understanding the domains and dimensions of an OE requires aggressive information collection and
  thorough intelligence analysis across echelons—from the joint level, where there are sophisticated
  capabilities, to the lowest tactical echelon. However, analyzing and understanding the domains and
  dimensions of an OE are not an end in and of themselves; information from the domains and dimensions
  must also feed the operational and mission variables. This ultimately results in the commander and staff
  reaching adequate situational understanding and visualizing, describing, and directing operations. Figure 2-5
  concisely illustrates how to understand an OE and continuously focus and refine information from the
  domains and dimensions to support operations.
  Figure 2-5. Understanding an operational environment