Which of the following is NOT one of the steps in the four-step JIPOE process?

• A. Define the Operating Environment
• B. Describe the impact of the OE
• C. Evaluate the adversary and other relevant actors
• D. Develop a weather analysis report

Answer: (D)

The four-step JIPOE process is about shaping intelligence to understand the environment and the actors within it so planning can anticipate adversary actions. The steps are to define the operating environment, describe the operating environment, evaluate the adversary and other relevant actors, and determine the adversary’s potential courses of action. A weather analysis report isn’t a separate step in JIPOE; weather information can inform how the environment is described, but creating a weather analysis is a distinct analytical product, not one of the four JIPOE steps. Thus, developing a weather analysis report is not part of the four-step JIPOE process. The other steps directly align with defining the OE, detailing its characteristics and effects, and assessing who might influence or oppose operations.