text: Chapter 4
  with Vibrio cholera, the cholera bacterium) or man-made contamination (such as chlorine gas spilled from
  a ruptured storage tank) interferes with movement and contributes to isolation. When large or aggressive
  enemy formations are present, the situation is especially challenging.
  CONDUCTING THE OPERATIONS PROCESS
  4-17. Army commanders and staffs conducting the operations process for personnel recovery missions use
  judgment in applying the principles discussed in chapter 1. Paragraphs 4-18 through 4-24 discuss in detail
  how they plan, prepare, execute, and assess personnel recovery operations.
  PLANNING FOR PERSONNEL RECOVERY OPERATIONS
  4-18. Commanders and staffs analyze their operational environments using the operational variables—
  political, military, economic, social, information, infrastructure, physical environment, and time.
  Commanders and staffs use the mission variables as a filter to extract from the operational variables the
  information staffs need to conduct an operation and commanders need to exercise mission command.
  Higher command echelons ensure their personnel recovery guidance is appropriate for an operational
  environment. Tactical-level commanders ensure the ISG is appropriate for the situation on the ground.
  Several enemy characteristics are important in determining the risk of isolation such as composition,
  disposition, capabilities, recruitment efforts, level of training, robustness of logistic support, and support
  among the population.
  4-19. Army planners use an Army planning methodology to focus the personnel recovery planning effort.
  They define the problem, gather information, develop possible solutions, analyze and select the best
  solution, and implement it. Often these steps take the form of the Army design methodology, the seven-step
  military decisionmaking process, or troop leading procedures (see ADRP 5-0).
  PREPARING FOR PERSONNEL RECOVERY OPERATIONS
  4-20. Well-trained and experienced units typically perform better in the chaos of combat. The desire by
  commanders and staffs at all levels to protect Soldiers and keep faith with the Soldier’s Creed is no
  substitute for preparation. Preparation for personnel recovery is an integral part of the individual training of
  each Soldier and the collective training of every Army unit. The foundation of readiness is training.
  Personnel recovery training for several generations—at least since the Korean War—focused on SERE
  training of aircrews and isolated Soldiers. Traditionally, training for the forces as a whole has focused on
  Code of Conduct instructions. Analysis of the strategic impact of isolation incidents during Operation Iraqi
  Freedom resulted in a broader approach to provide personnel recovery training to the entire force.
  (ATP 3-50.3 discusses SERE in detail.)
  4-21. Commanders ensure the recovery force is ready to execute the recovery mission. They supply the
  force with necessary equipment, up-to-date intelligence, and information on weather conditions, the status
  of the isolated persons, and other friendly forces providing support. If necessary, they augment the force
  with air, ground, or water assets. They staff the PRCS and augment the current operations integration cell at
  senior headquarters with personnel recovery specialists to assist in decisionmaking. Preparation for
  personnel recovery operations includes mastering the shared personnel recovery proficiencies (see the
  discussion beginning in paragraph 1-75).
  EXECUTING PERSONNEL RECOVERY OPERATIONS
  4-22. The PRCS synchronizes and integrates all personnel recovery actions horizontally within the
  headquarters and vertically within the chain of command. This includes monitoring execution of all
  personnel recovery tasks: report, locate, support, recover, and reintegrate. Executing a personnel recovery
  mission centers on the recover task. However, personnel recovery operations are not complete before the
  execution of the reintegrate task. Paragraphs 1-62 through 1-74 discuss reintegration.
  4-23. The story of the 507th Maintenance Company during the major combat phase of Operation Iraqi
  Freedom illustrates Soldiers executing the Army personnel recovery approaches (sometimes called
  methods): unassisted, immediate, deliberate, and external supported (also discussed in paragraphs 1-35